At the ages of 9 and 10, they were witnesses to many adult occurrences but still seemed to keep a certain innocence.Īlthough there are many different storylines going on in the book, the author does a fantastic job of tying all the characters together in the end.

I particularly grew to like the two boys, Ike and Bobby. The book felt very 'blue collar.' It made me feel as if I were reading about ordinary everyday people and their lives/struggles. The main characters were a very mixed bag that included teachers, two older brothers that were farmers, two young but very wise brothers and a pregnant teenager. The story is based on a small town in Colorado. It did not have a tremendous plot, but the story did flow and kept my attention. Overall, I liked this book and it left me wanting a bit more of the story, so I think I'll read the sequel, 'Eventide.' The writer gives a good feel of what life is like living in a small rural community where there seems to be little privacy.

As the stories move along, you get a sense of the characters without getting their backstories, and it works well. This book has two quietly told stories of a single father raising two boys and of a pregnant teenage girl being taken in by two aging brothers. It is well written and truly sends an uplifting message to the reader: to simply do your best with the hand you've been dealt in this life. This slice-of-life novel is both heartwarming and painfully realistic, bringing you into the world of these small-town characters. Although the book wasn't a page-turner for me, I liked it and wouldn't mind reading the sequel. The lack of quotation marks and the sparse dialogue are examples of how 'Plainsong' is a distinctive book. Overall, this book was quite different and yes, rather plain, but I believe that was the author's intent. The author transports you to Holt, Colo., to demonstrate the true meaning of compassion, love and faith and how people can overcome difficult circumstances.

Their paths are woven together to tell a story of their complicated lives in a rural town. This novel had an interesting and unique set of characters. A high school teacher must raise his two boys alone after their mother retreats, first to the bedroom, then altogether. This is a heartstrong story of family and romance, set in a small Colorado plains town. 'Plainsong' by Kent Haruf (Knopf Doubleday, paperback, 2000)

Plainsong book