If the Creek Don't Rise: A Novel

I loved this book! The author is a gifted writer and the story captivated me from beginning to end, I couldn't put it down and felt lost when I finished it! It will join the list of my all time favorites.

This book had me hooked on the first page. It's currently after midnight and I just finished reading the last chapter. The descriptions of Appalachia and it's people are beautiful. I rarely read fiction, but after reading reviews for "If the Creek Don't Rise," I knew I wanted to read the book. I was not disappointed.

Loved this book! Really got into the characters and at first just thought it was going to be a character study book. The plot isn't revealed until the end. It stays with you. I keep thinking about it!

I love stories of Appalachia and the people some referred to as hillbillies--the remnants of Scots-Irish immigrants who settled the ancient mountains of West Virginia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Good writing on these people and culture is not easily found. This book is a treasure, the characters are so true and cut from whole cloth. I could not put it down, read through in one night and did not want the story to end, even though it's sadness tugged at my heart. What a writer! I am reminded of Harriet Arnow. Don't miss this compelling novel. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This author is one to follow.

I haven't read very many five star books this year but this is definitely one of them. It was written in the viewpoints of several different people surviving in Appalachia. Very eloquently written...."Sometimes I feel this old mountain breathing weary. The high thin air gets sucked deep into her lungs, all the way back to the start of time. I know her secrets and sins. This high place is hard on folks who give in or give up.

I particularly liked the the way the people were connected to the land. The characters were knowledgeable about herbs and how to use them, like hemlock and penny royal. The woman had their own way of dealing with difficult men, often effective and mostly fatal. These are largely uneducated people and frequently operating outside the law but they were loyal to one another. They knew the streams and hiding places - very aware of their surroundings and intuitive when threats or danger lurked. Hunted and fished for food and shared with the destitute or to those whom they owed a favor.

Living in Tennessee, about an hour from Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains, I have heard that saying all my life. I enjoyed the book. I wasn’t impressed with the ending. I felt like some of the characters were dropped and had no ties to the ending. That said, it was still enjoyable and interesting especially some of the Appalachian sayings. I look forward to the next book from this author.

This may very well be the novel of the year. As far as I'm concerned, it's to best so far this year. At the very least, it's the best novel based in Appalachia that I've read. Leah Weiss writes with wisdom and with compassion. She proves to have extreme familiarity with the area and with its people. She works with a large cast of characters, and they are each very real in her hands.

There's warmth here. But there's also some bitternness. We get all stages of the spectrum. The writing is warmly vibrant. This is a story to become immersed in. In short, it's a must read.

IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE

This book brings light to the poverty, ways, and living conditions that take place in the Appalachian Mountain area of the USA.

The book is narrated by ten different characters, all telling their tales and lives and how they revolve around their little area in the mountains, their hopes, dreams, but mostly orbiting around Sadie Blue. Sadie is dirt poor -- as are most of these people -- and has made a huge mistake by marrying. The consequences of her married life effects all of the people telling their story. The conditions in the valleys are horrible -- poor, dirty, rugged. However, the people living here are kind, generous, tight-knit, looking out for each other. Well, most of them! They are also superstitious, backwards, and doubtful. They believe in ghosts, magic, use potions and herbs, and haven't advanced at all in regards to the modern world that is out of their reach.

The book really tells the story of Sadie, but also the lives of the other people living in the fictional town of Baines Creek. Their stories all weave together and have a conclusion that you rather do see coming . My only complaint regarding this book is wishing readers would have found out how the other characters fared, what happened to their personal trials and tribulations, what direction certain relationships went.

Leah Weiss has wit, a charming way of writing, turning out some great phrases. She keeps your interest and keeps the story moving along. Her dialect of the area was great and more than once she had me laughing or in tears. The characters literally jumped off the pages they were so down-to-earth. Each character's narration was unique and different. Even though each chapter was told by someone different, this was not confusing or hard to understand in any way. I truly enjoy a book wherein each character tells their part of the story.

This is a good book, one I think most of you would enjoy.

If the Creek Don't Rise,  Leah Weiss

I really thought I'd enjoy this, it sounded so intriguing. sadly I just found it too grim for me, too dirt poor desperate and couldn't like or engage with any of the characters, though I felt incredibly sad for them trapped by circumstances into a life like that.
I'm sure for many people it's real.

Its very well written, a great debut for those that like this type of story. I look for more upbeat books though, ones I can enjoy reading, an escape into another's life, and I don't mind that being dark, or sad so long as there's hope that it gets better. With this though it just felt like unremitting sadness, no hope of anything positive coming out.

I just couldn't continue reading, I could feel myself being dragged down into the story without any light at the end. Real life is enough like that for me right now, I don't want to get sucked into that in my leisure time.

It's one of those cases where its me not the book, I just found it too depressing, it just wasn't one for me, and I couldn't finish it.

Stars: two, DNF, too grim for me but well written and perfect for others.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

"He's gonna be sorry he ever messed with me and Loretta Lynn"

I have been reading a lot of really good debut novels lately. This story is told in a very unique fashion. Although this book is about Sadie Blue and her tortured relationship with Roy Tupkin, her husband of 15 days, it is also the story of people who live in her Appalachian town.

Sadie had been warned about Roy. She had been told he was "trouble" and she would due best to stay away from him. Boy oh boy does she wish she would have listened to them. Pregnant and alone most of the time, she lives in fear. She, like many other women in the town, have a bleak future. But then one day, someone comes to town (Kate Shaw) who gives Sadie hope that there may be more to life than being Roy's wife.

Each chapter tells another person's story. They each have their own voice, experiences, emotions and perspectives. Most of their tales are bleak, sad, or are about a hard life, made even worse by those they share their life with. There are those who look out for others in this book (i.e. Marris). Marris was my favorite character - loving and strong. She is the glue which holds many of them together.

This is not a happy go lucky book. There are really no happy endings. Life might get better for some but there is still no silver lining. This book is not a suspenseful page turner but it is the glimpse into the life of those living in Appalachia. This book is character driven and the characters are strong and memorable. The Author does a great job of describing their pain and desperation. It almost drips from the pages. This is southern grit at it's best.

Unlike the charming tales of Appalachia produced by Adriana Trigiani, Leah Weiss’s maiden voyage to the hills and valleys of Appalachia via IF THE CREEK DON’T RISE brings readers in contact with dirty fingernails, gravel roads, grim poverty, brutal beatings and death. Set in the North Carolina town of Baines Creek circa 1970, this is a novel overflowing with the uneducated and impoverished and an atmosphere of tradition, hopes and dreams that bears some similarity to Catherine Marshall's CHRISTY, which I loved.

The characters inhabiting this tale are captivating and their views of life and the world around them fascinating. While the narrative focuses primarily on teen-aged Sadie Blue, everyone in town has a story to tell, each from their own perspective and life experiences. Like those inhabiting most small towns Baines Creek has its share of the suspicious, the eccentric and the envious and bitter.

For readers seeking a Southern story of romantic love and pampered ladies languishing on wrap around porches and sipping mint juleps, this is not the book for you but for those who appreciate well researched authenticity, a sense of time and place and an engrossing story of survival in the face of staggering barriers, IF THE CREEK DON’T RISE should definitely be added to your TBR list.

This debut novel has everything a reader wants: well-detailed characters, interesting setting, unexpected plot twists.

Leah Weiss has created characters that touch emotions, whether it's Sadie Blue and her wife-beating husband, her cantankerous grandmother or the unexpected strength of a new, yet older school teacher. All the characters come together in the rural and mystery-laden Appalachian backwoods to fuel a novel that's rich, honest and gritty.

Everyone in Baines Creek knows Sadie isn't safe, but few have the physical or emotional strength to protect her. Life isn't easy in their community. Those who can live, and the ones left behind - well, they get by the best they can.

All that changes when the preacher brings a new teacher to town. Kate Shaw is older than expected, and she comes with her own emotional baggage. She's determined to make a place for herself in Baines Creek and to lend a hand to those who seem unable to help themselves.

Readers will find themselves wanting to know more about the characters, and Weiss feeds that hunger with well-developed back stories. The characters literally jump off the pages as they try to come to grips with how the past (superstitions) and the present (knowledge) to create a stronger community.

For this reader, the Creek does rise - all the way to top of my favorites list for 2017.

ARC provided by NetGalley

If The Creek Don't Rise immediately caught my attention when I saw the cover and even more so when I learned that it had an Appalachian setting. I grew up in a small town in Eastern Kentucky so I love reading fiction set in a similar area to what I grew up in, though Baines Creek is definitely a lot rougher than the hills and hollers of my youth.

As I began reading, I fell hard for Sadie Blue, as a reader. I wanted to know more about her, learn more about her struggle and how she planned to fix the wrongs in her life. Her life was broken and sad and not uncommon for areas of living like hers. She lost her heart too quickly, got caught in the romance and flew off with the wrong sort of man but discovered way too late. Also, growing up listening to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, I had a fondness for Sadie's innocence and how determined she was to not let the holler end her life. She wanted to be strong and break free like Loretta and I found that to be an admirable quality.

I will admit that, through the first half of the book, I found the constant changes in point of view to be a little bit much. The amount of characters that had a story to tell was almost overwhelming but, but by the end of the book, I realized that each character had their own place and their own part to play. Each of their stories needed to be told for the sake of understanding what life was like in Baines Creek and how each person and their actions intertwined and affected one another as a whole.

I really enjoyed this glimpse into poverty-stricken Appalachia and Leah Weiss did an amazing job at creating well rounded characters with personalities and colloquialisms all their own. If The Creek Don't Rise is a beautifully haunting tale of Appalachian life.

Rating: 4 Stars

This is book that transports you to Baines Creek, North Carolina deep in the Appalachian mountains in 1970. There is poverty and ignorance there but also wisdom and strength.

The author does a great job giving several narrators their own unique voices - Sadie, a young, pregnant girl that fell for a no-good man; her grandmother; the preacher; Birdie, the local midwife and healer; my favorite character - Kate, the new schoolteacher who is from out of the mountains; and more. There were a few characters that I felt that I didn't get to hear their full story. I wish the book had been a bit longer, or had an epilogue so that I could have more of a sense of this segment of their stories being finalized.

It was a pleasant change to read a book that let me visualize the countryside and the characters so vividly. I felt like I was a silent bystander watching and hearing all that transpires in this little community.

One of the only things that bothered me was a single word that was used often in the book. Nitpicky I know some will say but oh well. The author wrote a bit of the book trying to use the mountain dialect. She used "won't" to mean was not, or wasn't, or were not, or weren't. Other authors have used the word "waren't." It actually sounds more like the actual word used and is less confusing.

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It reminded me in some ways of an author I used to read years ago - Gene Stratton-Porter - and that's a good thing.

I received this book from Sourcebooks Landmark through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Leah Weiss hits the literary scene with electrifying Southern fiction August 22, 2017. If the Creek Don’t Rise is a story told with tremendous heart, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Weiss writes with swagger and grace, and her prose crackles with conviction. Thanks go to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the DRC, which I received free in exchange for this honest review.

Our tale unfolds in the hills and hollers of Appalachian North Carolina in the mid-twentieth century. Moonshine stills are as jealously guarded as ever, but now a person can get killed over a Ginseng patch as well. Formal education isn’t valued by everyone, and it’s hard to come by. Baines Creek is home to only one educated man, and that’s the minister, Eli Perkins, whose haunting early memories include the exorcism of Pharrell Moody; imagine a phalanx of grim, weapon-bearing deacons converging on a dark woods.

