Plainsong by Kent Haruf

"Ambitious, but never seeming so, Kent Haruf reveals a whole community as he interweaves the stories of a pregnant high school girl, a lonely teacher, a pair of boys abandoned by their mother, and a couple of crusty bachelor farmers. From simple elements, Haruf achieves a novel of wisdom and grace--a narrative that builds in strength and feeling until, as in a choral chant, the voices in the book surround, transport, and lift the reader off the ground."
-FROM THE CITATION FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD


This is a beautiful, quiet novel about a small town in Colorado, and the people who populate it. Two elementary school aged boys grapple with their mother’s depression and her distancing from them. A high school student finds herself pregnant and homeless, until two kindly elderly brothers take her into their home. 

I’ve read so many Goodreads reviews over the years, praising this book and most of all the McPherson brothers. And it’s so good, I immediately got a copy of the next book in the trilogy. There are no big, dramatic scenes, or shocking plot points. Instead, this novel is about three dimensional, flawed people trying to live their lives, and sometimes finding kindness on the way. 

And yes, I love the McPherson brothers too. Someone once compared them to Matthew Cuthbert, and I think that’s a great comparison. 

I have high hopes for the next book in the trilogy, Eventide.

Have you read this book? What did you think?