I was in the mood for a lightweight read, but Haruf’s spare prose is a deception, subterfuge. I welcomed a break from the hard-edged, twisty psychological suspense novels I’d been devouring. From the first page, the fresh breeze of a distinctive, clear voice wafted through me. The story unfolds in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, where Haruf’s earlier novel, PLAINSONG, was set. I wish my stories could make readers cry. To my husband’s bewilderment, all I could manage was wow, wow, wow. It had pierced my heart, where there are no words. You can read my book blog at finished Kent Haruf’s absorbing, finely crafted novel OUR SOULS AT NIGHT in tears. Try Kent Haruf’s possibly last novel, Our Souls at Night, and experience the warm glow of friendship, and see where it will take you. Addie struggles with what to do.Īddie and Louis’ story led to a marvelous afternoon of reading. This sensitive, warm, and delightful story does have a tragic ending, when Gene threatens to cut off contact with Addie’s only grandchild. This puts a hold of a few days on the plan, but eventually Louis and Jamie bond. His wife leaves him, and he ships his young son, Jamie, off to Addie for the summer. Unfortunately, Addie’s son Gene is horrified and disgusted. Of course, the busybodies in the small town of Holt do see, and the judgments begin raining down on them. Night after night, they talk about their lives, their sorrows, their regrets, past mistakes, and hopes for the future. The alley makes it seem we’re doing something wrong or something to be ashamed of’” (8). I made up my mind I’m not going to pay attention to what people think. He explains he wanted to hide their plan from the neighbors. The next day he skulks down the back alley with a paper bag containing pajamas and a toothbrush. ‘I guess you have.’ // ‘I’m not talking about sex.’ // ‘I wondered.’ (5).” Addie proposes they spend some nights together for companionship and talk. Have I taken your breath away?’ she said. She says, “I wonder if you would consider coming to my house sometimes to sleep with me.’ // ‘What? How do you mean?’ // He stared at her, watching her, curious now, cautious. ![]() One day, Addie knocks on Louis’ door to propose an idea. Louis knew her husband, Carl, but they were not close. Addie was friends with, Diane, Louis’ wife. Where has he been all my life?Īddie Moore is a widow who lives down the street from Louis Waters, a widower. He died at the young age of 71 at his home in Salida, Colorado. A number of his short stories have appeared in literary magazines. He received a Whiting Foundation award, a special Hemingway Foundation/PEN citation and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. All of his novels take place in the fictional town of Holt, based on the town of Yuma, Colorado. ![]() Before becoming a writer, he worked an amazing variety of jobs ranging from construction to a rehab hospital to Peace Corps English teacher. He earned an MFA from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop in 1973. Ah! serendipity! I bought the slim novel without even opening the cover. She mentioned a title or two, but I drew a blank, Later that day, I happened to wander into a bookstore, and on a table at the front of the shop was Kent Haruf’s latest novel, Our Souls at Night. ![]() ![]() I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies.Ī friend recently mentioned an author, Kent Haruf, and asked if I had ever read him. Enchanting story of two acquaintances who decide to become companions to each other.
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