But now, Eli looks forward to having an educated person to talk to. The new teacher, Kate Shaw is a great big woman, middle-aged. She wears trousers “like a man”, and gossip is thick in the air before she’s even met the community. She tells everyone that she was fired from her last job, a smart move since it takes some of the wind out of the venomous rumor mill that greets her.

But Eli is smitten.

Another person that likes Kate immediately is Sadie Blue. Sadie is seventeen and newly married; the nuptials were a combination wager and shotgun affair. Now she’s isolated, lonely, and illiterate, but in Kate, a kindly soul that listens to her without judging, Sadie sees hope. Eli asks what Sadie thinks of the new teacher, and she says, “Got her a globe that spins…Gonna teach me to read.”

Sadie’s mother left her when she was tiny, and so Gladys, Sadie’s grandmother, raised her alone after the death of her husband. She doesn’t want Sadie to marry Roy, but she also knows she can’t raise Sadie’s baby herself. Now Sadie is part wife, part captive, in the home of Roy Tupkin, a rattlesnake-mean abuser. Gladys isn’t the only one that doesn’t like Roy. Marris, who is close to Gladys, observes that “Roy needs killing”, and the sentiment is shared by Kate, who tells the reader that she would like to dismember him limb from limb. “I’d use a rusty saw.”

To be sure, it’s a violent tale full of hardscrabble characters living in horrifying rural poverty. Running water? Maybe, but probably not. Food stamps? Don’t even think it. Worthwhile job skills in Baines Creek involve knowing how to drive in the pitch dark around narrow mountain switchbacks without falling off, and knowing how to package a body for burial when no coffin is ready to hand. There’s a hint of Deliverance here, along with a voice that bears a similarity at times to that of Sharyn McCrumb as well as Fannie Flagg, winking in and out in places, yet it is never derivative. The grimness is broken up with stark, surprising humor that dodges out from behind a tree and catches us unaware.

I highlighted multiple brilliant character sketches, but I can’t quote all of them here; Birdie, Jerome Biddle, Marris, and Tattler Swann are all unforgettable. I would want to see this movie if I were assured no one would change any part of Weiss’s narrative.

This story has created a great deal of buzz, and rightly so. Don’t let yourself be left out. This story is recommended to all th

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss is a gritty yet incredibly poignant character study of Appalachian life. With most of chapters written from different characters’ points of view, this debut novel offers an in-depth peek into the various people living in the fictional town of Baines Creek, NC.

The starting point of the story is pregnant Sadie Blue and her brand-new marriage to Roy Tupkin. Taken in by the charm that belies his true nature, Sadie discovers the violent truth about her husband right away as he takes his frustrations out on her with shocking brutality. Her Granny Gladys Hicks offers no help other than a temporary place to stay but Sadie does find warmth and compassion with her Granny’s neighbor and friend Marris Jones. Hope for her future arrives with outsider Kate Shaw, the town’s new teacher and Sadie eagerly accepts the newcomer’s offer to teach her to read.

The fictional town of Baines Creek serves as a character in the story as well as the novel’s setting. These small, rural towns tend to be extremely insular where everyone knows each other’s business and gossip abounds. Despite this knowledge about both the good and bad things that are occuring in their neighbor’s lives, the prevailing attitude tends to be more of a live and let live as friends and family turn a blind eye to abuse and criminal activity. The perfect example of this is Sadie’s situation with Roy. There is not a single person in Baines Creek who is unaware he is beating her but, with very few exceptions, no one steps in to help her. Yet if an outsider tries to intervene, the townspeople immediately close ranks in order to protect the person under threat. They are also quick to rally around one another when disaster strikes.

There is also an underlying sense of inevitability and hopelessness within families. This is certainly the case with Sadie’s Granny Gladys. She has firsthand experience with her granddaughter’s situation, yet she never extends her a helping hand. When Gladys is confronted with Sadie’s bruises and beaten down countenance, there is a pervasive sense of “you’ve made your bed and now you must lie in it”. Gladys remains passive and without empathy for Sadie’s plight as she fails to even bring up Roy’s abusive treatment of her pregnant granddaughter.

For much of the novel, readers have no idea when the story is taking place. This omission feels deliberate since an exact time period is somewhat irrelevant due to the fact time tends to stand still in rural or isolated areas such as Baines Creek. A few clues are dropped as the story unfolds that are helpful in narrowing down an approximate year but this sense of timelessness remains even after the specific time frame is eventually revealed.

If the Creek Don’t Rise is a heartbreaking yet occasionally uplifting debut from Leah Weiss . This deeply affecting novel is a compelling and sometimes stark portrayal of Appalachian life. The story comes a somewhat abrupt but immensely satisfying conclusion and readers will revel in the healthy dose of poetic justice that is served to those who so richly deserve it.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

I struggled with this book a good bit, mostly because it's a depressing story. The main character, Sadie Blue, is repeatedly beaten by her husband. That's just not the kind of story I typically pick up. (I grabbed this one due to the Jan Karon comparison. I'm not sure why I keep falling for those.) I did enjoy seeing how the community helped each other, each in their own way. Many of them live hard, cruel lives, and any little ray of brightness shown was heartwarming.

The story is told through the point of view of many different people within the community. Part of me liked this, since I got to see so many views. Part of me disliked this, because so much is left unfinished. Some plot points are brought up only during one person's chapter, and then never mentioned again. We never get to see what happens. The story mainly revolves around Sadie Blue, though, and we do mostly see how hers ends. Still, I would have liked more resolution all the way around.

I appreciate this story, and think a wonderful job was done to show how difficult life can be in the mountain. It's just a very sad and disturbing book. There's so much cruelty in so many ways, and I struggle with those kinds of books.

Some books you just read, escape, and enjoy until they're finished. Other books, they have this way of getting under your skin, staying on your mind, crawling around inside your head as you move on with your life. If the Creek Don't Rise is just that kind of book.

It was difficult to read in so many ways, yet completely impossible to put down. All in turns it broke my heart and gave me hope. Shattered my faith and gave me reasons to believe.

"I prayed hard to the devil cause my prayers to God won't never answered."

While this is set in the past, it isn't a far off past. It's one that my mother lived through, filled with places that are set in my home state. Following a group of rural people, it isn't a far removed fantasy, or a tragic piece of history. It's still raw and unhealed, with time only barely softening the edges.

"Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days. I've always done woman's work; man's work too. Woke up with work to do and went to bed before it got done. I see some folks walk easy and carry peace on their shoulders, but I been chained to a iron life."

I recognized the speech, because it was akin to the speech I grew up hearing from my Mamaw. The author captures that deep southern twang, the kind that comes across sounding ignorant even when it carries oh so much wisdom. I grew up in a world where woman's work was never done, and when there wasn't a man to do, they did for themselves. Not that women can't do now. Oh, but we can. There was just something a little more exhausting perhaps about having to do it all in a n age that refused to recognize you as an equal person. It's a great way to compare just how far we've come, and how far we have to go. How much those who are still struggling need our help.

"The good and bad of me is that I see blessings most every day in every way. Even when it's a speck that shines in a great see of sad."

So much sadness. The children, who deserve more. The parents who don't know how to offer more. Then the main characters, who are stuck with their lots in life and trying to decide if it's better to rebel, to dare ask for more. Or easier just to live it while they can. So much depth in the characters, they could have been my neighbors, my family. I knew them. I was them. When it all came to an end, I wasn't dissatisfied, just empty. It was too much and not enough all in one. It's hard to distinguish this as a happy ending or sad ending because there were no magical happy ever afters in a time and place that made them lucky to even get an ever after. It left me with a contentedness, a satisfaction. Yet still, just like Sadie, I want more.

"I look at this tin can of a trailer that don't look bad in the dusky light. I straighten my back, lift my chin, and call out in a strong, strange voice I claim as mine."

If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss is a highly recommended debut novel set during the 1970's in the Appalachian community of Baines Creek, N.C.

The cast of characters tell the story from their point of view through their own chapters. Weiss have given each character their own unique voice in their chapters. Some characters are heard from once or a few times while others have multiple chapters to propel the story forward through their personal narrative. This approach creates a powerful ensemble piece with strong character development and develops a compelling sense of place in the setting.

Sadie Blue has been Roy Tupkin's wife for fifteen days and she knows that she has made a terrible mistake. He is a bully and his beatings are endangering their unborn child, as well as her own life. What she needs to do is listen to her Daddy's voice and find a smart way out. Her dour grandmother, Gladys Hicks, knows what Sadie is going through because she had to deal with her own abusive husband. Sadie's Aunt Marris Jones, a caring, optimistic neighbor to her grandmother, sees what is going on and wants to help Sadie.

Then Preacher Eli Perkins welcomes the new teacher to town, Kate Shaw. At 51 years old and over 6 feet tall, Kate is not at all what the community expects, but she is made of tougher stuff than they realize. She is also determined to make sure her students are fed during the time they are in school. Eli is attracted to her intellect, even though she is an agnostic, while his sister Prudence sets out to set others against Kate. Sadie likes Kate and Kate has promised to teach her to read. Birdie Rocas, a neighbor of Kate's and a local healer/diviner, watches Kate, protects her, and then befriends her. Everyone is concerned for Sadie's well-being.

If the Creek Don't Rise is a collection of many points of view where the characters are in each other's stories. While the synopsis makes it sound like it is solely Sadie's story, it really is a character driven novel. Telling the story through the viewpoints of different characters works extremely well in this novel with a southern Gothic feel to it. Even Roy gets a chapter. I will note that ultimately, Sadie gets the last word, so the arch of her story is told.

The writing is excellent and the characterizations are exceptionally well done. The sense of place is firmly established. I liked the ending too. This is certainly a novel worth reading, but for me, a well developed plot was a wee-bit lacking in If the Creek Don't Rise. Oh, there are anecdotes told and stories shared while confronting the immediate question of helping Sadie, but there were so many other stories and questions that were never resolved. For example, why give us the chapter from Prudence, and then not another word from that harpy? Or just drop the thread of Reverend Eli's attraction to Kate? In the end I liked If the Creek Don't Rise quite a bit, but not enough to give it my highest rating.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Sourcebooks

If The Creek Don't Rise is set in the fictional mountain settlement called Baines Creek (Appalachia) in 1970. The Appalachia is an isolated community, stretching across parts of thirteen states, a parallel existence, backward from the civilized world that has morphed into the modern day, leaving these people behind. Like for many people who live in the Appalachia community, the people of Baines Creek are forgotten and are isolated from the main stream society.

The book starts off with Sadie's POV, who is a young girl who is pregnant and marries the father of her unborn baby who is very abusive. This story was sad, heartbreaking and sometimes felt like these people in Baines Creek were surviving instead of living. However there are characters in this book that see potential in people in Baines Creek and encourages them. It was inspirational and uplifting seeing how much these very interesting characters meant for people who needed this positive energy. Just complimenting and telling young kids that everyone is born with talents, with gifts and the ability to dream, does a lot in motivating them. Every is linked and was told in a very interesting manner, I was hooked and wanted to discover all the secrets of this town.

