The Truest Pleasure

The Truest Pleasure is a wonderful story. Robert Morgan does not disappoint! The strength of the main character, her dedication to her husband, her family and her faith is wonderful. Her ability to try and make all of these commitments come together, and the inner struggle she goes through to attain this is both heartwrenching and inspiring. The common occurence in the lives of these people, particularly illness and death and the manner in which they handle these as a basic element of life are very poignant. It is a story that can make you stop and think about what the truest pleasures in your life are, the things that satisfy both your heart and soul.

It is the late 1800's. Ginny is a young girl who loves to read, help out around her pa's farm and attend revival meetings at the arbor. She is tall and gangly and so does not expect to be courted or to marry like other girls. But when Tom comes to work on a neighbors farm, Ginny finds herself intrigued by him. He is broad and strong, a hard, passionate worker and a man of few words. Shortly thereafter, they marry and begin their life together. Morgan chronicles their sorrows and happiness's, their sorrows and joys. It is the simple life they live where a woman should be content to have healthy children and a home to care for and a man should be satisfied to work hard and see progress. But, of course, real life never pans out that easy and the story culminates with a spell-binding, shocking ending. Brilliantly written and passionately told, this is, without a doubt, the best book I've read since Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True.

Morgan's female narrator is convincing and as consistent as is probably possible for a man. This novel reveals his gift as a story teller without sacrificing his obvious abilities as a poet. Morgan knows the land, the work and the people that he deals with here. There are few places you will see a better depiction of turn of the century living in rural Western North Carolina. The fire and ice symbols that repeat in the novel give it a rich texture. Maybe most outstanding here are the moments he creates when his narrator has a charismatic Christian experience. Morgan's approach to this "backwoods" religion is sympathetic and never heavy handed. Highly recommended.Our students had a great time with this book in the fall, first in the class and then discussing it with Morgan when he came to our campus.

This book is a must read by everyone with a soul! Ginny and Tom become a part of your being as you read and live through their struggles of life in the early 1900's. I have reflected many hours about Ginny's revelation of 'The Truest Pleasure' at the end of the book. A wrenching tale about love, spirit, and inner reflection.

The Truest Pleasure is quite simply a pleasure to read. Robert Morgan writes like a dream. I'm going to look for more of his work. It's evident he's a poet, too, but the writing never becomes precious as it may with poets who also write fiction. This is just beautiful writing, pure and simple, with a story that is touching. The ending took my breath away. A real delight.