Eventide

Starred review from April 26, 2004
Haruf's follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling Plainsong
is as lovely and accomplished as its predecessor. The aging bachelor McPheron brothers and their beloved charges, Victoria and her daughter, Katie, return (though Victoria quickly heads off to college), and Haruf introduces new folks—a disabled couple and their children, an old man and the grandson who lives with him—in this moving exploration of smalltown lives in rural Holt, Colo. Ranchers Raymond and Harold McPheron have spent their whole lives running land that has been in their family for many generations, so when Harold is killed by an enraged bull, worn-out Raymond faces a void unlike any he has ever known. His subsequent first-ever attempts at courtship and romance are almost heartbreaking in their innocence, but after some missteps, he finds unexpected happiness with kind Rose Tyler. Rose is the caseworker for a poor couple struggling so dimly and futilely to better their lives that it becomes painful to witness. Children play crucial roles in the novel's tapestry of rural life, and they are not spared life's trials. But Haruf's characters, such as 11-year-old orphan DJ Kephart, who cares for his retired railroad worker grandfather, and Mary Wells, whose husband abandons her with two young girls, maintain an elemental dignity no matter how buffeted by adversity. And while there is much sadness and hardship in this portrait of a community, Haruf's sympathy for his characters, no matter how flawed they are, make this an uncommonly rich novel. Agent, Sterling Lord Literistic
. (May 9)

Forecast:
Readers will find that what made
Plainsong a bestseller—its humanity, its grace and its moving, heartfelt story—shines again in
Eventide. With an announced first printing of 250,000 and an author tour, Haruf's latest should do very, very well
.

January 1, 2004
Big doings for this continuation of Plainsong: a 250,000-copy first printing and an author tour of 22 (count 'em, 22) cities.

Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

October 1, 2004
Adult/High School -In this sequel to Plainsong (Knopf, 1999), Victoria Roubideaux and her baby move from the McPheron ranch to settle into her new life of college and single parenthood. When Harold McPheron is accidentally killed by a bull, his brother, Raymond, tries desperately to cope with the ranch and living by himself. Rose Tyler, a kind, middle-aged social worker, eventually becomes his friend and lover and acts as a balance in his life. Harold becomes a part of the lives of her clients, especially young DJ Kephart, who struggles daily to be both an elementary school child and caregiver to his grandfather. This natural interaction of people thrown together by fate and unplanned circumstances realistically mimics life in general and, specifically, the community life of many small towns. The overall tone of the book offers hope and love despite the stark moments of sadness and grief. Compassion, strength of character, and loving concern for all life become the positive forces that help each of the individuals carry on. This book stands alone, but reading the two novels in sequence gives additional meaning and understanding to the events and characters.-Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2004
Haruf continues the story he told so poignantly in his best-selling and highly regarded novel " Plainsong "(1999), returning to tiny Holt, Colorado, and the cattle ranch of the elderly, laconic, and kind McPheron brothers, Harold and Raymond. The McPherons have long lived and worked together, but instead of being set in their ways, they happily welcomed teenage mother Victoria and her baby girl into their humble home. Now Victoria and Katie are about to move away so that Victoria can attend college. The brothers know that they're going to miss them, but no one is prepared for the tragedy that befalls Harold. Generous souls step up, and Raymond soldiers on, but others struggle mightily. Mary's despair over her husband's defection places her two young daughters in jeopardy. Orphaned 11-year-old DJ sacrifices his boyhood to care for his grandfather. Luther and Betty love their children, but they're none too bright and not even their caring social worker, Rose, can keep them safe. A master of restraint and a writer of remarkable tenderness and dignity, Haruf tells his characters' tough stories without omniscient commentary, trusting in the power of straight-ahead prose and realistic predicaments. And readers, grateful for a return visit to archetypal Holt and entranced by the bracing clarity of the wind-chilled open range and the solace of coffee-warm kitchens, will share Haruf's respect for life's mysteries and his faith in goodness.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 5, 2004
Narrator Hearn, who won a Tony award for his performance in the Broadway musical Sunset Boulevard
, proves to be a perfect complement to Haruf's earthy, austerely elegant prose in this atmospheric sequel to Hearn's novel Plainsong
(1999). Many of the characters from that book return, with the brothers Harold and Raymond MacPheron once again serving as the focal point. Haruf concentrates on the complexities of what seems to be a simple Colorado community. New characters include a mentally challenged couple struggling to raise their two children, and an 11-year-old orphan boy charged with caring for his aging grandfather. The text is restrained, as is Hearn's performance. His relaxed, throaty voice and even pace fit comfortably with a book that boasts its fair share of sayings like, "Yes, ma'am," and in which a present participle ending in "g" is rarer than a discouraging word. He makes only the slightest alterations for different characters, yet they all ring true. Whether describing the events of a tragic death or a couple's thorough contemplation of the likelihood that pouring raisins on plain cereal would be the same thing as Raisin Bran itself, Hearn's voice possesses an ease and casual quaintness to rival Garrison Keillor, and it precisely conveys this book's enchanting spell. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover (Forecasts, Apr. 26).

Starred review from May 1, 2004
Readers familiar with Haruf's Plainsong will remember the McPheron brothers, Raymond and Harold. This new novel opens with the brothers taking Victoria and her little daughter, Katie, off to Fort Collins, where Victoria is due to begin college. Facing a long winter alone, the brothers go back to their routine as cattle ranchers in Holt, CO, where tragedy awaits. In addition to familiar characters, we meet new faces. There is 11-year-old DJ Kephart, who cares for his 75-year-old grandfather. Next door to the Kepharts is Mary Wells, whose husband moved off to Alaska, leaving behind a bereft Mary uninterested in life or her kids. Luther and Betty June Wallace are trying to hang onto their two kids by visiting a social worker and taking parenting classes. But just as they seem to be making some headway, Betty June's no good uncle shows up to wreak havoc. Life is hard in this small rural town, and the problems of abuse, addiction, neglect, divorce, and loneliness are as pervasive as they are in big cities. Through Haruf's crisp, clean prose, we feel the pain of Holt's citizens as they struggle to survive life with hope and dignity. No easy answers here, just honest storytelling that is compelling and rings true. Highly recommended for all collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 1/03.] Robin Nesbitt, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.