When I started this novel it was quite a culture shock for me because you don't really hear a lot about these communities anywhere. Especially for me, someone who lives in Europe, it was a very intriguing and interesting look into this community. I have never read a book like this one before. First of all there are ten POVs, but it really worked for this book. Normally I can't stand books that have more than two POVs, but it was very well done in this book. As for the writing, I had to get used to the 'dialect' and the way the people talked, and that kind of threw me off my reading flow in the first couple of chapters. This book was heartbreaking, uplifting, and mysterious in a way. The author made great use of all the characters and created a very multi-layered story. I have mixed feelings about the ending, in a way I really liked it but I also kind of wished there was more.

Nestled inside the Appalachia Mountain are a group of individuals whose life might seem a bit backwards, a bit behind the times but it is a life that they have chosen and a life which they can call their own. Preacher Eli is optimist about the people that surround his small church as he puts out a call for a teacher for the children in his community. She arrives but her past is blemished. This stain that occurred on her resume, she addresses immediately and moves forward. She seems brave and bold as she speaks about her past but she needs to be, as this position is not for everyone. As this outsider makes her way into the community, she begins to get a feel for the history and the individuals who will now be her community. To hear their stories, you understand their notions and the way their lives have taken.

I really enjoyed this novel, I enjoyed the drama as it sliced through the lives of these individuals, not shattering them but causing a disturbance that echoed throughout the community. They were a tight-knit group, they knew what was acceptable and what wasn’t and they each felt connected to each other in some way. It’s funny how they sized-up each other, they each harbored their own feelings about what went on in the community but to act on them, was a different story. As the teacher makes her appearance, you can feel a ripple amongst the group as she has now become a spectacle. These ripples occur throughout the novel, some creating more emotions than others and there were times I wanted someone to act, to stand up immediately and make a difference but it’s not like that in this community. I had to let things work themselves out. I would love to read one of Birdie’s Books of Truth, for I am sure that her use of words and her stories would captive me. I will miss the lives of Sadie, Pastor Eli, Prudence, Birdie and the others, for this novel allowed me to escape and find my way up into the mountains.
I received this novel from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for sharing this terrific novel with me.

I liked this book a lot. I don't want it to end, kind of a lot. However, it left me with the feeling that there was missing something. It starts with Sadie Blue, it ends with Sadie Blue, but between the first and the last page there is a host of other characters I was curious about. The writing is good, the information given about each character makes you interested in them, it makes you want to know more about them - but you don't. That's what left me with the feeling of something missing - what happens to the rest of the characters?

The language, more specifically the characters' dialect, gave a special flavor to the characters and the story. There were many things I didn't know about Appalachia of the 1970s that I discovered while reading. It did read in some parts like a "lesson" for the reader, but it's something I can overlook.

What made me furrow my brow was the way the speech seemed to transform towards the second part. The novel is told from different points of view, which I always like because it gives different perspectives on the same events. Most characters speaking are poor and uneducated, and you're made to believe, that they will speak like such people. And so is the language at first. In the second part, though, the speech becomes a bit more polished. I know it sounds as if poor and uneducated people can't be coherent and eloquent, and that's not my intention. However, while reading I sensed a gradual progress from simplistic language to well articulated thoughts.

As I said, I enjoyed this novel very much. It made me curious for more novels set in the South, be them classics or contemporary novels. I was impressed that this was the author's debut novel, and even more impressed that she was brave to go after her dream a bit later in life. I will read more from this author, and I hope there is a sequel to this novel. I do want to know more about the other characters!

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

This is one of those books that stays with you. It’s hard to put down. It’s one that makes you feel love and anger. Sadness and laughter. It’s just an all around good books.
I love the Appalachian setting in a story and this one was there. The language of the Appalachian people is one of a kind. They can stick together when need be and turn on each other if need be.
Sadie Blue is the main character and you will fall in love with her. She goes through so much but seems to always have such a good outlook. She’s full of questions and loves learning. She also loves Lorretta Lynn something fierce. She falls for the town bad boy, ends up pregnant and in a very abusive marriage at such a young age. Her mother left when she was just a baby and her dad raised her the best he could until he died. She lived with her granny, who had already had a hard life and was tough on Sadie but I think she loved her. She just didn’t really know how to show love like some people do. She didn’t want her to be involved with Rob Tupkin but you can’t tell young girls since they truly think they know it all. Sadie believed Roy wanted to marry her and would take care of her and their baby. But he was such a mean person. He had a bad reaputataion for violence. He ran around on her, beat her, was just a terrible person. He had come from a bad childhood but still you would think that would make him want to be kind to someone carrying his child. It was not going to happen though. He and his friend Billy Barnhill were together almost all the time, with the exception of when Roy was with his lover and I don’t mean Sadie. Billy didn’t like the way Roy treated Sadie, he liked her himself. But Sadie never felt anything for Billy except maybe revulsion.
Eli, the preacher, was a kind sort of man. He wanted the best for the people of the town and sent for another teacher for the children. His sister, Prudence, was totally different. I didn’t like her. She didn’t like anyone and would do bad things to people. She hated the new school teacher, Kate Shaw. Kate had taught at one of the best private schools and was dismissed. She came to the mountain to get away and start over. Her and Sadie became quick friends. Then there is Birdie. Birdie was the lady with the pet crow, the one with all the answers, all the ways to cure things. I liked her. I liked Kate and I loved Sadie. I liked Eli but I did not like Prudence or Roy or even Billy. I had a hard time with Sadie’s granny too until I read her story. She had a sad life, but still she could have been kinder to others I think. I like Sadie’s Aunt Marris was a very lovable character. She wanted to take Sadie in and protect her although she knew that Sadie would have to want that help.
This book will certainly make you stop and think. Make you grateful you don’t live in any of their shoes. It was a good story from start to finish. It never lagged. It kept me wanting to read until I got up at 4am and read the very end of this book. I LOVED the ending, but hope so bad that the author will consider writing a sequel so we can see what ends up happening to Sadie, to Ms Shaw and Eli. I’m hoping Sadie ends up learning a lot and doing something good with her life. Life in the Appalachians is hard. They are a different kind of people too. With their own language, ways and feelings. It’s a very good book. Don’t be afraid to read this one. It will melt your heart, make you angry, make you laugh and make you cry. It has it all.
Great debut book by another great indie author.
I thank NetGalley for the honor of reading this book. It was so good.
Another 5 starts from me.

Grammar lovers beware, you're in for a scare! This is an alternately bleak and hopeful portrait of Appalachia in the 1970's. Due to my own ignorance about the people and culture of this area at that time, I assumed it was earlier on. The schooling is dismal, the people run wild, and there's hardly any law to speak of. I've never met characters like these ones, and I probably never will. Some are easy to love, some are easy to hate, and some you just want to wrap in your arms and protect. There's many characters to keep track of, and I found almost all of them fascinating. The only thing that kept it from being a five star for me was some lagging around the middle, but it's a great read and a real departure from the books I usually enjoy.

Sadie Blue isn't the only girl with a rotten husband, but Roy may just be the worst. She married him after she became pregnant. They never really knew each other that well. Now they're going to have a baby... and Sadie is getting beat. She's married a cruel man and sees no way out, until a little light enters her life by way of the tallest woman she's ever seen. Kate Shaw has come to teach the children of Baines Creek... the ones who want to learn, anyway. She's intelligent, brave, driven, and (GASP!) a feminist. Most of the townsfolk have no idea what to make of her, but some are drawn to her. She just might make some changes to Baines Creek yet.

There are many other rich characters, but I'm not going to go into too much detail. The characters are the absolute heart of the novel. You'll despise some and learn to love others as their stories unfold from their own perspective. Almost all have experienced true sorrow in their lives, the kind of hurt many of us can't even imagine. A beautifully written tale about an unfamiliar way of life. I read this with The Traveling Sisters group and it incited a lot of debate and discussion. This would be a wonderful read for a book club.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

In a small town in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, a newcomer with a mysterious past comes to educate the youth of the town and ends up learning many new things, herself. Kate is a teacher who was terminated from her previous position but travels to Baines Creek to work as the town teacher. Sadie Blue is a young woman who becomes pregnant to a man who is cruel and controlling of her. Roy and Billie were abused as youngsters and take out their frustration on Sadie and other women. Eli Perkins is a preacher who wants the best for his community but his sister, Prudence, is as mean as Eli is kind. Weiss tells each character's story in a fair and impartial way. She leaves no stone unturned and lets readers know that there are often untold reasons for crimes as heinous as spousal abuse and murder. Oftentimes, that reason is simply poverty and a hopelessness that one will never escape it.

I really enjoyed this book for its brave honesty and Weiss' refusal to allow fear or discomfort prevent her from telling hard truths about life. The characters are perfect. It is easy for the reader to see the story from all sides when reading If the Creek Don't Rise. The stories were often hard to stomach. These are painful accounts from a world that many live in but few in society wants to admit really exists. When I was reading it, I felt as if I was reading a story set in the mid-1800s but soon realized that I was reading an almost-modern tale of a town who has yet to become modern. I learned a lot about Appalachian culture from reading this book and I think anyone who enjoys southern fiction or women's fiction will love this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

If The Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss caught my eye when I went on a search for more Southern Fiction to fill an intense craving I feel deep down in my soul on a routine basis. The craving to hear the word y'all thrown into a sentence without irony. The need for women sitting around a table drinking sweet tea and gossiping over some semblance of comfort food. The deep urge for a setting where everyone in the town knows everyone else, and the words Bless Your Heart aren't necessarily a good thing. If the Creek Don't Rise is what happens when I'm in that kind-of mood...and I've just finished The Glass Castle. It's Southern Fiction...but not of the Ya-Ya Variety. It's more along the lines of Opal.

I thought this book was great. It is marketed as a tale about Sadie, but in reality she bookends a story about Baines Creek and life in incredibly rural Appalachia. It is a novel about a town of secrets, and various stories. Most chapters are told from the viewpoint of a different character in the cast that is Baines Creek, with memories and remembrances that initially make it very hard to decipher what time the book is set in. When you finally hear a concrete date, it is very shocking...or at least it was to me. And it went a long way towards truly reinforcing just how money poor this area of the United States was (and some might say, still is).

For this being Leah Weiss's debut novel, I have to say what stood out most to me was her ability to write characters that are truly unlikable...especially Prudence's chapter. It really blew me out of the water! It can be very difficult to write a great baddie, but I was actually grinning from ear to ear reading that entire section. I had to explain to the kids why I was smiling like a goober!! To me it was just THAT good.

So, if you are a fan of good quality southern fiction, ensemble books with numerous viewpoints, books where the town is the main character, or books where the last sentence has you yelling "OH MY GOSH, I can't BELIEVE she ended it like THAT!?!? How DARE she!?!?!", put this book on your TBR list. And read it while drinking some apple pie moonshine...because why not?

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of a small mountain town in North Carolina, Baines (which means “bones” in the local dialogue) Creek. It is there that we meet this interesting cast of characters, including Sadie Blue, a young pregnant woman trying to survive the beatings inflicted on her by her husband, Roy. Also included is Kate Shaw, the new local teacher, Prudence, the preacher’s sister, Eli, the preacher, and various others. We get to hear a little from each different character’s point of view, which I thought was really interesting for the overall story. The grammar was pretty hard to get through in some parts, the author tries hard to stay true to the dialect of the region being represented in the book and they are for the most part illiterate. The book follows the different characters lives through a strange course of events.
Overall I liked this book a good amount. I liked seeing things through each different character’s point of view and I liked that each section from each different person revealed a new piece of the story. The grammar was hard to get through and also I felt like there were a lot of open pieces to the story left kind of unresolved, even with all the different points of view. I liked all the different characters, especially Sadie and Katie Shaw. There was a lot going on with so many different points of view and sometimes it was a little distracting. Other than that though I thought this was a good book and I was interested to see what would happen in the end.

