Our Souls at Night

A Novel

By: Kent Haruf

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A spare yet eloquent, bittersweet yet inspiring story of a man and a woman who, in advanced age, come together to wrestle with the events of their lives and their hopes for the imminent future.

In the familiar setting of Holt, Colorado, home to all of Kent Haruf's inimitable fiction, Addie Moore pays an unexpected visit to a neighbor, Louis Waters. Her husband died years ago, as did his wife, and in such a small town they naturally have known of each other for decades; in fact, Addie was quite fond of Louis's wife. His daughter lives hours away in Colorado Springs, her son even farther away in Grand Junction, and Addie and Louis have long been living alone in houses now empty of family, the nights so terribly lonely, especially with no one to talk with.

Their brave adventures - their pleasures and their difficulties - are hugely involving and truly resonant, making Our Souls at Night the perfect final installment to this beloved writer's enduring contribution to American literature.

©2015 Kent Haruf (P)2015 Random House Audio

Well written and touching

Sweet, touching story of friendship in later years. A good listen. Well written and enjoyable.

Make Somebody Happy Today & Mind Your Own Business

"Make somebody happy today and mind your own business." Ann Landers

What a golden, enriching novel in which Haruf takes a tender look at friendship and romantic companionship late in life, as he masterfully brings together a widow and widower to show how the older among us can still find love if they open up to the possibility.

“Who would have thought at this time in our lives that we’d still have something like this. That it turns out we’re not finished with changes and excitements. And not all dried up in body and spirit.” Kent Haruf, Our Souls at Night

And then how the people around them can be so petty and puritanical and miserable. In this way, this short novel is rather heartbreaking.


"Puritanism -- the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H.L. Mencken

Great book, disappointing ending.

Great narrator, beautiful characters. I was let down by the ending. I think the characters were strong enough not to succumb to their children wishes.

Sweet and sad

At any age souls can meet and create bonds that last a life time. Luis was so complex but sweet. Good story, and heart warming.

Loneliness

The writing , the. plot, so low key and gentle and real. Very touching.
Will we ever learn to trust more and judge less?

I think I've read all of Haruf's books...

...and liked or loved them all. His writing is always simple yet eloquent.

There are plenty of good reviews that are longer than a sentence on here, so I'll just emphasize one thing: the ending.

Plenty of people (including me) are not going to like the ending. I didn't believe that Addie would have made the choice she did--it felt uncharacteristic. That's the only reason the ending bothered me somewhat. It wasn't the kind of ending that makes you want to throw the book (or your iPhone) across the room, but for some people, an unsatisfying ending ruins the book for them.

Apparently Haruf knew he was dying when he wrote this book and died just before he finished it. I wonder what effect that had on the ending he wrote. I'm sad this is the last book we'll ever see from him.

Our Souls at Night is simply perfect.

I've read quite a few five-star books, but very few “perfect” books. By perfect, I mean beautifully written and well-plotted, a book that has the power to pull me in to the story completely, and one that says something so personal that it feels like the author wrote it for me. Our Souls at Night is a perfect book. I've loved Kent Haruf's Holt trilogy, especially Benediction, and he has written a most marvelous final book. Perhaps I found it so moving because it is his final book, and as an author facing the end of life, Haruf has given the reader the gift of knowing exactly what needs to be said and saying it simply and eloquently.

I read several reviews while anxiously awaiting the publication of this book, so I expected the quiet and direct wonder of a personal novel about the search for happiness and the everyday. I was rewarded perfectly, profoundly, and more than amply.

Intimate and Thoughtful!

This is low-key, evocative short novel about the pursuit of happiness, second chances and perhaps most importantly about our need for companionship and intimacy.

Louis and Addie are both widowed, lonely and in their twilight of their lives.
So Addie visits Louis one night and comes up with a rather unique proposition:

You are probably wonder what I'm doing here, she said.
Well, I didn't think you came to tell me that my house looks nice.
No.
I want to suggest something to you.
Oh?
Yes, I kind of proposal.
Okay.
Not marriage, she said.
I didn't think that either.
I wonder if you would consider coming to my house sometimes to sleep with me.
What? How do you mean?
I mean we are both alone. We've been by ourselves for too long.
For years.
I am lonely.
I think you might be too.
I wonder if you would come and sleep with me in the night with me.
And talk.


After a very short consideration, Louis accepts Addie's proposition and so it begins their journey to chase what most probably is their last chance at achieving happiness and fulfillment in their lives.

That Mr. Haruf wrote this last novel, published posthumously, while he was dying, makes this book all the more remarkable.

Louis and Addie are both wonderful and noble characters and through it all your are rooting for them. It seems that through them the author was trying to remind us of the little things that really matter in life.

The outdoor scenes are wonderful and encouraged me to go outside, to enjoy and connect with nature again, something that many of us city folk frequently forget to do.

This story felt authentic, special and pure.

Beautiful!, Great Narrator

Where does Our Souls at Night rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

What was one of the most memorable moments of Our Souls at Night?

The ending.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Louis and Addie went to the National Forest in Holt County. A perfect day!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are no words to sum my reaction to Our Souls at Night, just immense FEELINGS! One word though, BEAUTIFUL.

Any additional comments?

Everyone, young, old and in between should read or listen to Our Souls at Night..

enchanting

I'm such a fan of the late Kent Haruf, I wish he could have lived to write many, many more books! His protagonists are simply decent people, funny, and honestly dealing with the interesting situations the author hands them, and I like them all very, very much. The writing here feels effortless, as light as air....this author just makes magic on the page! This story about two old neighbors, widow and widower, who decide to sleep in the same bed at night, just for the company, is funny and not funny, and we should all have something so lovely in our sunset years. It's short and perfect, don't miss it.