Kent Haruf Reading
Kent Haruf reads from his novel, Eventide, which is a sequel to his previous novel, Plainsong. Haruf acknowledges that while his growing up in small Colorado towns influenced his novels, he ultimately aims to write about “universal matters.” Haruf began writing his previous novel, Plainsong, while he was in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop (MFA 1973). He points out how independent bookstores such as Prairie Lights contributed greatly to his success as a novelist.
A question and answer period follows the reading, where Haruf discusses his writing techniques and conventions in detail. He explains his decision to omit quotation marks around the dialogue in his latest novels; he enjoys the clean, uncluttered appearance of the page. Haruf stresses the importance of significant dialogue in his books, and points out that he attempts to incorporate various “distinctive or idiosyncratic phrases” he hears in daily life. When addressing his stark style of writing, Haruf claims that “if you are paying very close attention to each word, that each word has to be there for an absolute and precise reason, then that language can sound as if it had been reminted that very day.”
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Kent Haruf
Date Recorded: July 07, 2004
Works Read: Eventide, by Kent Haruf
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Colorado, conventions in writing, fiction, dialogue styles, writing process
Note: This reading takes place in Shambaugh Auditorium, in the Main Library at the University of Iowa.