• Read an Excerpt
• Reading Group Guide

For a second time the residents of Holt, Colorado, have been
brought to life by the immense talents of author Kent Haruf. Five
years ago, Haruf first introduced the denizens of this rural
western community to the world. That novel, PLAINSONG, became an
award-winning novel, a finalist for the National Book Award, and
recently a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" television movie. EVENTIDE is
Haruf's return visit to Holt, an opportunity for the reader to
follow the lives of many of the characters first introduced in
PLAINSONG and to meet other residents of the community as
well.

The primary focus of EVENTIDE is on the lives of a unique family
unit that found its creation in the pages of PLAINSONG. Her
biological family abandoned Victoria Roubideaux when the high
school student became pregnant. Through the efforts of one of her
teachers, Maggie Jones, Victoria moves to the farm of Harold and
Raymond McPheron, bachelor brothers residing on their cattle ranch
17 miles outside of Holt. The development of the relationship
between Victoria and the McPherons was a major theme of the
PLAINSONG saga.

As EVENTIDE opens, Victoria and her two-year-old daughter Katie,
having lived on the McPheron farm since birth, are preparing to
face a new challenge. Mother and daughter will be moving to Fort
Collins and Victoria will be a freshman in college. The brothers,
who two years ago could never contemplate life with a woman and
child, must now face the absence of what has become their family.
It will be a difficult test.

Shortly after Victoria departs, tragedy visits the McPheron farm. A
serious accident kills Harold and severely injures Raymond. In
simple and unadorned language Haruf portrays Raymond's struggle to
begin a new life. Raymond is a noble and old-fashioned man seeking
to survive in a modern and complex society that exists even in
rural Colorado. In one particularly touching moment, Raymond, now
courting, purchases a car battery for his female friend. In the
hands of Kent Haruf, the incident is beautifully portrayed.

Victoria and the McPherons are the main characters of EVENTIDE but
certainly not its only characters. Haruf shows a remarkable talent
in viewing the world through the eyes of children. IN PLAINSONG it
was the sons of Tom Guthrie. In EVENTIDE it is eleven-year old DJ
Kephart, an orphan who is taking care of his grandfather. Viewing
the world through the eyes of children reminds us all of the
fragile nature of hopes and dreams. Often, it can be a bleak
world.

Other residents of Holt also appear. Luther and Betty Wallace and
their children are kept together as a family unit by social worker
Rose Tyler. The lives of many citizens of Holt intertwine, and
Haruf keeps the story moving towards a conclusion that, while not
complete, brings closure to some of the characters. Perhaps Haruf
is contemplating a Holt, Colorado trilogy of novels.

There is an elegant simplicity and beauty in the writing of Kent
Haruf. When he describes a subzero Colorado winter evening, the
reader reaches for a sweater. When his characters are happy, the
reader rejoices; when they face misfortune, the reader shares their
angst. Few writers can evoke that response in a novel. EVENTIDE is
a worthy successor to the award-winning PLAINSONG. If you have not
done so, read PLAINSONG first. More than the words of any review,
it will inspire you to read EVENTIDE.