Plainsong by Kent Haruf ? A New York Times Notable Book ? A New Yorker Book Award Finalist ? Winner of the Mountains Plains Bookseller's Association Award Ambitious, but never seeming so, Kent Haruf reveals a whole community as he interweaves the stories of a pregnant high school girl, a lonely teacher, a pair of boys abandoned by their mother, and a couple of crusty bachelor farmers. From simple elements, Haruf achieves a novel of wisdom and grace - a narrative that builds in strength and feeling until, as in a choral chant, the voices in the book surround, transport, and lift the reader off the ground. "Resonant and meaningful... A song of praise in honor of the lives it chronicles [and] a story about People's ability to adapt and redeem themselves, to heal the wounds of isolation by moving, gropingly and imperfectly, toward community."' -Richard Tillinghast, The Washington Post Book World "A compelling and compassionate novel... [With] his sheer assurance as a storyteller, [Mr. Haruf] has conjured up an entire community, and ineluctably immersed the reader in its dramas." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "A work as flawlessly unified as a short story by Poe or Chekhov." - Jon HassIer, Chicago Tribune Pages in unmarked condition. Cover has wear to edges and corners, chipping at bottom of spine. Cover has creasing and blemishes. Cover pages are dog-earred. Inside covers have foxing.