53 pages • 1 hour read •
Our Souls At Night
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
192
Novel • Fiction
•
Modern Classic FictionHolt, Colorado • Contemporary
•
Aging•
Conflict2015
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, Addie Moore and Louis Waters, two widowed neighbors in their seventies, combat loneliness through nightly, non-sexual companionship in Holt, Colorado, sharing intimate conversations that deepen their bond, despite facing the judgment of their small-town community and family pressures. The text describes the death of a child in a violent accident.
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Melancholic
Hopeful
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
97,045 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Kent Haruf's Our Souls At Night is lauded for its elegant prose and heartfelt portrayal of companionship in later life. Critics praise its simplicity and emotional depth but note the narrative pacing may lack urgency for some readers. The novel's exploration of human connection and loneliness resonates, although its quiet tone may not appeal to all audiences.
Who Should Read Our Souls At Night?
Readers who appreciate heartfelt stories of connection and resilience in later life will find Our Souls At Night by Kent Haruf compelling. Similar in tone to A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, this novel appeals to those who enjoy contemplative, character-driven narratives.
97,045 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Addie Moore
Addie Moore
A 70-year-old widow and grandmother in Holt, characterized by her courage and determination to live life on her own terms. She seeks companionship with Louis to alleviate her loneliness.
Gene Moore
Gene Moore
Addie's son, who reacts strongly to Addie's relationship with Louis. He struggles with past traumas and financial difficulties that impact his interactions with his family.
Jamie Moore
Jamie Moore
Gene's six-year-old son who spends the summer with his grandmother Addie. He is a sensitive child who finds comfort and stability through his relationship with Louis and a dog named Bonny.
Our Souls at Night was published posthumously in 2015, shortly after Kent Haruf's death in 2014; it represents his final contribution to literature.
The novel was adapted into a Netflix film released in 2017, starring celebrated actors Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, reuniting them on-screen for the first time since The Electric Horseman in 1979.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Kent Haruf purposefully set all his novels, including Our Souls at Night, in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, providing a consistent backdrop for exploring themes of small-town life.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
192
Novel • Fiction
•
Modern Classic FictionHolt, Colorado • Contemporary
•
Aging•
Conflict2015
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 9,100+ additional titles.