Our Souls at Night

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Seventy-year-old Addie Moore invites Louis Waters to her home. For companionship. Nothing more....

Louis is surprised and puzzled by Addie's proposition, yet willing to give it a try.  This widow and widower have known each other for years in the small town of Holt, Colorado and find that loneliness is just one of the things they have in common. The idea is out of the ordinary, but appealing. Spending days and nights with a lovely woman whom he's always admired from afar, might be just what he needs. An unconventional love story begins with friendship and ends with a longing for what might have been.

As their relationship progresses, old wounds surface. Addie and Louis begin to talk openly about their past, their shattered dreams, their indiscretions, and failures as parents. Petty gossip about their relationship fills the air. They don't care. What they do care about is Addie's grandson, Jamie, who comes to stay for the summer after his mother and father separate. Together, they begin a journey to find happiness and contentment in the little things in life. A shy, introverted child blossoms, spending time with two people who are willing to give him the gift of time and share all the wisdom they've learned  from getting old.

If you are a fan of Kent Haruf, you'll recognize the fictional town of Holt. It's the setting for his previous novels. If you're reading this accomplished author for the first time, welcome to his world. Haruf died in November of 2014, leaving readers with one last opportunity to enjoy his unique writing and moving portrait of a couple finding the courage to live life to the fullest, even in their twilight years.