53 pages • 1 hour read
Kent HarufOur Souls At Night
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, Addie Moore and Louis Waters, two widowed neighbors in their seventies, combat loneliness through nightly, non-sexual companionship in Holt, Colorado, sharing intimate conversations that deepen their bond, despite facing the judgment of their small-town community and family pressures. The text describes the death of a child in a violent accident.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Kent Haruf's Our Souls At Night is lauded for its elegant prose and heartfelt portrayal of companionship in later life. Critics praise its simplicity and emotional depth but note the narrative pacing may lack urgency for some readers. The novel's exploration of human connection and loneliness resonates, although its quiet tone may not appeal to all audiences.
Who Should Read Our Souls At Night?
Readers who appreciate heartfelt stories of connection and resilience in later life will find Our Souls At Night by Kent Haruf compelling. Similar in tone to A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, this novel appeals to those who enjoy contemplative, character-driven narratives.