The Gulf

A Novel

By: Belle Boggs

Narrated by: Amanda Dolan

Marianne is in a slump: barely able to support herself by teaching, not making progress on her poetry, about to lose her Brooklyn apartment. When her novelist ex-fiance, Eric, and his venture capitalist brother, Mark, offer her a job directing a low-residency school for Christian writers at a motel they've inherited on Florida's Gulf Coast, she can't come up with a reason to say no.

The Genesis Inspirational Writing Ranch is born, and liberal, atheist Marianne is soon knee-deep in applications from writers whose political and religious beliefs she has always opposed but whose money she's glad to take. Janine is a schoolteacher whose heartfelt poems explore the final days of Terri Schiavo's life. Davonte is a former R&B superstar who hopes to reboot his career with a best-selling tale of excess and redemption. Lorraine and Tom, eccentric writers in need of paying jobs, join the Ranch as instructors.

Mark finds an investor in God's Word God's World, a business that develops for-profit schools for the Christian market, but the conditions that come along with their support become increasingly problematic, especially as Marianne grows closer to the students. As unsavory allegations mount, a hurricane bears down on the Ranch, and Marianne is faced with the consequences of her decisions.

©2019 Belle Boggs (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“A smart, slightly kooky exploration of art and money, faith and politics.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Decent book

I got this book because the premise seemed good and it turned out it was - good. The story was decent and the characters interesting but it was just good.

Slugged through half, then returned it.

I never quit a book before the end. That said, this book just had nothing going for it. The main character whined the whole time. I wanted to shout at the radio “find another job! You are 34 years old...go DO something with your life instead of whining incessantly.” I live on the gulf coast, and that is why I stayed with it so long. Could not find a redeeming factor.