There are lots of novels with Appalachia as the setting, populated with similar characters and with stories that are well-known and mostly predictable, especially for fans of the genre, such as I am + I likewise reside in the area much of the time. I've read most of these novels and admit to enjoying them on the whole. Most are quite good, some better and a few rate as the BEST of the bunch. This one by Leah Weiss is among the latter...I simply could not put it down. Her language is pitch perfect, her characters, both the likeable and the hateful, will make the reader want more and the story sketches, while simple and not convoluted, are a pleasure to read. Here is a novel that begs for literary rewards and recognition but, as usual, the pundits and so-called critics prefer to nominate the stuff that few readers actually enjoy reading as they will "If the Creek don't Rise". I hope Ms Weiss has some more stories to write but it will be hard to top this gem.

if the creek don’t rise by Leah Weiss is quite the debut novel. i will 100% admit that i was interested in reading this book because i loved the cover photo. this is a gritty, emotional portrayal of the life and struggles of an apalachian community that was told with depth and sensitivity.

leah’s characters are crafted so exquisitely i felt like i was in their kitchens or on their front porches listening to them tell me about their lives.

sadie blue is the protagonist and though she is beaten down and has had a life no one would envy, i could tell she was a spitfire meant for great things. i honestly couldn’t help but get wrapped up in her story. she was at times familiar as a character. her struggles – while most of the time completely foreign to me – were at times something i think most young women could find something in common with. she is poor, poorly educated, hopeful, naive, and trusting despite her situations. leah wrote sadie in such a way that you have to root for her.

the cast of characters at her side are all supportive (save for her husband) in their own ways and in learning about their lives which happens via their own chapters which occur throughout time and simultaneously with sadie blue’s life we learn how the events that shape the resolution of this story had been put into place years prior.

i cannot recommend this book enough. it was a quick read for me and though the tension was slow to build overall, the intense bursts of drama that were placed in the story so expertly make it hard to believe this is leah’s first work!

4.5/5 stars from this girl!

The beginning of this book was a little depressing. However, this was one of those books where you find yourself getting so immersed in the main character's story that you root for her through the whole book. The characters, especially Sadie and her grandmother are so well developed, you are just almost sure you've met them before. Sadie is pregnant and hitched to the lowest down of low down men, and she needs a way out. That's how her story begins. It wasn't a predictable book, as there were plenty of twists. I thought the writing was very vivid. For example, it reads:
"Daddy hung bones on the walls inside our house like some folks hang give-away calendars or pictures of Jesus."
I love this author's writing style. All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it.

This is remarkable as a first novel. Ms. Weiss creates a character-driven story where the setting of a hardscrabble Appalachian holler becomes a character in and of itself. There are ten or more main characters, and the author makes each one stand out as a unique voice, using first-person narration in an assortment of rotating chapters which is like looking through a kaleidoscope as the story unfolds — each succesive chapter rotates the story line just a little more to a different angle as events unfold from each perspective. The author’s use of Appalachian vernacular, story-telling techniques, mysticism and brutal honesty makes each character leap off the page into real life. You can see, feel and smell the whole of their existence. Such skillful writing! I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end; her reference to “Olive Kitteridge” as an inspiration makes perfect sense. With very little sentimentality, Ms. Weiss just lays her people out on the page in all their glory and misery and lets them speak to us from their hearts. This is an excellent book!

It took me a little while to get into a rhythm with this book. I think that’s partly due to the alternating first person narratives which give you a taste of a variety of the people in this mountain community. And the dialect threw me for a bit. Once I got into a rhythm … WOW, this book! So in my wheelhouse in every way! It’s dark and grungy yet powerful and thoughtful. The sense of place (Appalachia in NC) was where this one really shone. I was amazed at how Leah Weiss was able to make that place come alive in all my senses – the smells, the feels, the sounds! It’s one of those books that are so vivid! The characters are all so well done. They ultimately balance beautifully – the good and the bad. You will love some and hate some. You will see in them people that you care about and people that you’ve despised. They are really where this novel excels. Very gritty, very southern, very complicated. I still can’t quite believe this is a debut novel. I can’t imagine what Leah Weiss will have for us next if this is any indication. Highly recommend this one! There are characters in this book that you will not be able to forget! Such a wonderful book!

Told through the eyes of ten different narrators, If The Creek Don't Rise is the story of Sadie Blue. Sadie is a teenaged newlywed living in the hills of North Carolina. It is the early 1970s, but in many ways, Baines Creek North Carolina is far removed from the world of Womens Lib and Vietnam. Sadie is pregnant, she is regularly beaten by her new husband, Roy, and her friends and family are powerless to stop it. Then, a new teacher come to town and the world begins to open up for Sadie Blue.

This is a compelling story populated with many well-drawn, memorable characters. My personal favorites to read were Marris, Kate Shaw, and Tattler, but each of the characters bring something unique to the story. The dialect is wonderfully written and spot-on--while reading, I was reminded of expressions and turns of phrase that I hadn't heard in years, not since my grandmother (who was born in nearby Carter Co, TN) passed away.

My only criticism is that many of the book's sub-plots were left unresolved. I imagine this may be because the author plans to revisit Baines Creek at some point to take up the story of Birdie, or Kate Shaw, or Preacher Eli and his sister. I can only hope!

I love reading books about small communities in the middle of nowhere where life it tough. So, when I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb did I instantly know that I just had to read the book!

What I loved about this book is that the "main character" Sadie Blue only have a few POV chapters, the rest are told from people around her, like her husband, the towns preacher and the new teacher that arrives in the town. Not to mention the odd lady who lives with a crow. True all these people's POV do vet get not only a glimpse into Sadie's life, but also the hard life in Baines Creek. From events in the past up to the present time in the town. I think one of my favorite chapters was that of the preacher's sisters Prudence POV. She's quite a sourpuss and I thought that perhaps we will learn why she's so bitter and get a better understanding of what makes her tick and perhaps even feel sympathy. Well, let's just say that that bitter cow deserves no sympathy, together with Sadie Blue's husband.

Sadie Blue, this sweet little girl that has to grow up fast when she gets pregnant with the good for nothing Roy Tupkin who as soon as he has her legally married to him starts to beat her. Sadie Blue's hero is Loretta Lynn who also came from a poor background. And, I just love her adoration of Loretta Lynn who had four children before she was twenty. However, the question is will Sadie Blue even manage to have one child before Roy beats her to death?

If The Creek Don't Rise is a wonderful book about hardship, but also strength and perseverance. It's a book that is hard to put aside when one has started to read it and I just love the ending of the book. Although I wouldn't have minded some more chapters just because I love Leah Weiss wonderful way of writing and the intriguing story.

4.5 stars

If the Creek Don’t Rise isn’t a pretty story; it’s one full of cruelty, brutality, and darkness. Thankfully, there are glimpses of love, friendship, and kindness. This isn’t a plot driven novel, but rather a character study filled with the voices and souls of characters who struggle to find a modicum of hope in the Appalachian mountain town of Baines Creek, North Carolina. At the heart of it all is Sadie Blue, a character who is seeking hope in an impossible place: “I need to know how to live different.”

Each chapter is narrated by a different character, all of them tied by some link to Sadie Blue, who is a young pregnant newlywed, repeatedly beaten by her lowlife of a husband, Roy Tupkin. The POV’s continuously shift, and in doing so the good, the bad, and the ugly of Baines Creek is revealed. While the characters are not always admirable, they are at least truthful. Some have given up, while others are hopeful that life will change. Sadie longs for a change the most, and it seems she might have found her a way out when controversial teacher Kate Shaw comes to Baines Creek.

I was captivated by the voices of the all of the characters; they are beautifully and vividly crafted, and even though it was hard to read the POV’s of some of them, it made the book even more well-rounded. Some are fragile, some abominable, and some completely enchanting. My personal favorite is BIrdie Rocas--I could read a whole book of her stories! This is one of those books that I didn't want to end, as I wanted to see more and know more about the motley crew of Baines Creek. And the ending?!--well that was a game changer, which left me feeling hopeful for Sadie Blue.

If The Creek Don’t Rise is a unique novel whose structure feels light and breezy and veers dramatically from the standard formula we find in fiction. But despite its gentle execution, this story delivers some of the heaviest of punches and invites the reader to step outside of the book for a spell…

I felt as though I was sitting in a quiet, dimly-lit kitchen, having tea and biscuits with an old southern friend who comforts and enlightens me with her bottomless wisdom.

It’s a small town, and everyone has a voice. Which is why this story is told through varying perspectives. Each chapter presents a new character’s point of view that basically continues where the last left off.

I felt as though I was just sweeping through their battered town, getting to know everyone and learning their most intimate secrets before heading quietly back home.

They speak of their poverty, their pain, their violence. They show us all of it. We hear from the men who abuse and the wives too afraid to stand up to them; The children being granted a second rate education, and the new teacher in town determined to liberate them from their stubborn ways.

And just when you begin to judge and label the lot of them as weak and dimwitted, the strong ones rise up and silence you with their astute understanding of life and perseverance that’ll put all your fancy book smarts to shame.

They’ll show you that their actual life experience trumps your knowledge of their living conditions, and spark a fire of hope for their dot-on-the-map community.

Although a bit more story from certain characters would have been nice, there is more than enough substance given here. And that brilliant ending - a sucker punch with a wink of southern hospitality, and how could I not love it!

“I need an ally to instill hope and possibility in my good people. We all deserve hope and possibility.”
-Excerpt from letter written by Eli Perkins

Sadie Blue, pregnant, seventeen, and illiterate, finds herself with a worthless husband in the form of Roy Tupkin, a drunk, belligerent bully, living in the town of Baines Creek, North Carolina deep in the Appalachian Mountains. The year is 1970; and deep in those mountains, the world has not caught with this small rural town.

The novel is narrated in first person, present tense by a multitude of characters that affect Sadie’s life in one way or another. The characters have depth and personality. They are not always likable and they are not always nice people. They do, however, make one think about the difficulties of life in the Appalachians. Some of the more likable characters in the novel are Eli Perkins, the local minister and advocate for education; Kate Shaw, the latest educator to come to rural Baines Creek; and Birdie Rocas, a very unusual local resident who adds her own unique voice to the story.
Multiple storylines run through the book. In one, Sadie’s marriage, pregnancy, and all the complications that come with being married to Roy Tupkin are covered. In another storyline, Eli Perkins, his sister, Prudence, and Kate Shaw are intertwined in Sadie’s life with dramas of their own. The story is intricate and contains a few surprises along with a twisty ending.

I enjoyed the haunting narrative. The characters are gritty and real. Not a light read, but a deep story that will make the reader pause!

This ARC copy was received from Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.

As I read this novel, I was reminded of William Faulkner's prose, Margaret Mitchell's well-developed characters and James Dickey's story-telling. I found believable, interesting characters because their Appalachian dialect and cadence was authentic. I pictured each character as they evolved and were revealed by the author. I envision many other stories spun from each of these characters. They have much more to tell about themselves and others.
Although the novel is set in the 1970's there were current and relevant themes explored for today's audience, such as bullying, domestic abuse, low education level and justice. 
The author introduced me to the flora, fauna and geology of Appalachia, and introduced the local Native Americans' usage of herbs and plants for medicinal healing.
The storyline came full circle. Justice for injuries is meted out by the characters' own hands because the established law of the locale is not available to them because of their remote environs. 
This a great book for the states' One Book One Community nominees, especially for Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and other rural areas. I predict this book to become a motion picture and then spun off into a TV series, like True Blood or Bloodline. The soundtracks of Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline are interspersed throughout the book.

