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Katie's Reviews > Our Souls at Night
Our Souls at Night
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by
As you’d expect from an author who knows he is dying this is a tremendously wise novel about the pursuit of everyday happiness and all the petty and ingrained obstructions such a pursuit can meet when it’s unconventional. Some of the things he did really well � showed us how much responsibility we have as parents but also how many handicaps, because it’s virtually impossible to escape from stifling generational patterns of behaviour; showed us how similar a censorious view of unconventional relationships is to racism or homophobia and all other forms of bigoted mean-spirited social hostility; showed us how much poetry there is in the everyday if we choose to live with a little bit of courage. And, on top of that, he showed what a transfiguring effect the presence of a dog can have on a child’s life! This was so easy and such a delight to read.
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Quotes Katie Liked
“Who does ever get what they want? It doesn’t seem to happen to many of us if any at all. It’s always two people bumping against each other blindly, acting out old ideas and dreams and mistaken understandings.”
― Our Souls at Night
― Our Souls at Night
Reading Progress
June 11, 2016
– Shelved
June 11, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 19, 2017
–
Started Reading
February 20, 2017
–
50.28%
"What a joy to read this is! Amazing how much poetry he gets from such simple language."
page
90
February 21, 2017
– Shelved as:
published-2015
February 21, 2017
–
78.21%
"This isn’t in any way a book about racism but it does poignantly highlight the mean-spirited vindictive craven emotion that is often behind racism � the self-righteous censorious emotion that belongs to that face peeping from behind a curtain at people who are breaking the rules of social nicety."
page
140
February 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
set-in-the-us
February 22, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
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by
Carol
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 21, 2017 06:53AM
You write wonderful reviews. I look forward to reading a review of this one. My favorite author.
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Thanks Carol. I'm zipping through it and loving it.
Wonderful review Katie!
I don't know how I missed this review when I was going through my friends' ones, but I like it now I've found it! Wisdom - yes, what a perfect encapsulation of this light but profound novel.
Melanie wrote: "Wonderful review Katie!"Thanks Melanie.
Cecily wrote: "I don't know how I missed this review when I was going through my friends' ones, but I like it now I've found it! Wisdom - yes, what a perfect encapsulation of this light but profound novel."I only wrote it a couple of hours ago, Cecily!
Ah. It's evidently another case of messed up dates since GR introduced Reread. In the past, if you updated a review, it updated the date that you see in the top right of a PC/laptop browser. Evidently it's showing the date you first added the book. Still, useful to know!
Cecily wrote: "Ah. It's evidently another case of messed up dates since GR introduced Reread. In the past, if you updated a review, it updated the date that you see in the top right of a PC/laptop browser. Eviden..."I hadn't noticed that. I loved your review. So insightful. It's broadened my appreciation of how clever this book is.
Katie - I revisited this inspiring story and my favorite author through your moving review.
Carol wrote: "Katie - I revisited this inspiring story and my favorite author through your moving review."Thanks so much Carol. I want to read all his books now.
Yes! I'm happy to see all those stars, Katie! Lovely review of a very memorable book. I intend to read all of his books too, but so far have read only this and Plainsong. You are reminding me that I need to pick up another soon :)
Perfect review, Katie. Are you planning to try more of his books.
Candi wrote: "Yes! I'm happy to see all those stars, Katie! Lovely review of a very memorable book. I intend to read all of his books too, but so far have read only this and Plainsong. You are remin..."Thanks Candi. So exciting when you discover a new author and want to read all his books.
Esil wrote: "Perfect review, Katie. Are you planning to try more of his books."Thanks Esil. Definitely. If he wrote this well when he was dying I can only imagine he wrote even better when in the prime of health.
Beautifully put Katie. This was such a moving novel for all the reasons you mention here :)
Iris P wrote: "Beautifully put Katie. This was such a moving novel for all the reasons you mention here :)"Thanks Iris. I loved your review of this.
Katie , wonderful review! So glad you loved it !
great review, Katie! It was a good one
Angela M wrote: "Katie , wonderful review! So glad you loved it !"Thanks Angela.
Jen wrote: "great review, Katie! It was a good one"Thanks Jen!
Great review, Katie! This was such a lovely book and you really summed up its appeal.
Wonderful words about a beautiful book
Thanks Vanessa. I'm looking forward to reading some of his other books now.
Katie, what a beautiful review of such a great book!!
Lovely review, Katie, for a lovely book. Beautifully said, it felt so ... personal to me, the thoughts and feelings he chose to share in this parting gift to us.
Karen wrote: "Katie, what a beautiful review of such a great book!!"Thanks Karen. Part of its magic is just how easy it is to read, like eating ice cream!
Cheri wrote: "Lovely review, Katie, for a lovely book. Beautifully said, it felt so ... personal to me, the thoughts and feelings he chose to share in this parting gift to us."Thanks Cheri. It's such an intimate story and it made me think a lot about parenthood - how deeply petty adult grievances and prejudices can affect children who get caught up in them. It made me resolve to be more civil to my ex-husband while my little boy is looking on. I'll save all my rage for when he's out of earshot!
Loved this! This part: showed us how much poetry there is in the everyday if we choose to live with a little bit of courage especially stood out for me.
Jaline wrote: "Loved this! This part: showed us how much poetry there is in the everyday if we choose to live with a little bit of courage especially stood out for me."Thanks Jaline. This book has remained vivid to me.
Oh, Katie. I love this one. You managed to capture the love well here, in a short review. And, yes, the dog!
I agree with wha everyone has commented and to say you did justice to Kent Haruf and his legacy.
Julie wrote: "Oh, Katie. I love this one. You managed to capture the love well here, in a short review. And, yes, the dog!"I'm surprised more authors don't draft in dogs to wring out some easy emotion!
Antoinette wrote: "I agree with wha everyone has commented and to say you did justice to Kent Haruf and his legacy."Thanks Antoinette.
