Indeed, he was experiencing it when he was writing. You can only find one if you truly understand the other. We hear about their tragic pasts and their biggest regrets. That is why we delve into the context of the two main characters. Happiness can never exist without its opposite. A happiness that is tainted by all the negatives that come with being human. Our Souls at Night isn’t trying to introduce us to the greatest love of all time but to show us simple human happiness. This makes the novel stand-out in a sea of epic romances that we see flooding the pages in so many books. This is pure writing in which every word counts and there is never anything more than the very basic narrative.
The narrative is mainly made up of dialogue with a few basic descriptions here and there. The language he uses is unadorned and it can read as very flat. Yet he makes them significant wth his simplistic style. No, this is a story about two inconsequential people in an unimportant little town. Although, the idea of two people in their later years rejecting the idea that their lives are spent could be seen as fairly radical in some circles. This is not a traditional love story in any sense nor is it particularly transgressive. The lives of these people are so mundane and ordinary that it could easily have petered out into nothing but it’s a testament to him that it keeps you with it. Haruf has no interest in elevating anything here. These days we are used to writers who put a great flourish into everything and make it seem extraordinary. The language Haruf uses is beautiful, there can be no doubt, but there is nothing overly poetic about it. This isn’t a grand romance but two people who find each other.
Ultimately, Kent Haruf isn’t writing about anything sensational or extraordinary, he’s writing about everyday life. But Addie, Louis, and Jamie become a strong trio and simply try to live their lives as best as they can. It becomes quite the scandal and their respective children have a difficult time understanding it. Something that gets a little harder thanks to the rest of the town gossiping about their nightly activities. Addie and Louis set out to help the boy adjust to this change and have as much fun as possible. He is dropped off by his father after his mother walked out on them. It all looks set to become quite a comfortable little routine until Addie’s grandson, Jamie, has to join them. About holding hands with someone in the dark and having somebody to talk to as you drift off. This is about overcoming their loneliness. Nothing racy though, as she’s quick to reassure him. Addie puts forward the proposition that Louis comes over and sleeps with her every night. She suggests that the pair come to an agreement to find some comfort. Until Addie knocks on his door one evening. They know of each other but have never spent any real-time together. Addie Moore and Louis Waters are both widowers with grown-up children. After all, the two lead main characters of the story have lived long lives by the time we come face-to-face with them. This is just one part of a greater story that was started long before you arrived and it will continue long after you left. It breeds familiarity and shows you that life has been moving on in Holt without you. Whether you have read Haruf’s previous books or not, you are instantly part of Holt. Something we can see from its opening line: “And then there was the day when Addie Moore made a call on Louis Waters.” This is a book that plunges you deep into this community and assumes you’re familiar with their comings and goings. The novella gave readers one final chance to visit the town of Holt and experience the people who live there. The manuscript was finished just before his death and was published posthumously. Our Souls at Night was his final novel and was written as he was dying. Something that turned him into a beloved author known for writing books set in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado. He avoided the limelight where possible and instead focused on writing. Maybe if all of them were that small I would.
Has it inspired me to read the rest? Not quite. And it feels great to have finished a book I’ve had on my shelf for so many years. The fact that it was a short read meant that I put it off for ages but I still got it done in time. Well, it meant I wouldn’t have to buy a new book. This one was on it and I selfishly picked. So a few weeks ago the choices for books came out. But they pick a short read at the start of the month and discuss it at the end. I already struggle to read and watch enough to write all of my posts, so adding the additional pressure of a book club to the mix seemed silly. I had initially declined because I didn’t want to add anything else to my schedule. A few weeks ago, my friend convinced me to join her virtual book club. I have owned a copy of this book for a really long time but never got around to reading it.
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