Play Book Tag discussion

Book #2 in the Plainsong series, this was a warm and wonderful slice of small-town America.

Continuing with the characters of the McPheron brothers and the young woman they took in, this book also adds a bunch of new characters.

Very atmospheric, with lots of smaller stories rather than a single arc. And those stories cover the good and bad, tragedy and triumph - the everyday interactions that people have with each other.

I listened to the audio which was wonderful and really added to the measured and even pace of the writing.

I love these two books so much and I'm so glad you enjoyed them too.

Sue, thanks for reminding me about this one. I had read "Plainsong" and loved it - especially the McPheron brothers. I've now started reading "Eventide".

Ellen - Glad you liked these too!

And Holly - I loved that Eventide picks right up where Plainsong left off. If you liked the first one, you'll enjoy the second one just as much.

I really enjoyed these books too. I might have liked the first one more, but I wouldn't have missed the continuation of the story.

I just noticed there is a third book in the series. Has anyone read it?

I have read everything he published - even heard him speak at a Writers Conference many years ago. He can do not wrong in my eyes. And he left us too soon. You will never go wrong by reading a Kent Haruf book. His writing is so gentle, so quiet, so lovely, wish I knew the people that he wrote about. peace, janz

Peacejanz wrote: "I have read everything he published - even heard him speak at a Writers Conference many years ago. He can do not wrong in my eyes. And he left us too soon. You will never go wrong by reading a Kent..."

I’m glad that he was one of the authors in our author challenge last year.

I notice that many authors I read, either consciously or unconsciously have certain themes common to their books. Here I am in the middle of "Eventide" and I notice that Haruf has written about the following subjects that I saw in "Plainsong".

(view spoiler)[He writes about the kind, good people like the McPherons, but also writes about people abandoning their families, children bullying other children and child abuse. As an old social worker myself, I've seen this up close (unfortunately). (hide spoiler)]

Does he do this to give us a well-rounded picture of human nature or is he particularly interested in these subjects?

Jan, did he say anything about this at the writers' conference?

What do you all think?

Holly R W wrote: "I notice that many authors I read, either consciously or unconsciously have certain themes common to their books. Here I am in the middle of "Eventide" and I notice that Haruf has written about the..."

The writer's conference was many years ago and I do not remember what he said. I remember that he was gentle, soft-spoken, never interrupted in a panel with other writers. I just knew then that I wanted to read his works and it would be peaceful. My main memory is that he wrote about people he know, life as he knew it. In thinking about all the books he wrote, there is always at least one kind person, and the kind people give of themselves. I can not pinpoint exactly where I got this but, in my mind, he had a strong religious affiliation. Not the shouting, yelling, fall on the floor, but the calm meditation sense of Quakers, Mennonites, etc. This is just my old mind working - I can not tell you where this came from. Gentle /kindness is my overall assessment of him. He does show the bad/raw side of humanity sometimes. peace, janz

Thanks, Jan. I appreciate your response. How nice it is that you were able to see/hear K. Haruf in person.