The adjectives that usually appear when kent haruf publishes a new novel will probably appear this month as benediction, his latest story set on the open, treeless plains of eastern colorado, is published. Many of their characters are looking for a benediction. Alan kent haruf february 24, 1943 november 30, 2014 was an american novelist. He tells us about ordinary people and everyday life in spare, beautiful language. Kent haruf s novels the tie that binds, where you once belonged, plainsong, eventide and now benediction present slices from life in the fictional town of. Holt, colorado, is a very ordinary little town invented by haruf for the setting of his three novels plainsong, eventide and benediction. Kent harufs latest intimate portrayal of everyday lives, shortlisted for the. In the summer of 2014 haruf finished his last novel, our souls at night, which was published. A third novel in the series, benediction was published in 2014.
Kent haruf writes about the lives of ordinary people in such a way that im left feeling i know them and remember them. The name rhymes with sheriff though the change did not seem to work as nobody says it right to this day. He was born in 1943 to louis hoerauf, a methodist preacher who changed the family name to haruf since he was frustrated that nobody seemed to get it right. Kent haruf, who found acclaim in midlife with a trilogy of sparely. Haruf set all of his books in the fictional small town of holt, colo. Harufs language and punctuation are so plain, the writing is nearly austere. There is a deep, satisfying music to this book, as haruf weaves between such a large cast of characters in so small a space. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. If you had told me that they were written by john steinbeck id have believed it.
The aging mcpheron brothers are learning to live without victoria roubideaux, the single mother they took in and who has now left their ranch to start college. Our souls at night, by kent haruf the new york times. I dont often beg, but please, please, read benediction. Its the kind of sleepy, unattractive little place that we have all read about in literature and seen portrayed in endless films. If haruf who died in november at age 71 hadnt titled his previous book benediction 20, that might have been perfect for this one. Ever since he has been turning out some of the most keenlycarpentered fiction in america about holt, colo. Colorado author kent haruf has an extraordinary grasp of quiet. Kent harufs novels the tie that binds, where you once belonged, plainsong, eventide and now benediction present slices from life in the fictional town of. Tom guthrie is a highschool teacher left raising two young sons after his. One of the most beloved novels in recent years, plainsong was a bestseller from coast to coast, and now kent haruf returns to the high plains community of holt, colorado, with a story of even more masterful authority. While benediction is the third book in haruf s plainsong trilogy, this story is set some 2030 years after the second book and has a completely different cast of characters, so the common ground in the trilogy appears to be the setting of small town holt, colorado. The lives of many citizens of holt intertwine, and haruf keeps the story moving towards a conclusion that, while not complete, brings closure to some of the characters.
Kent haruf is an awardwinning literary fiction novelist from pueblo, colorado. Haruf was born in pueblo, colorado, the son of a methodist minister. Chicago tribune, entertainment weekly, the plain dealer, and rocky mountain news kent haruf, awardwinning, bestselling author of plainsong returns to the highplains town of holt, colorado, with a novel of masterful authority. That, and the quiet desperation that haunts certain characters in all three books. Youll find proof in his masterful new novel, benediction, a gentle but forceful rendering of protagonist dad lewis. Kent haruf, who found acclaim in midlife with a trilogy of sparely written novels, including the 1999 bestseller plainsong that illuminated the rhythms and dramas of smalltown life in americas. Lucy mangan, stylist kent haruf describes dad lewiss last summer with beautiful simplicity. Based on the novel by kent haruf, jan 30 mar 1, 2015 lee enterprises. As the milieu widens to embrace fully four generations, kent haruf displays an emotional and aesthetic authority to rival the past masters of a classic american tradition. With a minimum number of pen strokes, kent haruf quickly paints a deft picture of holt, colorado, which sets the tone, time and place of his novel benediction within its first pages. Benediction by kent haruf benediction is the final novel in kent haruf s trilogyplainsong and eventide, the previous twoset in fictional holt, colorado, a small town on the high plains outside denver no need to be familiar with the earlier books often, rural plainsong by haruf, kent paperback by kent haruf. When dad lewis is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he and his wife mu. When the mcpheron brothers see victoria roubideaux, the single mother theyd taken in, move from their ranch to begin college, an emptiness opens before them. In an interview in publishers weekly about benediction, haruf said.
How does its simplicity contribute to the mood of the story. Among the several damaged families in this beautifully cadenced and understated tale is that of tom guthrie, a highschool history teacher in small holt, colorado, whos left to raise his two young sons, ike and bobby, alone when his troubled wife first withdraws from them and then, without explanation, abandons them. In some ways, what happens in holt happens in denver, in minneapolis, everywhere. Kent harufs honors include a whiting foundation award and a special citation from the penhemingway foundation. Harufs ability to look into the soul of his characters reminds me of stegner. Kent haruf is the author of five previous novels and, with the photographer peter brown, west of last chance. The reader is immediately introduced to dad lewis, and we learn at the outset that he has been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis is poor. Mar 22, 20 dip into kent harufs new novel, benediction, then look at a photo of eastern colorados high plains, and you think, of course.
