Our Souls at Night -- Take 2

Our Souls at Night was classic Kent Haruf.  He uses simple, spare writing to gracefully introduce us to Addie and Louis, two folks living alone, two houses apart, in the latter years of their lives.  Addie knocks at Louis's door with a proposition -- that he come over to spend the night so they can talk, and not be alone.

Nothing is quite that simple.  Haruf explores the reactions of the people in their small town, as well as Addie's and Louis's own family members.  Addie's grandson comes to live with her for a period of time; Louis gets him a dog.  Their cobbled-together little pieces of a family become something solid for each of them.  They grow together and become something important to each other.

Eventually that dedication -- one piece of the family to another -- is what causes the little family to break apart.  True to form, Haruf doesn't oversell the sadness, as he also didn't oversell the happiness.  His two lead characters, through his restrained pen, simply exist in both conditions.  They demonstrate the wisdom and steadiness that comes with years of life, appreciating that neither the best nor the worst time lasts forever.

Very much enjoyed this!