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Summary: What a wonderful book!
Review: Mr. Haruf writes in a clean and simple prose that is beautiful and easy to read. His characters are very well-developed and draw the reader in from the start. His treatment of the landsape reminds me of Wallace Stegner and Ivan Doig. The story line is believable and moves along briskly. Most of all, his dialogue is as real as the breakfast banter in a small town cafe.One of the jacket quotes calls "Plainsong" "the best new novel ... since 'Cold Mountain'". Amen.
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Summary: The world has finally discovered Kent Haruf
Review: Unlike the reviewer from Sydney, I am one Aussie who really loved this book. Like all of Kent Haruf's work, this novel is finely crafted to the point where it all seems deceptively simple. It is not only a wonderful character portrayal (and a surprisingly good read), but like all the best American fiction, integrates its characters with the landscape. This is something Haruf has done well twice before and I urge anyone who liked this book to get hold of his first two: "The Ties that Bind" and "Where You Once Belonged". The latter, in particular, is a masterpiece employing the same spare style but building to a tragic climax that is truly heart-rending. It is out of print, but hopefully the success of "Plainsong" will encourage the publishers to re-issue it. Angolphiles won't like "Plainsong" or, indeed, any of Haruf's books, but what do they know?
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Summary: BEST ALL YEAR
Review: I read on average two books per week and I have to say that, without question, this was my favorite book of 1999. It was touching and thought-provoking and much deeper than so much of the "bubble-gum writing" currently available. The fact that the book has not been one of Oprah's picks is further testament to the book's worth!
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Summary: A fast read - wonderful characters.
Review: The characters are the strongest aspect of this novel. I couldn't help caring about each and every one of them. Although the story is warm, heartfelt and interesting in regard to small town life its not necessarily profound. If your seeking entertainment without feeling you've wasted your time when the final page is turned, Plainsong will deliver.
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Summary: Plaindisappointing
Review: This is a typical "best seller" that I fell into where the characters are simple, predictable in their illogical behaviors, sappy, and boring. The plot is of little relevence to any real life situation and the book was neither educative nor entertaining. I have a hard time knowing why there has been such a favorable response to this work other than it doesn't tax one's thoughts too much. It isn't even on a par with Oprah's books. The cover is well-designed and promising, which goes to confirm that you can't judge a book on its cover.
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Summary: Too many loopholes.
Review: Thank heavens I found a few people to agree with me. I was beginning to think that Amazon.com only published favorable reviews! Finally, found comments from Peoria, Ann Arbor, Tampa, and Sydney who shared my feelings. The characters had no effect on me except for the two little boys. I just couldn't believe all the hype for this book. Now I can stop nagging all my discriminating reader friends to read this.
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Summary: A Warm Story of Real People
Review: One of the best books I've read. A real story about real people, written in a down-to-earth style. It left me feeling warm all over and with a sense of renewal of faith in people. The style of writing intentionally matches and reinforces the substance. Great character development.
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Summary: Plainsong
Review: In the unbelievable space of two weeks, I have read two books to be remembered the rest of my life. First, I found The Earth Is Enough by Harry Middleton, then came Plainsong. Each book, in it's own way, gives life a meaning and shares with us the ties of plain and simple family folk. In a remarkable coincidence, each book tells in simple terms the importance of two old men in the future lives of the people they come to love and protect. The elegant portrayal of these men create pictures to be long remembered.
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Summary: Madison County Redux
Review: PLAINSONG is just plain sorry! What has happened to the American reader's intellect? I'm not opposed to "dumbing down" in order to clarify if an author's writing about, for example, black holes, or the Zero, but PLAINSONG's character portraits and plot lines read like the outline for a movie script, or like a volume in an Introduction-to-Reading series. Fair enough, but not great fare for the average reader. To Haruf, I say Harumph! This book is the Son of Bridges of Madison Crummy -- if you loved that, you'll go bonkers for this!
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Summary: Homespun Heroes
Review: Haruf's homespun heroes are not mythic. They are salt of the earth characters who act decently and lovingly and with a sense of self too seldom found outside of towns like Holt, Colorado. They sing a plain song which will touch you. Like the story, the style is direct, spare and haunting. Buy it, it's a great way to start the new year.
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