A shelf awareness best book of the year from the beloved and bestselling author of plainsong and eventide comes a story of life and death, and the ties that. After plainsong, i continued with eventide and benediction. Plainsong by haruf, kent and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Aug 22, 2000 after plainsong, i continued with eventide and benediction. One of those ugly little towns, holt, was invented by the novelist kent haruf. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. One of the most beloved novels in recent years, plainsong was a bestseller from coast to coastand now kent haruf returns to the high plains community of holt, colorado, with a story of even more masterful authority. First vintage contemporaries edition, january, 2014. Benediction by kent haruf book club discussion questions. Although a fictional portrayal of a mans endoflife experience, it is very true and spot on. Kent haruf, awardwinning, bestselling author of plainsong returns to the highplains town of holt, colorado, with a novel of masterful authority. The book not only far outsold his first two novels but was a national book award finalist. Of course, from this landscape of heat and light and ice and vistas comes this plain and powerful book.
They try to find it by risking neighborly assistance, maintaining shaky vows of faithfulness, or. They wont be surprised by how fine this book is, but newcomers to his writing will be reaching for his previous novels to catch up. Kent haruf s honors include a whiting foundation award and a special citation from the penhemingway foundation. He graduated with a ba from nebraska wesleyan university in 1965, where he would later teach, and earned an mfa from the iowa writers workshop at the university of iowa in 1973. May 28, 2015 a sweet love story about the twilight years. Dad lewis, a holt, colorado resident, is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her devotion softens the bitter absence of their estranged son, frank, but this cannot be willed away and remains a palpable presence for all three of them. In the 1980s, the novelist kent haruf lived in yuma, colo.
There is a deep, satisfying music to this book, as haruf weaves between such. Their daughter, lorraine, hastens back from denver to help look after him. Kent haruf 19432014 was an american author of literary fiction novels. Kent haruf continues his cycle of novels set in the high plains of.
A stirring meditation on the true nature and necessity of the family. Benediction by kent haruf harufs novel opens in the fictional town of holt, which is loosely based on the authors hometown of salida, colorado. Then my husband picked them up and he couldnt put them down either. Perhaps haruf is contemplating a holt, colorado trilogy of novels. Haruf s ability to look into the soul of his characters reminds me of stegner. Benediction suggests theres no end to the stories haruf can tell about holt or to the tough, gorgeous language he can summon in the process. A shelf awareness best book of the year from the beloved and bestselling author of plainsong and eventide comes a story of life and death, and the ties that bind, once again set out on the high plains in holt, colorado. Benediction started out as a very different book, haruf says during a weekend visit to denver, 150 miles north of his home in the small town of salida, colo. Apr 03, 2001 kent haruf, awardwinning, bestselling author of plainsong returns to the highplains town of holt, colorado, with a novel of masterful authority.
When dad lewis is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he and his wife, mary, must work together to make his final days as comfortable as possible. Jun 07, 2015 kent haruf, who died in november at the age of 71, was best known for his justly praised novel plainsong 1999. Browse kent harufs bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. While benediction is the third book in harufs plainsong trilogy, this story is set some 2030 years after the second book and has a completely different cast of characters, so the common ground in the trilogy appears to be the setting of small town holt, colorado. Mar 10, 20 kent harufs novels the tie that binds, where you once belonged, plainsong, eventide and now benediction present slices from life in the fictional town of. There is an elegant simplicity and beauty in the writing of kent haruf. Kent haruf is the author of the tie that binds, plainsong and eventide. The characters, the delicate storytelling and the writing are all entrancing. I thank kent haruf for his sensitivity and insights on what it is, to just live from one day to the next.
The aging mcpheron brothers are learning to live without victoria roubideaux, the single mother they took. His new novel, benediction, returns to the setting of previous works, the fictional town of holt in eastern colorados high plains. A benediction is a blessing and that is exactly what this book is. Haruf s existing fans have been waiting patiently for benediction for years. Readers of his novels plainsong, eventide and benediction know the place now, street by street, citizen by citizen. When the mcpheron brothers see victoria roubideaux, the single mother theyd taken in, move from their ranch to begin college, an emptiness opens before themand for many. He earned his bachelor of arts in literature from nebraska wesleyan university in 1965 and his masters of fine arts from the iowa writers workshop at the university of iowa in 1973. The aging mcpheron brothers are learning to live without victoria roubideaux, the single mother they took in and who has now left. Kent haruf writes about small towns and regular people, but dont underestimate his ambition. All three of kent harufs novels set in the fictional farming town of holt, colorado, bear liturgicalsounding titles. A shelf awareness best book of the year from the beloved and bestselling author of plainsong and eventide comes a story of life and death, and the ties. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible.
Kent haruf is currently considered a single author. Mar 05, 2014 one of those ugly little towns, holt, was invented by the novelist kent haruf. He and his wife cathy live in the mountains of colorado. The emotional power he packs into deceptively simple sentences left me crying into cocktail napkins on a crowded airplane as i tore through the end of this wonderful novel. They try to find it by risking neighborly assistance, maintaining shaky vows of. May 16, 20 all three of kent harufs novels set in the fictional farming town of holt, colorado, bear liturgicalsounding titles. In 1965 he graduated with a ba from nebraska wesleyan university, where he would later teach, and earned an mfa from the iowa writers workshop at the university of iowa in 1973. Kent haruf again writes about the townspeople of the small town of holt, colorado. Benediction, his latest book, is about an old man who is dying of lung cancer. A brilliant end to his brilliant plainsong trilogy.
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