tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post8217138654095850960..comments2023-10-10T03:58:32.375-07:00Comments on Fingers & Prose: Benediction by Kent HarufMelodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-64571585731952212662013-04-28T10:35:43.320-07:002013-04-28T10:35:43.320-07:00I keep meaning to read this author. Religion isn&...I keep meaning to read this author. Religion isn't typically a subject I want to read about, but it sounds like it's handled really well in this book. I'll probably start with Plainsong as its the first in the trilogy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-79455542505601735882013-04-10T10:05:49.524-07:002013-04-10T10:05:49.524-07:00(thanks for piping up!)(thanks for piping up!)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-24861832168279356872013-04-10T10:05:29.910-07:002013-04-10T10:05:29.910-07:00Whoops, sorry for not replying sooner, Belle! I a...Whoops, sorry for not replying sooner, Belle! I agree with what Crowe said (both below and in her review of Benediction) and would love to hear your opinion on this one. It is very much a standalone novel. In some ways a slow and peaceful read, it also hooked me and kept me reading. I finished it in a single day, which just hasn't happened for me recently. Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-7369377133761736322013-04-10T10:01:18.457-07:002013-04-10T10:01:18.457-07:00Yes - your review convinced me to pick it up as so...Yes - your review convinced me to pick it up as soon as possible! I grew up in a small town church that operated more on tradition than anything else (in many ways) and it took me many years to really examine my beliefs and ideas to come to where I am. That scene was sad and touching - the more so because it felt realistic and not purely judgmental. The opposing viewpoint <i>could have</i> been delved into a bit further, but the author's grace and respect made it work regardless.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-26682395804403786272013-04-10T09:56:26.286-07:002013-04-10T09:56:26.286-07:00I'd love to hear what you think about it! I w...I'd love to hear what you think about it! I wish I remembered more about my opinion of that poor lost book, but all that sticks in my mind is that I felt like my opinion hinged on the ending (which, obviously, didn't go well). After reading Benediction though I'm inclined to test out whether it was more due to where I was at in life at the time (9 years ago) and keep reading through the author's works. Looking through his books I'm wondering if the ill-fated one was Where You Once Belong. Nothing much sounds familiar about it though...it'd be interesting to see if I remembered it while reading!Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-43050300635665902432013-04-10T09:51:38.618-07:002013-04-10T09:51:38.618-07:00I haven't read Eventide yet, but from what I r...I haven't read Eventide yet, but from what I remember of Plainsong it doesn't address faith & beliefs quite as directly as Benediction does, but it is still about life decisions and living out what seems right to you. The stories were independent of each other, but do have a connection in location (and Benediction mentions characters from Plainsong also). My favorite type of sequel!Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08151339860580266808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-13883560822994227622013-04-08T17:59:22.184-07:002013-04-08T17:59:22.184-07:00It's not part of a trilogy, but all of his boo...It's not part of a trilogy, but all of his books take place in the same small (fictional) town of Holt, Colorado. Occasionally his other characters may show up in another book, but not in any integral way. As the Crowe Flies and Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-63193277235432314212013-04-08T14:30:39.870-07:002013-04-08T14:30:39.870-07:00I have this on my Kindle. Is this a standalone th...I have this on my Kindle. Is this a standalone then? It sounds like it from your review. I had read one place it was the end of a trilogy. I haven't read this author before? Do you think I can go ahead and read this one? I bought it on Crowe's advice. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-67177829241307973232013-04-08T13:16:38.856-07:002013-04-08T13:16:38.856-07:00Funny story about your previous Haruf book swimmin...Funny story about your previous Haruf book swimming with the fishes. <br /><br />I loved Benediction, but I've been a long time Haruf fan. I think he is so respectful of his characters and has his finger on the pulse of small town Americana. (Did you see my review before, by any chance? Because I broke down and cried in that chapter where the pastor is trying to preach a true message of Christianity.)As the Crowe Flies and Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-46200604687665601962013-04-08T11:52:12.549-07:002013-04-08T11:52:12.549-07:00HaHaHa! (on the story of your husband feeding the ...HaHaHa! (on the story of your husband feeding the book to the fish.) I have to tell my hubby that one. He will really get a kick out of it. It sounds like something that should go on my TBR list. Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-243923798905252664.post-28946007506754816112013-04-08T11:27:06.396-07:002013-04-08T11:27:06.396-07:00This sounds like something that would interest me....This sounds like something that would interest me.<br /><br />From the titles of Plainsong and Eventide I would imagine that they are about similar topics. Does Plainsong relate to Benediction at all?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com