Although it is 1872, it seems as if the Civil War is still very important in the lives of the two main characters. Union Colonel Tom Randall still hates the South for hanging his sister as a Union spy. Meggy Hampton has protected her 5 sisters and aunt through the war years and is now ready to marry and have her own home and children. She moves to Oregon to find a marriageable man (a distant cousin) because life in South Carolina is difficult and there are few young Southern men left.
As she arrives at Devil's Camp, there is a funeral in process -- for her fiancee, Walter Peabody. Because there is nothing left in South Carolina, she decides to stay in the rough cabin her fiancee had willed to her. This is over the loud objections of the camp's leader, Tom Randall.
Meggy decides to bake and sell pies in order to earn money to return to South Carolina. Why? She knew there was nothing there remaining (the parson's home had been given to a new minister; all her sisters were married, etc.).
Each is attracted to the other but they realize that there can be nothing long-term for them; their antipathy for the other one's beliefs are too strong. Of course, that does not keep them from sharing a bed -- and that brings me to the 'log in the stream' for me. Meggy was a minister's daughter who led church activities (after her mother's death). Hopping into bed so quickly just did not ring true. Meggy was committed to her church activities and beliefs.
Why would a 25 year-old chaste woman do such a thing, with little or no remorse? People were deeply religious at this time in our history. Promiscuity was extremely rare.
On the other side, there was a lot of action that carried the plot along.
As she arrives at Devil's Camp, there is a funeral in process -- for her fiancee, Walter Peabody. Because there is nothing left in South Carolina, she decides to stay in the rough cabin her fiancee had willed to her. This is over the loud objections of the camp's leader, Tom Randall.
Meggy decides to bake and sell pies in order to earn money to return to South Carolina. Why? She knew there was nothing there remaining (the parson's home had been given to a new minister; all her sisters were married, etc.).
Each is attracted to the other but they realize that there can be nothing long-term for them; their antipathy for the other one's beliefs are too strong. Of course, that does not keep them from sharing a bed -- and that brings me to the 'log in the stream' for me. Meggy was a minister's daughter who led church activities (after her mother's death). Hopping into bed so quickly just did not ring true. Meggy was committed to her church activities and beliefs.
Why would a 25 year-old chaste woman do such a thing, with little or no remorse? People were deeply religious at this time in our history. Promiscuity was extremely rare.
On the other side, there was a lot of action that carried the plot along.
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