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Pedro's Reviews > Plainsong
Plainsong
by
by
Pedro's review
bookshelves: this-is-how-it-should-be-done, born-in-the-usa, holt-co-usa
Feb 18, 2019
bookshelves: this-is-how-it-should-be-done, born-in-the-usa, holt-co-usa
Holt, the fictional small town where this story is set, is like a big city compared to the place where I grew up and lived, for what it still is, the biggest part of my life. For better or for worse, nothing about living in a very small and isolated place is a big mystery to me. Add this to Haruf’s beautiful writing style and masterful character development and maybe it becomes quite understandable that not only I loved this story but it also became a totally new reading experience.
Why a totally a new experience you may ask. Well, because I actually didn’t want anything to happen. Seriously. I just wanted these people to cook some dinner, do the dishes, talk to each other, go to school or to work or for a pleasant bike or horse ride. All I could see though was danger everywhere and in every situation so I was talking to them all the time; ‘Be careful while doing the dishes�, ‘Don’t go that way�, don’t talk to strangers� and so on. All I wanted was for them to be happy. They’re my friends now and I care about them. That’s what friends do, right?
Why a totally a new experience you may ask. Well, because I actually didn’t want anything to happen. Seriously. I just wanted these people to cook some dinner, do the dishes, talk to each other, go to school or to work or for a pleasant bike or horse ride. All I could see though was danger everywhere and in every situation so I was talking to them all the time; ‘Be careful while doing the dishes�, ‘Don’t go that way�, don’t talk to strangers� and so on. All I wanted was for them to be happy. They’re my friends now and I care about them. That’s what friends do, right?
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Reading Progress
January 22, 2019
– Shelved
January 22, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 14, 2019
–
Started Reading
February 15, 2019
–
22.57%
"“Above, on the cross arm of a telephone pole perched a hawk the colour of copper in the lowering sun, and they watched him but his head didn’t turn at all when they passed under him.�"
page
65
February 18, 2019
–
Finished Reading
February 19, 2019
– Shelved as:
this-is-how-it-should-be-done
August 18, 2023
– Shelved as:
born-in-the-usa
April 6, 2024
– Shelved as:
holt-co-usa
Comments Showing 1-41 of 41 (41 new)
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message 1:
by
Richard (on hiatus)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 14, 2019 11:49AM
Just noticed what you are reading ......... this is brilliant, hope you love it ............. no pressure :)
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Yes, no pressure, Pedro. . . but, there's something wrong with you if you don't love this! xoxo
Ahah... I just hope there’s nothing wrong with me...
I know you'll love it. And, if you're like me, you'll love Eventide even more.(By the way, I live about an hour and a half east of where this fictional town of Holt is supposed to be. I live in the beautiful part of the state, though, his characters, unfortunately, live in the ugly part).
Julie wrote: "I know you'll love it. And, if you're like me, you'll love Eventide even more.(By the way, I live about an hour and a half east of where this fictional town of Holt is supposed to be. I live in th..."
I can’t believe it would be that ugly... Desert like, maybe. Or just really ugly? Hum...
Yes, it's very odd. Where I am is almost Paradise--then as soon as you can't really see the mountains anymore, it becomes dry and brown and a semi-arid desert. It's windy out there, too, sand constantly blowing in your face. I've heard it builds character, but I already have enough character, so I think I'll stay where it's pretty.
Interesting... The wind is always blowing in this story, yes... And I agree, I think you have enough character. Stay on beauty’s side. 😁
I'm sitting here at my computer, smiling with joy. You've got it, Manchego. Just wait until Eventide breaks your freaking heart.
Julie wrote: "I'm sitting here at my computer, smiling with joy. You've got it, Manchego. Just wait until Eventide breaks your freaking heart."Julie, this was such a beautiful, amazing, stunning novel. How did he do it? How? At the beginning I was like, right, the writing is amazing but there’s not much going on, is it? 20 pages later I was like no, be careful, oh my god what’s going to happen, steady, don’t go that way... Stunning storytelling and one of the best character developments I ever seen. Hard to believe that ‘Eventide� can be even better. I need to read this again.
This sounds really good... Putting it on my TBR
Lea wrote: "This sounds really good... Putting it on my TBR"Lea, go for it. Maybe you’ll end up finding a new favourite. 😉
Hip hip hurray- another reader discovers Kent Haruf and falls completely in love with his writing and his story!!! Love your review, Pedro and especially love that you love this book too.
Antoinette, I just found a new favourite and I will certainly read it again. That’s how impressed I am with this novel. Thanks for your comment.
Going to have to bump this up my tbr list, thanks to your great review.:)
Thanks, Tracey. Hope you enjoy it even more than I did. 😉
I read this so long ago. Need to read again. Loved your review.
It’s great when an author can make the everyday gripping and moving ........ enjoyed your review Pedro.
Ah how wonderful, Pedro!!
Thanks, Kelli. This is a book worth reading again, definitely.
It is great indeed, Richard. Thanks. 😁
Robin, you’re wonderful.
Thanks, Paula. Hope you love it as well.
I wanted to give this a thousand stars, Blair.
Lovely review of a lovely book that stays in our hearts long after we finish this wonderful book.
Thanks, Pat. An unforgettable story, yes. And unforgettable characters as well. 😊
Loved reading your review, Pedro. Kent Haruf was a marvel. He's missed but left behind a beautiful body of work.
Very fine review, Pedro. You took me right back there to those folks in Holt.
Fantastic review, Pedro. One of my very favorite reads of the past 20 years.
Thanks, Mark. It became one of my favourites as well. I’d be reading ‘Eventide� soon.
Thanks you, Zoeytron. I’m glad my review brought back some good memories of an amazing read. 😊
Pedro wrote: "Thanks, Mark. It became one of my favourites as well. I’d be reading ‘Eventide� soon."Eventide is another good one, as well as the rest of the Holt books. He is an author I dearly miss.
Hey, Mark, (re)read his books would be the best tribute we can pay to him. 😊
I love this review, Pedro! I grew up in eastern Colorado and recognize these folks from this imaginary town. I adore this author and I'm so happy to see another fan of his stories.
Carol wrote: "I love this review, Pedro! I grew up in eastern Colorado and recognize these folks from this imaginary town. I adore this author and I'm so happy to see another fan of his stories."Thank you very much, Carol. I loved loved this book and have been saving ‘Eventide� for an emergency. I know everything about living in a small little village (Maybe even more than what I wanted to) and I think that helped me to fall in love with this story.
Pedro wrote: "Carol wrote: "I love this review, Pedro! I grew up in eastern Colorado and recognize these folks from this imaginary town. I adore this author and I'm so happy to see another fan of his stories."..."
I'll look forward to reading your review for "Eventide", Pedro. I've read every novel he wrote and loved them all.
Carol wrote: "Pedro wrote: "Carol wrote: "I love this review, Pedro! I grew up in eastern Colorado and recognize these folks from this imaginary town. I adore this author and I'm so happy to see another fan of h..."Thank you, Carol. I hope/wish I can get to it soon. :)
I love your review, Pedro. I feel like they're my friends now too. I'm looking forward to the continuation of their story and will be picking up Eventide tomorrow.This writing is so beautiful. Like Strout, Haruf rips out my heart with such simple seeming words.
I absolutely love this trilogy, Lisa, and think about these characters more often than I do about a lot of people I’ve known all my life. I loved this one more than “Eventide�, but “Benediction� is my favourite now.
Thanks for commenting and I hope you love the other two even more than I did.
