[simpleazon-link asin=”1101875895″ locale=”us”]Our Souls at Night: A novel[/simpleazon-link] by Kent Haruf
My review: 4.5 of 5 stars
As Kent Haruf’s last novel before his death, Our Souls at Night is bittersweet in more ways than one. The sparse but delicate prose managed to covey as much depth in the unspoken as in the spoken, perhaps more. I was immediately taken with Addie’s practicality, vulnerability and courage and Louis’ gentlemanly ways and honesty. Our Souls at Night portrays a simply story of two lonely people in their twilight years seeking comfort in one another and finding something deeper. It is an open, laid bare portrait of a life examined and intimacies shared. The novel is touching, hopeful and sad. Bittersweet and beautiful. I originally gave it five stars, but I lowered it slightly because the majority of our book club thought it merited only four. The ending seemed to be the sticking point. Many felt it was too abrupt, and I suppose it was. That abruptness felt right to me and aligned with the rest of the book, including the sudden way it began. Despite the different opinions about this aspect of the book, most enjoyed the read and related in some way to the characters. We were all moved by their experience. I highly recommend Our Souls at Night for fans of fiction that explores relationships and family. At only 179 pages, one can easily read this book in one quiet evening, and still be left with much to ponder.
For Book Clubs: