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Our Souls at Night

Kent Haruf

Start date: August 8, 2015

Finish date: September 30, 2015

Discussion: Group Book Discussion

Why we're reading this: Our Souls at Night, Kent Haruf's last book, is our selection from the July/August Bookmarks Selections…more
[close] Our Souls at Night, Kent Haruf's last book, is our selection from the July/August Bookmarks Selections

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* July/August Bookmarks Selections
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last updated Aug 27, 2022 11:55PM

* May/June 2017 Bookmarks Selections
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What Members Thought

Dec 18, 2015 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: available-at-library, 2016-audio, tofb-2016

Our Souls at Night is a short little book that I was able to listen to in one day. The book itself should probably be rated 5 stars, but the story made me so mad that I can't bring myself to give it the 5th star.

I have never hated a character in a book as much as I hate and detest Gene, Addy's son. The book was such a heartwarming love story - just the book I needed to read right now - until he had to be written into it.

There are only 4 main characters in Our Souls at Night. Haruf does an excel ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2015 Elle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of

This quiet, thought provoking story touched me. I could see this making a very interesting discussion at a book club. So sad that this is the last of Haruf's works as he is such a beautiful writer. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2015 Doreen rated it really liked it

Shelves: calibre

Why is it I have not read any other novels by this writer?! This was a delightful read.

Addie Moore and Louis Waters are both widowed septuagenarians, neighbours in Holt, Colorado. One day, Addie approaches Louis with a proposal: “I wonder if you would come and sleep in the night with me. And talk.” Louis agrees; he too misses the companionship and comfort of a partner. As nights pass, the two get to know each other by speaking of their lives: meeting their spouses, the joys and sorrows of their Why is it I have not read any other novels by this writer?! This was a delightful read.

Addie Moore and Louis Waters are both widowed septuagenarians, neighbours in Holt, Colorado. One day, Addie approaches Louis with a proposal: “I wonder if you would come and sleep in the night with me. And talk.” Louis agrees; he too misses the companionship and comfort of a partner. As nights pass, the two get to know each other by speaking of their lives: meeting their spouses, the joys and sorrows of their marriages, hopes and dreams, successes and failures in their lives. All is well until people start to talk and Louis’s daughter and Addie’s son object to the arrangement.

This short novel takes ordinary events and makes them seem extraordinary. The two agree “to live simply and pay attention to what’s happening each day.” They take pleasure in the little things; Addie says, “I love this physical life with you. And the air and the country. The backyard, the gravel in the back alley. The grass. The cool nights. Lying in bed talking with you in the dark.” The book suggests that happiness can be found when one focuses on what really matters, and what really matters is often the simple things in life.

The novel also examines how people often sacrifice happiness for family. Louis speaks of wanting to be a poet but “I started teaching and [my daughter] came along and I got busy. I went to work in the summers painting houses. We needed the money. Or at least I thought we did.” Now Gene, Addie’s son, wants his mother to stop seeing Louis; he even tells Louis, “I want you to stay away from my mother. To leave my son alone. And forget about my mother’s money.” And Holly, Louis’s daughter, says the relationship “just seems embarrassing.” Must Addie stop seeing Louis so Gene will be happy and she can see her grandson? Allie says she doesn’t care about what people will say, “I made up my mind I’m not going to pay attention to what people think” and Louis agrees, “I don’t give a damn.” But opinion of family matters more than that of townspeople.

The style of this book is part of its charm. Simple words and simple sentences are used throughout, yet that simple, spare prose creates a complex story. The words chosen are perfect. For example, the second sentence of the novel is “It was an evening in May just before full dark.” That sentence doesn’t just establish setting; it suggests the subject of the novel – new love in the twilight years.

There is not a lot of explanation. Most scenes are graceful vignettes, and one is followed by another without elaboration. There is no direct characterization; we learn everything about the characters from their words and actions, not from what the narrator tells us. For example, we learn so much about Louis from the way he interacts with Jamie, Addie’s grandson.

This is a short novella telling a tender tale. It is written in a delicate, eloquent style, but its simplicity does not mean that the book is facile. I will definitely be checking out Haruf’s other books, especially the Plainsong series.

Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
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Sep 21, 2015 Judy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

This small book was a delight. It is character rather than plot driven and it is amazing how real the characters became to me in such a short book. I thought about the characters for days afterward.

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Aug 10, 2015 Jeana rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-5-star-books

4.5 Stars
Such a simple, beautiful, poignant story about love and companionship. Haruf's last book was the first that I have read. Just added Plainsong to my TBR. ...more

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