I loved the characters, the setting, the voices. I just didn't like how the author foreshadowed all of these situations and then just let them drop. After reading this I thought it read like a first draft: "let's throw all these characters together and see where it goes. Whoops, most of the characters don't really get to do much."
It would have been great if each of these characters got to have a full story with a conclusion, in which all the storylines wove together. That would be the mark of a 5-star book. It would have been twice as long...and that would have been a plus.

4 stars
This book takes place in the Appalachian mountains of N. Carolina in 1970. Life is hard for people in these mountain villages. Domestic violence is a generational thing and opens the first chapter, with Roy Tupkin beating his wife, Sadie Blue. Chapter 2 is about Sadie's grandmother, Gladys Hicks, now a widow. There are flashbacks to when her husband Walter used to beat her up. These 2 chapters upset me with the generational domestic violence. But the story improves as the characters develop. There are descriptions of mountain ways of healing and kindness.
The book is organized into chapters based on individual characters and narrated in the first person by that character.
Some other characters:
Eli Perkins--a preacher and a kind, gentle man
Prudence Perkins--Eli's sister, never married and a mean spirited woman who lives to hurt people
Kate Shaw--a new teacher from the valley and considered an outsider
Two quotes:
Gladys:"Times like these I wonder if I ever been happy. From the start there's been a film of dingy on my days."
Eli: "I first heard about a murder of crows at the seminary."
My wife frequently says "If the creek don't rise.." Her grandmother grew up in the Appalachians and I suspect my wife picked the phrase from her grandmother. So I decided to request this book from NetGalley. I liked the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book.

What an enjoyable read! The story takes place in Appalachia in the 1970s, a time and place that felt as if it were decades earlier due to the poverty and lack of education, with no hope or opportunity for change.

The book opens when pregnant and newly married Sadie is beaten by her husband. Sadie had high hopes for her marriage but soon finds out she’s made a horrible mistake. Her hero is Loretta Lynn, who was from a hillbilly town, and escaped to find a better life. In Sadie’s words “Miss Loretta is a miracle to me”

From here, the story is narrated by a colorful cast of characters who inhabit the town. Each adds their backstory and perspective to the story, ultimately creating a complete picture of the people and the events that take place.

Some characters are noble and good, while others are despicable, but all are unforgettable. The people of this village stick together and often help one another out in unexpected ways.

One highlight of the book for me was the depiction of the female friendships that were a source of strength and support. Sadie, Gladys, and Marris were my favorite characters. Preacher Eli is one of the few good men, a man who has been “planting seeds a long time to help her (Sadie) believe in herself." The day Kate, the new teacher, arrives changes the dynamics and her guidance offers Sadie hope for a better life. But not everyone is happy with Kate’s forward liberated thinking.

Although there are many characters, this is Sadie’s story, and the book begins and ends with her. The tension slowly builds throughout the novel to the very end, and what a surprise ending it is!

This was an excellent debut and recommended for fans of character-driven, Southern “Grit Lit”, but isn’t bothered by the fact that not every character’s story is resolved and neatly tied up in a bow.

This book picked me up and dropped me right in 1970 Appalachia. I swear, I was right there with each and every character standing right next them. I felt their desperation, their resignation, their determination. There was misery and joy. There was anger and wonder.

While characterization was excellent, so was the atmosphere. Hooch, ginseng, weather, foods, and more were part of the scenery behind the characters. I would love to spend time in Birdie’s cabin and read her journals.

Each character had their story to tell, but it was Sadie Blue, 17 and pregnant, who started and ended this book. Some might say everything in this book was stereotyped, but it all felt real to me. I thought this was a delight to read.

If The Creek Don't Rise is the story of a woman trying to find her way in the hills of Appalachia in a small town called Baines Creek. Sadie Blue has only been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin but realizes that was a mistake, even with a baby on the way. It takes a stranger to move into the area for things to be shaken up for Sadie to find her voice and be the person that she was meant to be. As we explore different people's views as things happen to Sadie, we are reminded what secrets are better left in the dark in the most perfect way to end this story!

This book had me captivated from the first page to the very last word, it truly was a good book to read. I would have liked it better if it didn't swing so fast to one character to the next, sometimes without much warning but overall, you still understand what is happening within the story to not get lost in it. The thing that got me was the simple fact that things like this really do happen in Appalachia more than we like to know or care to enough to want to help out someone like Sadie who just wants a fighting chance to be something more than what is expected of her to do.

Thank You to Leah Weiss for writing a pretty good first story that I hope to see more of in the future!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

If the Creek Don’t Rise is a glimpse into the remote Appalachian culture. The dialogue and the character development, pull you in and make you feel like you are a part of it.

The main character is Sadie Blue. Sadie is pregnant, and has been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin. Everyone in town knows that Roy is bad news and now with the beatings that are occurring regularly, Sadie knows it too.

The story is told through the eyes of several characters, Sadie tying them all together. Most of the characters know what is happening to Sadie, but they dob’t want to get in her business. They are hoping that she will decide for herself to leave Roy and then they will be there to help her.

There are several interesting characters. A fresh voice comes from Kate Shaw - a new teacher that has just come to town. The town goes through teachers quickly and no one expects her to stay.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I thought the writing was excellent and the character development really made the book shine. Growing up with physical violence in my own childhood, made this book hit a little too close for comfort. I almost stopped reading it, but I’m glad I kept with it. The ending was perfect.

I received an ARC of the book.

It's the 1970s in Appalachia, specifically Baines Creek, and Sadie Blue is coming into young adulthood the hard way. At seventeen she is pregnant and married to a no good drunk. Through the local healer, Birdie, and the new teacher will Sadie be able to learn how to save herself?

I thoroughly enjoyed this new voice in fiction. Leah Weiss writes with a beauty of a culture that is misunderstood but one that we all could learn from if we opened our hearts and eyes. She writes with a first person voice from several characters point of view. The main character being Sadie Blue who you cheer on as she struggles. Weiss uses the Appalachian vernacular that without would not make the story as moving and powerful.

A part of me would like to see a sequel letting us know how Sadie Blue's fate plays out but at the same time I like the idea of the author leaving it up to my imagination.

I would recommend this book to any fan of fiction. If you like to read Silas House then you will like debut author, Leah Weiss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

Halfway through reading I went to check who this Leah Weiss was and was really surprised that this is her debut novel. Absolutely superb writing. She is able to draw characters with care and subtlety. Characters which you've already judged before meeting personally but then Weiss comes in and give us the character's perspective and it's a whole new ball game.

So there I am absolutely in love with the writing and the people she is telling me about and also the love she has for the place she is talking about. How she is able to bring out the poverty, the dirt and the mountain which dominates and the soul of the people. And it was nearing the end of the book and a sudden thought came, I am in no way ready for this book to finish and rightly so when the ending came I was not ready and the underpinning story is still loosely held and I felt kind of lost. Maybe I am still lost on that mountain trying to find those people and know more of their story. And the thing is I do not know if this feeling is because of a lack in the book or it's how I am supposed to feel.

Would I read more Weiss - absolutely - looking forward to it in fact.

My Review: 4/5
Great praise for this book.  This was unlike anything I’ve read.  It was a fresh break from my usual reads, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, it tells the story of a small town and the interesting people who inhabit it.  The story is told from different points of view, about 10 in all.  We start with Sadie, a lovely girl who has already encountered hardship at a young age.  She finds herself pregnant with the town’s bad-boy and is instantly a wife and soon-to-be mother.  This sweet girl stole my heart.  I loved her optimism and longing to love life, even though she was trapped in a loveless, hopeless world.
The author did a fabulous job describing the culture of mountain-life.  The poverty level was unreal.  The language at times was difficult to understand.  Again, the author nailed this.  I felt so immersed in the story, I was right along with the citizens of the mountain.
This book was original.  I am still trying to understand how this is the author’s debut novel.  Superb job!

3 out of 5 stars to If The Creek Don't Rise, an historical fiction novel set to be published in August 2017, written by Leah Weiss. I enjoyed reading the book, selecting 3 stars because it had several strong parts but also some concerns that I'll share later. Overall, I'm glad I read it.

Why This Book
I read the description of this book via NetGalley, where I search for all my ARCs, and thought it would be a great read prior to my upcoming trip to North Carolina, where I may be stopping in the same rural mountain area.

Plot, Characters & Setting
This is an ensemble book about a cast of 10 characters in the mid 20th century who live in the rural area of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. It covers a few events that occurred to some of the townspeople in Baines Creek, providing the view points from different sides of the story. It centers around Sadie Blue, a 17-year-old girl who marries the man who has just gotten her pregnant. From there, the book covers domestic abuse, murder, religion, family, love and friendships. At its core, the novel covers the various relationships built in the town, understanding who sits back doing nothing versus who takes action when they are passionate about the outcome and protection of life.

Approach & Style
I read the electronic version on my Kindle via an iPad over the course of five nights. The book is about 300 pages, each 20 pages long across 15 chapters. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, written in the first person perspective. Dialect is important given the book is recreating life during a historical time period in a very specific region where culture and society are quite different.

Strengths
The characters are very clear and distinct. Each of the major players has a voice you will recognize and understand. Sometimes you will love them and sometimes you will hate them, but each one will leave an impression.

The setting is quite strong. You will feel transported to this rural town in the mountains. From the description, to the dialect and to the way the story unfolds, it matches what you'd expect from the constructs of this type of environment. You will feel like you are in the town.

It deals with very specific personal and family issues that will resonate will a lot of people. From a social perspective, it highlights things that happened in the past that were almost condoned or allowed to happen, due to people's fears and lack of education or knowledge.

Concerns
When I read the description, I thought it would be a great plot and story. But when I read the book, it was quite different. This is not a novel where a primary plot point drives the chapters. It's a character-driven story that tells of the happenings in a small town. The plot isn't as important as the way each of the characters interpret it. I found myself skimming pages to get to the crux of the story, but it never happened. It's a preference style, and I think the book should be marketed differently and have an alternative description or cover summary. It would help find a different set of readers who enjoy this type of book. Had I known, I might have spent more time investing in the characters in the beginning rather than trying to piece together a plot that wasn't going to become any more clear. That said, it's still a well-written book and will appeal to a wide audience.

Author & Other Similar Books
Although they are not of the same caliber, it reminded me of the book Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Both books cover highly controversial social issues within a small town, telling the story of how everyone reacts to a few critical events. Where Beartown brings a focus on plot, this book is more about how people interpret society's values and actions.

It's the author's first book, but she shows a lot of promise. I would read another of her books, but I'd want to be careful to understand the plot and approach to telling the story to verify it matches with the way I like to read a book.

Final Thoughts
In my world, a 3 is a good review. It means you had good elements and a few things I didn't quite latch on to. If this had a little more action and some clarity around the plot and point of the book, I might have given it a 4. That said, it will definitely resonate with many readers given it has a strong pull to connect you to the characters and the setting. Hope you enjoy it.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at ThisIsMyTruthNow, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

This book picked me up and dropped me right in 1970 Appalachia. I swear, I was right there with each and every character standing right next them. I felt their desperation, their resignation, their determination. There was misery and joy. There was anger and wonder.

