This is a tender, gentle novella about two lonely neighbours who in later life find each other, and find love. Their measured path towards new happiness, their discovery of and acceptance of their former lives forms the body of the book. Always there in the background is the judgement of others, threatening their happiness. A delightful last work from the never disappointing Kent Haruf. ( )

A simple story simply told. Surely more suited to be a short story. It's kinda sweet, there's a tiny bit of conflict, but there's really not a whole lot here. It seems to make most readers feel good as far as I can tell; I reckon it's just not my cup of tea. I wonder how much the well-deserved regard people have for Kent Haruf and his prior novels is influencing the reception of this posthumous book. ( )

Lovely story written by a Colorado author about two lonely seniors. KIRKUS REVIEWA sweet love story about the twilight years.If Haruf (who died in November at age 71) hadn?t titled his previous book Benediction (2013), that might have been perfect for this one. It?s a slim novel of short chapters, and it would seem to bring the cycle of books about small-town Holt, Colorado, to a close. This isn?t a dark night of the soul but one filled with hope and with second chances. Here?s how it opens: ?And then there was the day when Addie Moore made a call on Louis Waters.? Addie is 70, a widow, and she was close with Louis? late wife. She and Louis don?t really know each other that well, other than as nodding acquaintances, but she has a novel proposition: she wants him to sleep with her. Not to have sexual relations, but just to have someone with whom she can talk and share and make it through the night. He appreciates the risk she's taken in making the request, and he agrees, though on their first night he's filled with thoughts of ?How strange this is. How new it is to be here. How uncertain I feel, and sort of nervous.? Word gets out, and those who will gossip do, assuming the salacious details. Addie and Louis both have adult children who aren?t enthusiastic about the arrangement. And they each have a back story about the sorts of disappointments and perseverance that mark any longstanding marriage. Through Addie?s initiative, she and Louis find an emotional intimacy beyond anything either has previously known, and both come to recognize that they ?deserve to be happy,? no matter what friends and family think. The author even has a little metafictional fun with his premise, as the characters comment on those ?made up? books about the (fictional) Holt and how they?d hate to be in one of them.Those who have been immersed in Holt since Plainsong(1999) will appreciate one last visit.

This book did not work for me at all. I loved the title and was interested in the odd concept thinking that it had potential for a sweet story to unfold. I gave it 2 stars since I finished it but I'm toying with adjusting down to one. I really did not like it.

I found everything about it stilted and awkward. Like I was reading a basic draft of the story that the author planned to come back and polish then never did.

I read Plainsong back when it was first published and I remember liking it very much but it was long enough ago that I can't remember a thing about Haruf's writing style so I don't know if this book is typical or not. (i do plan to go back and find out!)

I also found the last third of the book and its resolution to be tremendously disappointing. ( )

This is a gorgeous and tidy story of two lonely, older neighbors trying to find a little happiness in Haruf’s often-used small town of Holt, Colorado. In less than 200 pages Haruf builds true and deep characters while exploring emotional and difficult themes of growing old, loyalty, and family. ( )