Our Souls at Night,

a novel by Kent Haruf, is a charming book about companionship.  Two lonely people in the twilight of their lives find each other.  Louis, a widower, and Addie, a widow have been neighbors for decades.  They don’t really know each other, but they know a little about each other from local gossip. Because the nights are the loneliest,  Addie asks Louis if he would come over at night to lay down together in bed and talk.  A couple days later Louis heads over to Addie’s with is pajamas in a brown paper bag.

Addie and Louis really enjoy the prospect of the newness their relationship brings to their lives, at a time when they were resigned to live out their lives doing the same old things. Their relationship grows to dinners out, going to plays, having picnics and even a weekend away. As summer approaches Addie’s son, Gene, who is having marital and work problems, asks Addie if her six-year-old grandson, Jamie, can come and stay the summer with her while he works things out.  Addie is overjoyed to have time with Jamie.

Jamie has a hard time adjusting, he is shy and sad, but Louis steps right in and buys him a baseball glove, bat, and ball.  They play catch together something Jamie has never done. Louis and Jamie become fast friends. He takes Jamie to a dog shelter and gets him a dog they name Bonny.  Jamie has never been happier. Addie, Louis, and Jamie have a great summer together, camping, going to the fair and playing ball.

As summer ends, Gene calls to let Addie know that his wife is moving back in and that he will be coming to pick up Jamie soon.  Gene’s business still isn’t doing well and he needs to borrow more money from Addie.  Gene see Louis as a treat to his relationship with his mother and her money and tells Addie she needs to end her relationship with Louis or she will not see her grandson.

I’m not one for spoilers, so all I’ll say is there are some changes to Addie and Louis’s relationship, but Love finds a way.  You will just have to read the book.

If you want to know some of the author’s thoughts on the book, check out his Author’s Discussion. I really hope you enjoyed my Our Souls at Night Review. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For another good read check out, A Gentleman in Moscow.

Enjoy, and Be Well.