While characterization was excellent, so was the atmosphere. Hooch, ginseng, weather, foods, and more were part of the scenery behind the characters. I would love to spend time in Birdie’s cabin and read her journals.

Each character had their story to tell, but it was Sadie Blue, 17 and pregnant, who started and ended this book. Some might say everything in this book was stereotyped, but it all felt real to me. I thought this was a delight to read.

If The Creek Don't Rise is the story of a woman trying to find her way in the hills of Appalachia in a small town called Baines Creek. Sadie Blue has only been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin but realizes that was a mistake, even with a baby on the way. It takes a stranger to move into the area for things to be shaken up for Sadie to find her voice and be the person that she was meant to be. As we explore different people's views as things happen to Sadie, we are reminded what secrets are better left in the dark in the most perfect way to end this story!

This book had me captivated from the first page to the very last word, it truly was a good book to read. I would have liked it better if it didn't swing so fast to one character to the next, sometimes without much warning but overall, you still understand what is happening within the story to not get lost in it. The thing that got me was the simple fact that things like this really do happen in Appalachia more than we like to know or care to enough to want to help out someone like Sadie who just wants a fighting chance to be something more than what is expected of her to do.

Thank You to Leah Weiss for writing a pretty good first story that I hope to see more of in the future!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

If the Creek Don’t Rise is a glimpse into the remote Appalachian culture. The dialogue and the character development, pull you in and make you feel like you are a part of it.

The main character is Sadie Blue. Sadie is pregnant, and has been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin. Everyone in town knows that Roy is bad news and now with the beatings that are occurring regularly, Sadie knows it too.

The story is told through the eyes of several characters, Sadie tying them all together. Most of the characters know what is happening to Sadie, but they dob’t want to get in her business. They are hoping that she will decide for herself to leave Roy and then they will be there to help her.

There are several interesting characters. A fresh voice comes from Kate Shaw - a new teacher that has just come to town. The town goes through teachers quickly and no one expects her to stay.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I thought the writing was excellent and the character development really made the book shine. Growing up with physical violence in my own childhood, made this book hit a little too close for comfort. I almost stopped reading it, but I’m glad I kept with it. The ending was perfect.

I received an ARC of the book.

It's the 1970s in Appalachia, specifically Baines Creek, and Sadie Blue is coming into young adulthood the hard way. At seventeen she is pregnant and married to a no good drunk. Through the local healer, Birdie, and the new teacher will Sadie be able to learn how to save herself?

I thoroughly enjoyed this new voice in fiction. Leah Weiss writes with a beauty of a culture that is misunderstood but one that we all could learn from if we opened our hearts and eyes. She writes with a first person voice from several characters point of view. The main character being Sadie Blue who you cheer on as she struggles. Weiss uses the Appalachian vernacular that without would not make the story as moving and powerful.

A part of me would like to see a sequel letting us know how Sadie Blue's fate plays out but at the same time I like the idea of the author leaving it up to my imagination.

I would recommend this book to any fan of fiction. If you like to read Silas House then you will like debut author, Leah Weiss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

Halfway through reading I went to check who this Leah Weiss was and was really surprised that this is her debut novel. Absolutely superb writing. She is able to draw characters with care and subtlety. Characters which you've already judged before meeting personally but then Weiss comes in and give us the character's perspective and it's a whole new ball game.

So there I am absolutely in love with the writing and the people she is telling me about and also the love she has for the place she is talking about. How she is able to bring out the poverty, the dirt and the mountain which dominates and the soul of the people. And it was nearing the end of the book and a sudden thought came, I am in no way ready for this book to finish and rightly so when the ending came I was not ready and the underpinning story is still loosely held and I felt kind of lost. Maybe I am still lost on that mountain trying to find those people and know more of their story. And the thing is I do not know if this feeling is because of a lack in the book or it's how I am supposed to feel.

Would I read more Weiss - absolutely - looking forward to it in fact.

My Review: 4/5
Great praise for this book.  This was unlike anything I’ve read.  It was a fresh break from my usual reads, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, it tells the story of a small town and the interesting people who inhabit it.  The story is told from different points of view, about 10 in all.  We start with Sadie, a lovely girl who has already encountered hardship at a young age.  She finds herself pregnant with the town’s bad-boy and is instantly a wife and soon-to-be mother.  This sweet girl stole my heart.  I loved her optimism and longing to love life, even though she was trapped in a loveless, hopeless world.
The author did a fabulous job describing the culture of mountain-life.  The poverty level was unreal.  The language at times was difficult to understand.  Again, the author nailed this.  I felt so immersed in the story, I was right along with the citizens of the mountain.
This book was original.  I am still trying to understand how this is the author’s debut novel.  Superb job!

3 out of 5 stars to If The Creek Don't Rise, an historical fiction novel set to be published in August 2017, written by Leah Weiss. I enjoyed reading the book, selecting 3 stars because it had several strong parts but also some concerns that I'll share later. Overall, I'm glad I read it.

Why This Book
I read the description of this book via NetGalley, where I search for all my ARCs, and thought it would be a great read prior to my upcoming trip to North Carolina, where I may be stopping in the same rural mountain area.

Plot, Characters & Setting
This is an ensemble book about a cast of 10 characters in the mid 20th century who live in the rural area of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. It covers a few events that occurred to some of the townspeople in Baines Creek, providing the view points from different sides of the story. It centers around Sadie Blue, a 17-year-old girl who marries the man who has just gotten her pregnant. From there, the book covers domestic abuse, murder, religion, family, love and friendships. At its core, the novel covers the various relationships built in the town, understanding who sits back doing nothing versus who takes action when they are passionate about the outcome and protection of life.

Approach & Style
I read the electronic version on my Kindle via an iPad over the course of five nights. The book is about 300 pages, each 20 pages long across 15 chapters. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, written in the first person perspective. Dialect is important given the book is recreating life during a historical time period in a very specific region where culture and society are quite different.

Strengths
The characters are very clear and distinct. Each of the major players has a voice you will recognize and understand. Sometimes you will love them and sometimes you will hate them, but each one will leave an impression.

The setting is quite strong. You will feel transported to this rural town in the mountains. From the description, to the dialect and to the way the story unfolds, it matches what you'd expect from the constructs of this type of environment. You will feel like you are in the town.

It deals with very specific personal and family issues that will resonate will a lot of people. From a social perspective, it highlights things that happened in the past that were almost condoned or allowed to happen, due to people's fears and lack of education or knowledge.

Concerns
When I read the description, I thought it would be a great plot and story. But when I read the book, it was quite different. This is not a novel where a primary plot point drives the chapters. It's a character-driven story that tells of the happenings in a small town. The plot isn't as important as the way each of the characters interpret it. I found myself skimming pages to get to the crux of the story, but it never happened. It's a preference style, and I think the book should be marketed differently and have an alternative description or cover summary. It would help find a different set of readers who enjoy this type of book. Had I known, I might have spent more time investing in the characters in the beginning rather than trying to piece together a plot that wasn't going to become any more clear. That said, it's still a well-written book and will appeal to a wide audience.

Author & Other Similar Books
Although they are not of the same caliber, it reminded me of the book Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Both books cover highly controversial social issues within a small town, telling the story of how everyone reacts to a few critical events. Where Beartown brings a focus on plot, this book is more about how people interpret society's values and actions.

It's the author's first book, but she shows a lot of promise. I would read another of her books, but I'd want to be careful to understand the plot and approach to telling the story to verify it matches with the way I like to read a book.

Final Thoughts
In my world, a 3 is a good review. It means you had good elements and a few things I didn't quite latch on to. If this had a little more action and some clarity around the plot and point of the book, I might have given it a 4. That said, it will definitely resonate with many readers given it has a strong pull to connect you to the characters and the setting. Hope you enjoy it.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at ThisIsMyTruthNow, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

My review is broken into two parts: one for the writing, and one for the story. I've averaged out my review to 4-stars because I'd give the actual writing 5, and the story 3. It isn't that the story was bad, but it was almost 300 pages of unrelenting sadness, poverty, despair, illiteracy, etc. I love southern fiction, and don't mind a bit of darkness hovering over it, but this book was too dark to see daylight. With the exception of Kate and possibly the preacher, the characters where either disturbingly evil, or pathetically weak in most cases. As for the actual writing, (subject matter aside) I thought it was terrific. If dark matter is your thing, I believe you will love this book. Leah Weiss spun a wonderful tale, accurately depicted Appalachia as it was in that time period, mastered the dialect, and drew me into their lives. It truly is a wonderful debut novel, heavy darkness aside. It also contains one of the most satisfying last lines I've ever read. I would absolutely love to see more by this author, but would skim through for a ray or two of sunlight before purchasing.

I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. A very honest look at life in Appalachia. These are desperate people with desperate lives and buried secrets who live a life of extreme poverty in isolation from the outside world until a strong and kind stranger comes to the area. This stranger is the new schoolteacher who sort of “upsets the apple cart.” This is a very well written book with well developed and true to life characters and an appropriate plot. The mood, living conditions, and language are genuine for Appalachia. I couldn’t put it down. The author lets us see all sides of life in Appalachia, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was happy to see Sadie finally come out on top at the end. There are some very interesting characters some of which are despicable and others very likeable. This book is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more from Leah Weiss in the future.

I started reading If the Creek Don't Rise and was soon convinced that this was going to be a typical Appalachian novel of strong persecuted women and worthless men behaving badly. it took me awhile to get the rhythm of the language, but it wasn't long after when I became fully absorbed in this story. The author does a fantastic job in capturing the speech of the region and portraying a vivid cast of characters in all of there complexity.

Part literary examination of an often misunderstood region, part mystery and part family story, If the Creek Don't Rise is a compelling read and an enthusiastic recommend for fans of heart felt regional fiction.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lean Weiss, and Sourcebooks - Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This novel is set in Appalachia in the 1970's and is written in first person of several of the protagonists. This is an interesting presentation, and not as confusing as it would at first seem. I found myself more heavily invested in some of the characters. The bad guys are mostly all bad. Roy Tupkin is a snake and at first seems the most dangerous to Sadie, but Billy is mentally challenged as well as pretty crazy. I really enjoyed Birdie and of course Sadie Blue held my sympathy throughout the novel. I love that she confides in both her dead daddy and Loretta Lynn, or occasionally Patsy Cline or George Jones. Of course that sounds crazy, but she is for the most part simply very young and naive. I enjoyed watching her mature. Leah Weiss is an author I will follow.

One thing I like about books is their ability to take you to a place you have never been and aren't likely to visit. This book did that in spades. There is one unusual technique in the story telling with this book, in that each chapter is told in first person by a different character. I have read some reviews that say because of this, the main character's story only covers three chapters or so. Not so. Her story is the cord that binds all the chapters together. The use of separate viewpoints make the story richer and more nuanced.
I read this book for a book club as an example of Southern Gothic. It was on my to-be-read list before the book club picked that genre for this months reading. I enjoyed the book. I found the heavy subject matter was handled with a light touch.

This book is so well written it is hard to believe it is a first novel. Set in 1970, this is the story of Sadie Blue, pregnant, aged 17, and married to sadistic Roy Tupkin. The structure of the novel gives voice to different residents of the Appalachian town, but each resident knows Sadie and hers is the main story that moves the plot along. The author did a good job with characterization and voice, and the residents have many stories to tell. I was a bit frustrated at some of the loose ends in individual lives that were dropped on the way to an amazing ending. Perhaps there will be a sequel, because by the end of this novel you will find yourself caring about what happens to these folks. Although it did not occur to me while reading, after finishing it I wondered at the lack of a presence of the Vietnam War, which was fought by so many of the children of the poor.

