Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Although many have previously read Haruf's previous books in the Plainsong trilogy, I have not. Rather than reading the 2nd book in that series, Our Souls at Night was chosen for October's book club selection. It was relatively short and a very easy read. It is also set in Holt. Colorado as his previous books have been

Ardie Moore and Louis Waters are neighbors, both widowed and both in their seventies. Addie has come up with a plan to stave off the loneliness of living a solitary life. She invites Louis to come to her house and to sleep with her in a very platonic way. She feels that just the company of someone in her bed will be a comforting scenario. Of course, this arrangement stirs up the town gossips, who do not realize what the arrangement actually is. The evenings provide a time for the two to talk about their families and the relationships that each had with his and her spouse and the death of Addie's daughter. 

Out of the blue, Addie's son Gene, appears with his six year old son Jamie. Gene and his wife have separated and he feels that Jamie would be better off with his grandmother for the summer. This was quite the surprise for Addie and for a while it interrupts the nightly routine of Louis' visits. Louis takes to Jamie, buys him a baseball glove, and eventually decides the young lad needs a dog. They also become friends with another neighbor, Ruth, who is much older than Addie and Louis. 

The relationships grow until Gene gets wind of the arrangement and is furious that Addie would entertain a man at night under the same roof as his son. He becomes indignant and removes Jamie and eventually threatens Addie with never seeing her grandson again as long as she is in a relationship with Louis. This creates quite the dilemma for her and she has a tough decision to make. 

The novel is told from a third person omniscient point of view. Haruf uses no quotation marks for conversation, but the writing still feels choppy, almost like entries in a diary or journal. It was pleasant enough plot, but not one that this reader felt was terribly original or one in which the characters felt more than two dimensional. It was only Gene that piqued my interest and consternation. His treatment of his mother was despicable and totally disrespectful. It was a quick read, accomplished during waiting time at PT appointments. There are better reads out there.