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Summary: A slice of Americana ,reminiscent of a Hopper painting.
Review: The pace of the story mimics that of the small town it takes place in . The characters are richly drawn, but not caricatures. Not a lot happens, but I believe that's the point. There is no urgency to the story, and I liked it that way. The author, like James Lee Burke, has an affection for beauty of the land. Reading this book is like taking a stroll down the main street of Holt County, in which the story takes place. Highly recommended
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Summary: Pure Water
Review: I loved this book. I stayed up all night reading it because I cared so much about the people, I could not put it down. I haven't done that since I was a child. After a lifetime of reading, I'm aware how rare this kind of experience is. And the reason? Kent Haruf's honesty, skill, and compassion as a writer. Bless him.
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Summary: Superb reading -- highly recommend it!
Review: Simple to read, funny, sad, real -- all at the same time. Very perceptive author. There's more to this book than the simplicity that it originally appears to be. I read some of the reviews provided by other readers -- for those of you who did not like the book -- you missed the whole point of the book. I did not want the book to end. Hope you appreciate reading this book as much as I do.
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Summary: Put Plainsong High Up On Your Reading List!
Review: It's no wonder that Plainsong was a National Book Award finalist! Haruf has written a very heartwarming story set in a small town in the High Prairies east of Denver in which seven members of the community -- spanning four generations -- come together in the face of great difficulties to form an extended family that we all wish we could have if necessary. While the story is a very simple one, Haruf tells it with great humanity, intensity and emotion. Further, his dialogue and narrative skills are so real you think you are right there experiencing first hand life in Holt, Colorado as the story unfolds. Do yourself a favor and put Plainsong at or near the top of your "To Be Read" list.
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Summary: Enjoyable Read
Review: I enjoyed reading Plainsong by Kent Haruf. The story was simple, easy to read and entertaining. The storyline was predictable, but in a good way. Things worked out the way you wanted them to, leading the story to be uplifting at the end. So many books today are tragic and sad, reading Plainsong was an enjoyable change. My only criticisms are that I felt the author didn't connect the characters as much as he could have. I didn't really identify with the group of them at the end, as I did individually throughout the book. Maggie is a lead character that "ties" the small rural community together and I feel the author could have made her a "stronger character" for that role. All in all, well written and fun.
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Summary: Not easily impressed by "book award" titles however,
Review: Not easily impressed by "book award" titles, however I truly enjoyed reading "PLAINSONG" once I got rolling. The book I purchased had the silver "NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST" seal and I thought it should be a good read. Even though I am not always sold on titles with so called award status. I started this book and put it down. It did not immediately take me away or even hold my attention. After seeing this on Stephen King's book list from "ON WRITING" I decided to give it another try. I am happy that I did. For whatever reason this time around I picked it up and did not put it down until I finished it. The story is set in a rural town with tweedy characters. Most seem like simple folk with their struggles into inter personal relations. The hero is often the friend and not a family member. A story where community and friends often become the support and the family to those who have become estranged by family for their own frowned upon social misgivings. Love rises to the fore leaving the less desirables behind, those most often being the blood relatives. A nice stringing together of words forming a story that is delicate, often simple and at times redeeming. The ending is one of grace and ultimately good winning over bad.
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Summary: Worthless
Review: I listen to a lot of books on tape in my car and this was one of the worst. A vulgar, angry waste of time. There is no interesting dialog or plot and we are left hanging at the end. Don't bother - there is nothing of value here.
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Summary: I really have no opinion after listening to this book.
Review: It was pretty flat, like others have said. I thought the scene in the shack with the boys was totally unneccessary. Not enough plot, or understanding of it in the book as a whole. Liked the old men though, and Victoria. What did Guthrie have to do with this story anyway? The characters didn't seem to mesh. Oh well. It was a book.
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Summary: Lots of plain.
Review: There are some beautiful moments of dialogue to be found in this novel, unfortunately they serve only to make you wish the author had crafted more original characters and a more orignal story. We've all met the pregnant teenager, the gruff men with hearts of gold, and the self-sacrificing femal teacher in countless novels and movies. That their stories merge here is no surprise, though one is surprised that the author doesn't even bother with creating a plot point to justify the convergence.
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Summary: I, too, missed something
Review: Just to say I totally agree with Kent. This book was a large disappointment after all the good reviews I had read.
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