I don't know what it was about this book that first attracted me, possibly the fact that it is something completely different to what i have read before. Whatever it was, i can tell you now, i was not disappointed.
It didn't really have a deep set plot as such, i found it more of a character book. The chapters told the story using the characters own points of view. It described their personal lives, and really drew me in as a reader.
I honestly loved it, i found it refreshing and kind of cosy at the same time. It was an interesting setting and the time frame too, gave it a wholesome feel. However, once i'd finished i found myself feeling kind of lonely, and missing it all.
A really fascinating, well written read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Set in the 1970s in a small settlement called Baines Creek, this is mainly the story of Sadie Blue, a 17 year old Appalachian girl in an abusive marriage. Told from multiple points of view including Sadie herself, the preacher and his spinster sister, her grandma who survived her own abusive marriage and the new school teacher Kate who befriends her. The town may be tiny but the kindness of some of it's inhabitants is huge as they try to bring a bit of comfort to those in need. Not to say that all is sweetness and light here because there are certainly some characters I loved to hate! Many characters also have their own back stories going on which add a lot of heart and drama to this mesmerizing story.

I received an advance copy for review

I almost never put aside a book I've started in favor of a new one, but Leah Weiss's If The Creek Don't Rise made me do just that. I went to her book launch, bought the book before she arrived, and began reading the opening pages. I sat up late into the night reading.

This is a new author with a fresh voice. Writing Appalachian fiction, Weiss tells of a group of people in a small town deep in the mountains in 1970. Each chapter focuses on a unique character and is told in that character's voice. Weiss displays a mastery of character development, voice, and plot too often lacking in a debut writer. She is one worth watching.

Highly recommended for people who like literary fiction as well as regional tales.

I was captivated by this story from the first few pages but then became disinterested after the first few chapters. I struggled to continue reading it. The storyline just wasn’t one I’m particularly fascinated by which made reading a little hard. I thought the author did a great job keeping within character. The language used is impeccable. Very true to the people of the area the story takes place in. Loved that she went that detailed with the characters and the way they speak. Great job.
Although it wasn’t my favorite story the writing was good.
I received a digital copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

This book was not at all what I had been expecting and even still it was great! The format was quite unique.
I was worried about a third of the way through it that I was not going to be able to connect with all of the characters and while I did enjoy some perspectives more than others the entire book worked well for me. Being from the South I was very interested in the plot and learning more about the area. It is very true to the struggle that many in this region go through. There is something here to learn and enjoy for all readers.

* Thank you to Leah Weiss, the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I stumbled upon this book while browsing the shelves at my local library. Intrigued by the title, I'm so glad I picked it up and read the blurb on the back. Reading the stories of Sadie and her grandmother, Gladys, was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Both women experienced abuse during their marriages, and both dealt with it in different ways. Throughout the course of the story, I rooted for Sadie as she changed and grew stronger. The unique voices of the characters will stay with me for a long time. Excellent read.

I read this book in exchange for a review for NetGalley.

As my 4 star rating suggests, I really liked this book. I found that it grew on my as I read it. The story is told linearly from multiple points of few, and while some authors struggle with this, I found that it really worked here. Each time the character changed, there was enough repetition so that you knew where you were starting, but done in a very subtle way so that you didn't feel like you were hearing something you'd heard a million times already. It actually reminded me a lot about how stories get passed along in small town, which I'm sure the author was trying to achieve. Well done there!

Each character then took ownership of the story and gave us something new, or revealed something that the next character would expand upon. At first, the grammar threw me off a little bit, but as it is being used to immerse you in the world that the story takes place in (Appalachia), after awhile you get used to it.

Two things that I find interesting:
1.) The book blurb depicts the story being about Sadie Blue, and while she is a main character and the book begins and ends with her, I'm not sure the book is truly about her at all. It's certainly not ONLY about Sadie.
2.) I'm not really certain what the true story is about, and the interesting thing is that it's told so well that I'm not sure I even care. Most of the time that really bothers me, a story that just seems to ramble on with no direction or end point in sight. Maybe that's just because of the expectation I had that the book was about Sadie's story, but it was much more than that. I believe it's the story of how we either let our circumstances dictate our choices, or let our choices dictate our circumstances. Every character in the book spoke to this in some way or another.

I believe this is a book that I will be thinking about in the months to come, and will certainly revisit.

Stunning characterizations of a passel of North Carolina hill folk in the early 1970's. This story is simply written, heart wrenching and yet beautiful at the same time. The tale is simple but it is the setting descriptions and dialog that carry the reader right into the time and place. I'll admit I got this book from my public library. I'm recommending it to all my reader friends.

This story sucked me in from the first words, and I couldn't look away. I love the view that the many narrators show the complexity of a place often simplified into nothing more than sterotypes. Having grown up in Appalachia, with areas that from the stories of family not that different from Baines Creek, the voices in this story rang true. I can't wait to read more from Leah Weiss. This is another ARC that I'm gonna need to go out & buy to reread

I devoured this book like a starving person. The characters are completely different from traditional backgrounds, but so true to life in that era and area of Appalachian mountain folks. My heart breaks for Sadie Blue, along with the other women that have been treated like property for abusive husband's and family members. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I have, and I will wait patiently for the next book by this great author.

Needed to be longer. Ended too abruptly. Still wonder what happens to most of the characters she introduced. Teacher Kate Shaw a very interesting character. I want to know more about her. Typical southern ending. I like southern authors for this reason but this one left me wanting more. Some of her phrasing is so beautiful it will bring tears to your eyes. I enjoyed the short read.

I enjoyed reading this book but the author did not wrap up many side stories involving the other characters, who were introduced with great detail via personal stand-alone chapters. The main character's situation is resolved, but no one else's. As it stands, the book leaves no direction for the ill-tempered and down-trodden characters; they receive no enlightenment nor redemption, and the secondary romance of two major characters is not developed. Our imaginations could be at least pointed in the right direction, but we are left grasping at straws. I would have enjoyed reading a few additional chapters.

I didn't feel that some of the characters in this book should have had a part, or maybe their roles should have been extended. "Tater". or "Gramma" really offered nothing to this book. This was a story about wife abuse, and left me cold. I gave it a three stars, because the writing was good. I loved Leah Weiss' other books though..

Life in the 1970's in Baines Creek in the Appalachian Mountains tells how Sadie Blue Hicks lived and survived with the help of her friends. Strange things happen that the new teacher Kate Shaw from the Valley doesn't understand but tries to go along wit h their ways. A very good unsuspected ending!

Clumsy use of phoneticized dialect; I grew up in the region and can tell how the author intends her characters to sound, but it's distracting. Slow-moving and predictable, with heavy-handed character development. Leans painfully on overdone Appalachian character stereotypes. This book's mostly positive reception is curious; it's not in the same league as so many other contemporary Appalachian novels.

Great book. Fast read. Took it along on my summer vacation. I couldn’t get motivated to start this book, but once I did begin, I finished it in 2 days. Loved the way the author developed the characters. Unique way of laying out the chapters. Great book. I’d like part 2.

I read a lot and I have to say this is the best book I’ve read in a very long time. I did not care for the abrupt ending (although it was perfect). I hope there will be another book because I want to know more about Miss Kate, Birdie, etc. It was beautiful writing and the book drew me in like the works of Pat Conroy!

I have not read a book this GREAT in a long time! I did not buy it from the store, but it is so good that I would shout it from a mountain top! I hate to finish the book, but will probably read it again. It is that interesting! I hope the author is busy with another story! Thank you to Leah Weiss for sharing her gift of story telling and what a story it is!

I won this book in a giveaway, and I am so glad I did. 'If The Creek Don't Rise,' is a book that I did not want to end, it was that good! The setting is Appalachia, and the people that live in Baines Creek. There's about ten characters in this story and Weiss has the ability to make each one of them jump right out of the page, as if they had a real beating heart. Each chapter is told in the voice of a different character, and the reader gets to know what makes them the way they are, from the inside out. In my book, Weiss has hit a home run, in her debut novel. I can't wait for her next book!

I really liked the unique writing in this one. Most of the characters were quite interesting but some could have been left out. This novel was very different from anything I've read before. Great debut novel and I definitely will read more from this author

This is the best book I have read in a good while, and I read at least 2 per week. It is VERY well written, and you could not get closer to the characters. Which brings up the fact that I want to continue reading, because I want to see the future of those 8 people. I hope, Ms. Weiss, that book two is in the works.

Sadie Blue gets pregnant and marries Roy Tupkin, it doesn’t take long for her to realize she has made a serious mistake. Told from different viewpoints, Sadie, her grandmother, her aunt, the local preacher, the school teacher, Roy Tupkin, life in the Appalachian mountains comes to life.

I highly recommend this novel. It took me into the minds of people who are struggling with a difficult life. It has a few side characters who are trying to better the lives of those struggling with poverty and abuse. Very good book.

i really enjoyed this book. Outstanding characters, Southern Gothic touches, and decent local dialect. i loved the ending but felt the lives of most characters were simply dropped and not resolved. I hope that means there will be a sequel.

Ms. Weiss knocked it out of the park and this is a debut novel. I could not put down this book. What insight into these characters. I am hoping she will write a follow up book. I want to know more about these folks. Actually this novel can continue to grow. And I could easily see this transferred to screen. There is so such potential here. Thank you Ms. Weiss.

This is the best novel of the rural South I've read since "To Kill a Mockingbird." Weiss' writing is simply extraordinary. It reminds me of Charles Frazier's work in "Cold Mountain," where I'd stop dead in my tracks every few tracks and ask myself, "Where the hell did he get that?!?" Serious story of the abuse of women, of ignorance and of a culture under attack. Weiss understands Appalachia (and can even pronounce it) and reports its harsh realities and its strengths in this book.

This was a well written story about the poverty of soul in the Appalachia foothills. The author demonstrates clearly how education is really the only hope to make a different life for those held in the grip of extreme poverty.
I wish there was an epilogue so we can see where Sadie Blue ends up.

I'm going to try and be fair here. First of all Leah Weiss is a very good writer. So good in fact that she has managed to hike up my levels of depression to that of a weekend world news binge watch in which all hope for humanity is given up on altogether and while I might not be suicidal I do welcome the idea of death.

To be honest this is NOT what I look for when I read as I enjoy escapism from life and reality and Weiss just blugeoned me with just how worn down and tragic things can be. So I stopped reading and went and listened to a lot of 80'S rock and I'm now re-reading the Harry Potter series.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book initially due to its being written in the native dialect. Once I read a few chapters I began to really enjoy, and dislike, some characters. Truly enjoyed it!

one of the best books in a long time, coming out of the South. Excellent writing, reminding us of another great southern writer, Lee Smith. hopefully, there will more books from the pen of Leah Weiss.

Reminiscent of Faulkner and Marilynne Robinson . The writing, like the characters, seems at first simple and straightforward, but there is more under the surface.Quickly draws you in. Will be re reading this for years to come.

It is rare that a book is written so well that I can actually visualize and imagine how the characters look and how their voices sound.
I bought this book at an airport on a very long trip home. I read it non-stop and finished it in one day. The story is interesting, descriptive, and the characters believable. A great read.

In the hills of Applachia, there are towns that seem like they haven't aged and life is still primitive and this book explores one of those towns as a new teacher has come to town to teach the children and will maybe stir up things.

