Rating: 
Summary: Flatsong
Review: Haruf's writing is lyrical at times, and the book presents an accurate description of the eastern Colorado landscape. Unfortunately, the novel lacks emotional impact. Events just happen without any depth of feeling that would cause the reader to connect with the characters. I was disappointed that the promise of what could have been an engaging story had not been fulfilled.
Rating: 
Summary: simple.
Review: A simple, beautiful book. This is a book about simple folks who must deal with complex situations during the span of the read. There are many life lessons to take away from this book.
Rating:
Summary: yawn
Review: I was duped by all the wonderful reviews I read of this book. I found it boring, contrived and meandering. The characters just seemed to wander around bumping into eachother occasionally, with no real sense of purpose. Like the title says, it is "plain," but not in a good way. I guess I just expect more from a book.
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Summary: REAL, LIFE, STORY TELLING
Review: I was enchanted by this book. The writing and story development may very well be described as plain. No fancy words, no complex psycological character development; just powerful, straight story telling. Wonderfull
Rating: 
Summary: Like a nice vanilla pudding--plain but very satisfying
Review: In the first several chapters of this book, Kent Haruf describes the bleak lives of seven characters--each wrapped in his or her own form of loneliness, each living without much hope. Even the barren cows on a cattle ranch seem to have tragic existences.But as the book goes on, all the characters find their lives intertwining, their solitude alleviated. By the end, seven disparate people have formed a small community, and it is clear that the community will last for years to come. The cows seem a little happier, too. While this book is not without its flaws (many of the characters lack complexity), its improbable outcome is the one we all like to think can happen, and the one we are often denied both in real life and in fiction. Sometimes it's very satisfying to read a book where things just work out okay in the end.
Rating:
Summary: cozy read
Review: There are so many novels out there that seem to shock the reader by the way they describe events that shape the characters lives. In this book I found the cirsumstances real, but not hard to read and not totally depressing. The writing style is plain and very easy to read. A good read on a long plane ride or a de-stress weekend away.
Rating: 
Summary: Plain but readable
Review: Like other reviewers, I found the book not riveting but still readable. I was interested in the characters and was eager to see how things would turn out. An enjoyable, quick read. True, there does not seem to be much deep character development yet, as one reader pointed out, the characters stay in your mind days later. Not the best book ever but a satsifying way to pass the time.
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Summary: Still thinking about this one...
Review: This book was such an easy read, and such a simple story, and yet several days after finishing it I find myself still thinking about the characters. If you grew up in a small community, you'll find this book to be extraordinarily compelling. Even if you didn't, I think it would be hard not to feel compassion and endearment for the people in this little town in Colorado. Great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: The title is accurate--plain.
Review: I was not impressed. The book read "just ok." It filled up reading time, though I would have liked a more fulfilling book. I suppose the mundane bits of life do have a story that can be told. I guess I'm not into average liturature. I must say that the veterinary sceene was graphic, detailed, and far too extensive. I wonder if the author missed a calling?
Rating:
Summary: Reconnect with your humanity
Review: I read voraciously, mostly contemporary fiction, and I have been very disappointed with most offerings I have read in the past 12 months. Plainsong is a great exception to that rule. It is definitely plain, if you're looking for a pot boiler, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're looking for a novel with real, complex human emotions and truly touching characters, then this is the work for you. It will allow you to reconnect with your humanity.
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