The beauty of Kent Haruf’s ‘Our Souls at Night’

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  • Unknown-8Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (Random House Audio, 2015)
  • In 40 words or less: A beautiful, yet spare tale of two older adults who are changed through their relationship.
  • Genre: Fiction
  • Locale: Colorado
  • Time: Present
  • Read this to savor a story about the essence of humanity and the importance of relationships at every age.

There are some things are far better with a healthy measure of life experiences behind you. Kent Haruf’s Our Souls at Night is such a book. As with Haruf’s other novels, it takes place is small town Colorado. Addie Moore drums up the courage to approach her neighbor, Louis Waters, with a proposal. Both are widowed and up in years.  She suggests that they consider spending some nights together, talking in bed, an intimacy she misses and suspects he might as well. And so the story proceeds.

Over the course of this short novel their relationship grows.  They become the subject of gossip in town and consternation from their children. Life happens, both good and bad.

Our Souls at Night is written beautifully. The language is befitting the wise, yet simple characters. I had the good fortune to listen to the book read by Mark Bramhall. If anything, his reading amplified the message. It has been years since I wanted anyone other than my children to read me a bedtime story. More so than any other audiobook I’ve listened to, this one was true artistry. Whether holding the book in hand or listening to Bramhall’s voice, Our Souls at Night warms the heart.

Kent Haruf died on November 30, 2014, shortly after completing this book. At its publication six months later it was heralded as a fitting swan song. If only we could all finish out our days so well.

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3 thoughts on “The beauty of Kent Haruf’s ‘Our Souls at Night’”

  1. LIKED YOUR REVIEW…ESPECIALLY YOUR APPRECIATION OF THE AUDIO VERSION. I LOVE TO BE “READ TO” AND WILL LOOK FOR THIS TITLE ON AUDIBLE. COM. I JUST FINISHED LISTENING TO PLAIN SONG.
    THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.
    FLO

  2. I have been on a Kent Haruf kick lately, having just finished his first book “The Tie That Binds” and his photography book (co-authored) “West of Last Chance”. I have already read his Plainsong trilogy, so this book is on my to-read list. I’m sad there won’t be any more from him…

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