I just finished up the audio book Our Souls at Night: A novel by Kent Haruf. I saw that this was a movie with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford so I thought it might be a good book. I wanted to give it a try.
Overall, I liked the book. I was really excited but then a little confused when I looked at the app I listen with and saw there wasn’t very much time left in the book. I couldn’t figure out how the book could end…and well, then, it just ended. Hmm.  That is totally a pet peeve of mine. Authors, please finish your books. Books aren’t dictated by word count. It’s okay to add a few more…those were the words I wrote and then when writing the review I realize that the author died and this was the last book. That had me feeling bad I wrote what I did…but truth is truth. I like books to feel finished.  I wonder if this is all that was written before his death and they tried to make a book out of it. Who knows? Either way I feel a little cheated by either the author or the publishing company.
Here’s what Amazon had to say:“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.”
Amazon readers gave the book 4.3 stars. I think I’d agree. I really liked the book except for the ending. Another book that just ended. UGH. Will I watch the movie…likely. When writing the review I notice that this author wrote other aclaimed books. Hmmm…I might go learn some more about that. I did like the book before the ending. I’m willing to give him another try.
I have taken several of your book suggestions and thank you for lovely reading times.
I read this book a few weeks ago and wondered at the ending. I thought maybe the author wanted us the reader to write our own conclusion. Thanks for clearing that confusion up.
I really have enjoyed some of the books you have reviewed. I just wish my library carried more of them. Considering I live in huge city, you would think they would have more of them. I just finished listening to A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I thought it was very good and recommend it to you.
I read your review of “our souls at night” just after I watched the movie on Netflix. I selected the movie not knowing it was from the novel by Kent Haruf. I have read all of his books. I live in the area described by Haruf. I take these books as a glimpse of a slice of life sprinkled with landmarks and characterizations of the area. Life goes on, Nothing more, nothing less. I hope you read his other books but expect the same down to earth living. Just getting by.