With only a few chapters and each chapter narrated by a different character and only a few chapters had repeats, it was an full view because you saw life through the pastor, a woman who was abused by her husband, her grandmother and her aunt and so on.

I lived in North Carolina in two parts for quite a few years and North Carolina has a special place in my heart because it is where I was first an adult and I am not naive to say that there are towns like this both in North Carolina and in many if not all other states in the United States, but this book just didn't work for me. It felt like a caricature of this lifestyle and just disingenuous. I was cringing a few times not because I didn't think it was true, it just didn't feel right. I feel like I am talking circles, but its hard to describe what I really didn't love about it, but I felt it through the whole book.

I would read another book by this author, only if it wasn't set in this area because it wasn't her writing her per say it was more her portrayal.

The thing I most liked was the strength found in unexpected characters. I felt I was actually taking a walk through Applachia all the while forced to be aware of my surroundings. I read the book in one day.

I almost did not finish this book. Had I realized that every chapter is narrated by a different character I would not have ordered the book. I just don't enjoy reading books where so many people narrate that the timeline becomes confusing and you don't know who is telling the truth. I decided to force myself to finish and the book did get more interesting as I got deeper in the story.

This story is about a group of people who live in the Appalachian mountains. The stories centers, somewhat, about a teenage girl named Sadie Blue. She is naive, innocent and trusting but gets all that beat out of her when she marries the wrong man. The hardest part for me was how depressing the book is. Everyone has killed someone, is thinking of killing someone or is planning to ruin someone's life. There isn't one sweet thing about this book and it made life under the Trump regime seem like a walk in the park.

Honestly, I can't recommend this book unless you want a major dose of depression riding you for days after.

This book was recommended on a blog that I enjoy, and I was happy that my public library had it. I could not get into this book. It is extremely negative, with unsympathetic characters I could not relate to. The use of the mountain dialect makes reading the book even harder. A fifteen-year-old girl marries a 20-something drunkard who has gotten her pregnant and abuses her. The novel takes place in 1970, and one of the few characters who speaks regular English speaks up in favor of abortion (then illegal), How PC. Finally, the murdering bad guy is done in by his weird best friend.
How charming.

I enjoyed this book very much. I especially love the setting. Ms. Weiss knows her Appalachia. The characters were great, but I wanted more from some of them. Prudence! I wanted to see her get her comeuppance! Preacher & the schoolteacher! What happens with them? I enjoyed Sadie Blue & her friends & the ending was satisfying, but wanted to hear more from the other characters in the book. Hopefully, please, there will be more from this author about Baines Creek!

Sadie Blue. Pregnant, seventeen, still a newlywed, if maybe a little less optimistic about her hopes for her marriage since her husband Roy Tupkin knocked her around a bit. Her only weakness, if you can call it that, is her love of Loretta Lynn. She can’t read the magazine she carries around with her since she only knows how to read but a few words, but she knows all her lyrics from listening to her on the radio. Her daddy, Otis Blue, has passed on, but continues to give advice to Sadie on saving herself from Roy’s temper. Her mother, Carly, left Sadie’s father when she was just a baby, leaving town with a “fancy man full of flashy promises and little else.”

In the here and now of 1970’s Baines Creek, the person Sadie counts on most of all is her grandmother, her mother’s momma, the first of their family still living to come to live in Baines Creek. Mary Harris Jones, named after Mother Jones who once upon a time visited their little town of coal mine families. Born in 1898, she’d lived in Rock Bottom, West Virginia with her parents and brothers, a coal mining family among other coal mining families.

When Mary Harris Jones, called Marris as those two names slid into one, arrived in Baines Creek at ten years old, she saw colours for the first time, having never seen any in Rock Bottom where the sky and everything else was always coated in gray. The blue sky and white clouds seemed to be a glimpse of heaven.

"When I was born, my folks don’t live in Baines Creek in the highlands of North Carolina like now. Baines Creek don’t have coal to dig in its heart that breaks a man in two. When I come along, we live over Rock Bottom way in West Virginia, on the airish side of the mountain where coal dust sifted through slits around the windows, and spindly houses can’t be scrubbed clean. Where we lived looked the same inside as it did outside. Gray."

Part of her family left behind. Coalmines are dangerous work. Their family is smaller now.

"Rock Bottom cut the heart outta folks and let em walk round thinking they was alive when they won’t."

Sadie is still a bit of an innocent, hard to believe anyone could be in this place where moonshine is a primary source of income. Her heart is still open to people, despite everything life has tried to teach her, and when Miss Kate Shaw comes to Baines Creek to be the new teacher, they bond quickly. Sadie wants to help Kate, and Kate wants to help Sadie, help her learn to read and more. Others join in, an alliance, each intent on helping Sadie, but also the “others” within this group.

Each section shares a perspective of time and place and people, and there are many different perspectives. Amazingly this flows effortlessly, and you see their views, how those connect with young Sadie’s life, all of their stories lead you right back into Sadie’s story, a group consciousness, if you will, which reads as though you were sitting in the room with them. Narrated in a stream-of-consciousness type flow, with a uniquely Appalachian colloquial essence, which really adds to the joy of reading this unforgettable story. The narration might require a very slight adjustment. Words such as won’t instead of weren’t, writing by the sound rather than the standard spelling.

I loved this story, these wonderfully authentic characters, with a setting so purely raw, wild and gritty I could see it, the language so convincing I could hear the measured lilt of the drawl.

The ending is the cherry on top of the best sundae you’ve ever wanted to have. After a carefully concocted blend of flavours, it ends with that bit of zing you weren’t quite expecting.

This is Leah Weiss’ debut novel, which is hard to believe. I’m hoping she’ll return to these people in her next novel!

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Sourcebooks Landmark

“If the Creek Don’t Rise” by Leah Weiss

Leah Weiss has written of a poor small town in Appalachia. A novel that is richly and honestly written. It is a story using present day first person and is told from the perspective of several main characters. In telling their present day stories, the characters also reach into their past to provide a fuller and more reliable history of themselves and their relationships with others. The characters are all so varied and flawed; so realistic and human. So well written.

This is an authentic read that brings forth the heart of Appalichia, the effects of a poor town where present day hooch, ginseng root, and mining are all means of trying to make a living. For some, it is via stealing. Whatever it takes to get by.

This novel addresses the stereotypes, truths, falsehoods, and the mysticism of small town life in an area that is not well educated or well spoken. The author has nailed the dialect of the area as well as their cultural and belief system. To cement this aspect, she introduces a character from “the city,” as a means of bringing forth the cultural, verbal, and even dress differences within the two areas of Virginia.

Leah Weiss has written a fabulous, meaningful, and captivating novel that will remind the reader of many well-written southern writers, making this a must read for so many.

Rating: 4.7
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is one of those books that will stay in your memory for a long time. It was written in first-person, but each chapter was a different "first person". I wasn't sure where the plot was going and midway through I was beginning to think it was getting a bit tedious. But when things came together.... WOW! No spoilers... but when I read the last sentence of this book I almost fell out of my chair!

The story starts out with Sadie Blue and the hardships endured in the Appalachian mountain rural community of Baines Creek in the early 1970's. Sadie hears the voice of her daddy's spirit as he offers encouraging words for her to get out of the clutches of her abusive husband. As she recalls how she got into this situation, I just wanted to pull her into my heart. When you hear the thoughts of Gladys Hicks, Sadie's grandmother, in the next chapter, you get even more insight into the lives of the people in this community. This goes on for awhile with various situations being presented from the perspective of different people within the community. It is deeply southern and as a reader, I was soon pulled into the desperation of a poor, illiterate society and I also felt the compassion many of these people felt for one another. When a new school teacher comes to town, Sadie begins to realize her own self worth.

I was a bit surprised when I learned that this is a debut novel by this author. Leah Weiss writes like a seasoned author with fabulous world-building and the ability to make her characters come to life. It is heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time.

I loved this book and would heartily recommend it as a Book Club pick because there is so much that could be discussed with this one!

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing Company for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

My review is broken into two parts: one for the writing, and one for the story. I've averaged out my review to 4-stars because I'd give the actual writing 5, and the story 3. It isn't that the story was bad, but it was almost 300 pages of unrelenting sadness, poverty, despair, illiteracy, etc. I love southern fiction, and don't mind a bit of darkness hovering over it, but this book was too dark to see daylight. With the exception of Kate and possibly the preacher, the characters where either disturbingly evil, or pathetically weak in most cases. As for the actual writing, (subject matter aside) I thought it was terrific. If dark matter is your thing, I believe you will love this book. Leah Weiss spun a wonderful tale, accurately depicted Appalachia as it was in that time period, mastered the dialect, and drew me into their lives. It truly is a wonderful debut novel, heavy darkness aside. It also contains one of the most satisfying last lines I've ever read. I would absolutely love to see more by this author, but would skim through for a ray or two of sunlight before purchasing.

One thing I like about books is their ability to take you to a place you have never been and aren't likely to visit. This book did that in spades. There is one unusual technique in the story telling with this book, in that each chapter is told in first person by a different character. I have read some reviews that say because of this, the main character's story only covers three chapters or so. Not so. Her story is the cord that binds all the chapters together. The use of separate viewpoints make the story richer and more nuanced.
I read this book for a book club as an example of Southern Gothic. It was on my to-be-read list before the book club picked that genre for this months reading. I enjoyed the book. I found the heavy subject matter was handled with a light touch.

I don't know what it was about this book that first attracted me, possibly the fact that it is something completely different to what i have read before. Whatever it was, i can tell you now, i was not disappointed.
It didn't really have a deep set plot as such, i found it more of a character book. The chapters told the story using the characters own points of view. It described their personal lives, and really drew me in as a reader.
I honestly loved it, i found it refreshing and kind of cosy at the same time. It was an interesting setting and the time frame too, gave it a wholesome feel. However, once i'd finished i found myself feeling kind of lonely, and missing it all.
A really fascinating, well written read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Sadie Blue is 17 and pregnant by a man who thought loved her. She marries Ray and he starts physically abusing her immediately. The only support she has is her grandmother Gladys. Sadie needs to find the strength to leave Ray and realize she and her baby deserve so much more. This is a story told from many points of view, Sadie, Gladys, and various neighbors in the small town. It was a sad story but one filled with hope Thank you so to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

This is a debut novel by Leah Weiss and it really is good.I loved the cover of this book, it made me want to know more about the girl. It is a story told from different points of view where all the story starts to fall into place. It is a tearjerker so be ready for it, but a truly remarkable read. The people of Baines Creek are honest and gritty folk. This is a book of abuse and scandal but so well written

I stumbled upon this book while browsing the shelves at my local library. Intrigued by the title, I'm so glad I picked it up and read the blurb on the back. Reading the stories of Sadie and her grandmother, Gladys, was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. Both women experienced abuse during their marriages, and both dealt with it in different ways. Throughout the course of the story, I rooted for Sadie as she changed and grew stronger. The unique voices of the characters will stay with me for a long time. Excellent read.

Full of orginal characters! The book is a little hard to get into at first because of he dialect, but don't give up. You'll be rewarded with a host of unforgettable characters/ The good, the evil, the strange -- they are all found in this book. as varied as the landscape itself.

The girl who grew up alone with her father had to learn so many lessons the hard way. She trusted some people she shouldn't have and gave the benefit of the doubt to those who took advantage of her. He mom was heartless and selfish to the core!