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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
Minimal violence; the hardship of life on the plains
Language
Barely any
Mild language; Haruf's prose is deliberate and plain
Sexual Content
Barely any
An unwanted pregnancy is a central storyline; handled with dignity
Substance Use
Barely any
Some drinking
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Low psychological intensity despite difficult circumstances; the novel's register is warmth and human decency
What this book is about
Kent Haruf's beloved novel weaves together three storylines in Holt, Colorado: a high school teacher caring for his two sons after his wife's mental collapse, a pregnant teenage girl rejected by her mother, and two elderly bachelor brothers who take in the girl. Haruf writes with extraordinary plainness and warmth; the prose is stripped of almost all ornamentation and the characters' decency glows through it. One of the finest American novels of the last century. Appropriate for all ages.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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