Benediction

Examined. Good novelists help readers examine life through characters that we recognize as complicated and human, just like us. In his novel Benediction, Kent Haruf places protagonist Dad Lewis in a state of close examination as he faces death from cancer. Just like us, Dad is a flawed creature, along with every other character in the novel. Each makes decisions and deals with life in ways that we recognize and either emulate or reject. Haruf’s fine writing includes precise character development, and language choices that led me to reread many sentences for the sheer pleasure of hearing them again. Readers who like fiction that unveils a slice of the life we all live should consider reading this finely written novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Benediction from amazon.com.