Rating: 
Summary: simply plain and simply beautiful
Review: In a time where there is so much flash and glamour and self-indulgence in the world of writing, it is truly a breath of fresh air to find something so glimmering and pure as this book. Deceptively simple, heartbreakingly honest, and unflinching in its portrayal of humanity trying to connect, move, and grow individually while holding on to each other, it breathes hope and joy into a world where sadness and despair dominate so much of our perspective. Kent Haruf has given us all a gift here -- one to embrace, love, and wonder over; something purely and truly human -- a rare look into the lives of human beings he has fully realized in the struggle to realize themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: An unsatisfatory account of ordinary people
Review: Kent Haruf's third book is disappointing in its lack of characterization and distracting episodic presentation. It suggests at best lazy authorship and at worst a writer whose primary motive is profit driven.Neil Simon, the New York playwright, tells the story on himself that Walter Kerr in a New York Times review in December 1966 wrote of Simon's play "The Star-Spangled Girl", "Neil Simon didn't have an idea for a play this year, but he wrote it anyway." This assessment wouldn't be far from the mark with regard to Haruf's "Plainsong". The characterizations of all the individuals, major as well as minor are remarkably shallow. Haruf seems to have little interest or ability in describing the forces motivating the people occupying his pages. Tom Guthrie a school master who is the father of two small boys whose mother seems unable to cope with the marriage - the interplay of husband and wife which leads to the domestic breakdown isn't dealt with. Similarly the motivations and preoccupations of the 17 year old pregnant Victoria or the two elderly brothers prevailed upon to take her in don't seem to occupy Haruf's interest. It's as though you are watching inanimate puppets being manipulated by a somewhat disinterested puppet master. It is no different for every other character in the book. So for example compare Kazuo Ishiguro's housekeeper Miss Kenton and the butler Stevens in the "Remains of the Day" and the fullness of their portrayals, their motivations and their fears with Haruf's Guthrie, Maggie Jones or Victoria Roubideaux. Why choose Ishiguro's people for illustration, because they are an exquisite example of the portrayal of "ordinary people" with remarkable appeal that demands the readers attention and involvement. Where Haruf transcends mediocrity is in his description of the farm scenes, handling the cattle when they require inoculation, or coming to grips with an ailing horse. Some novels are clearly written with the view of a screenplay in mind, this one seems to have a television soap opera in its sights.
Rating: 
Summary: A little slow a third of the way, but nonetheless very good.
Review: I thought this was a very good book. Like I said above there is a bit of a lull one third of the way but in my opinion it only slows down for twenty pages. This book is about the personal relationships between the people who comprise Holt, Colorado. It is about the love and caring and friendship they share with one another (and for some the hatred.) It explores some of the deepest recesses of the human heart and what people endure on an everyday basis. I really love the relationship that forms between Victoria Ribideaux and Harold and Raymond Mcpheron. Two old brothers who are hardened ranchers form a close relationship with a scared (but brave) young pregnant teenager and help see her through her pregnancy. I did like the storyline with Tom, Ike and Bobby Guthrie but I was enchanted even more by the Mcpherons and Victoria. Overall it was quite a good book.
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Summary: Plainsong was disappointing
Review: After all the hype and reviews, I was disappointed. The author seemed to lose focus, and the book was a bit slow, though the underlying theme was good.
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Summary: Great book, but find the quotation marks, please!
Review: For such a wonderful, even uplifting story, it seems overly picky to quibble about the author's decision not to use quotation marks. However, so much of this story involves the give and take between characters, I found this peculiar punctuation to be irritating and sometimes confusing. What's the possible reason for this? Frank McCourt does the same thing in 'Tis and 'tis just as frustrating! Maybe it's the English teacher in me for 14 years, but I don't like it. Otherwise, I can say little more about the story than has already been said. It's fascinating and I have been enthusiastically recommending it to my classes and to my reading friends.
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Summary: Perfect Thanksgiving reading
Review: Beautiful, beautiful book. The authentic voices allow the reader to co-create the characters, making for a rewarding reading experience. The style is a tribute to Strunk & White: less is more, nouns and verbs win out over adjectives and adverbs. I stayed up til 2:30 a.m. reading this one, and never felt as though I'd missed the sleep.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL!
Review: This is one of the very best books I've read in a while, and I read 2-3 books a week. I had to force myself to read it slowly so I could savor it. The writing is simple and beautiful, the setting and climate are evoked descriptively, the main characters are honorable, courageous, and likable, and the McPheron brothers are fabulous. I knew it would be excellent when I saw on the back cover that Richard Russo and Howard Frank Mosher, two of my very favorite authors, praised it.
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Summary: Breathtaking!
Review: This book is awesome! I'm only 15 years old and yet Plainsong still has immense meaning. This makes me want to turn off the TV and read. If only requiered reading were this good...
Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Book
Review: I enjoyed reading this book, and would suggest it to others looking for an entertaining novel . . .If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever
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Summary: Best book of the year
Review: This is, without question, the best book I have read in a very long time. I started reading one Saturday morning at 6:00 and couldn't put it down. The two older brothers are some of the most warm and wonderful characters ever created. The young brothers will break your heart. A great book for the holiday season.
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