Plainsong

Kent Haruf

This was a gem of a book. A fairly short book, which I finished in three days (for me, this is quick). The story starts off with various threads involving different sets of people and eventually the story ties them all together. There's Bobby and Ike, two brothers whose dad, Guthrie, has to bring them up alone because their mother walked out. There's Victoria Roubideaux, who becomes pregnant and is abandoned by the baby's father. Maggie Jones, who helps the girl find a home after her mother kicks her out. There's the McPheron brothers, two reserved bachelor farmers, who agree to take Victoria in. On the surface, it just seems like a simple story but I loved how it managed to convey the integrity and decency of the characters. These are people who don't say much, who don't make a fuss, but have got the most compassion and kindness. It's a wonderful story. Uplifting in a quiet way.