This is a stark and powerful book about love, duty, loneliness and grief. It is told in the first person by Sanders Roscoe but it is the story of his neighbors, the Goodnoughs. The language is straight-forward and sparse like the high plains setting but it is lovely and moving at the same time. Haruf is better known for his novel, Plainsong, but this is a masterpiece.

Haruf's writing is so clean, concise and simple. Narrated by Sandy, this story dives into life of his long time neighbor, Edith and the ways in which she and others were bound to their situation, their family. Beautifully written.