Addie Moore and Louis Waters have both suffered the loss of their spouses, and both are getting older. Neighbors who live on the same street in Haruf’s fictional Holt, Col., they have a passing acquaintance but don’t really know each other. Their children have moved away, and they live quiet lives. One day Addie visits Louis and asks him if he would be interested in sharing her bed. It’s not a sexual proposition but a call for companionship in the lonely nights.
Kent Haruf, author of Plainsong and Benediction, wrote this last novel in the final months of his life as he suffered from lung disease. It is a tender, typically spare novel that explores the complex bonds of family and the basic need for love and camaraderie, especially in the face of advancing age and eventual mortality. The relationship that develops between Addie and Louis takes unexpected turns that bring them both joy and sadness.
Haruf’s fans will find the act of readingthis slim volume a sort of commemoration of the skill, intuition, and empathy he showed in all of his fiction. (Knopf)
About the Author
Kristy Quist is Tuned In editor for The Banner and a member of Neland Ave. CRC in Grand Rapids, Mich.