Plainsong by Kent Haruf: The McPheron Brothers

Plainsong is another book that somehow ended up on my shelf - not a typical choice for me - but I loved the book. What stood out for me the most, however, were two of Haruf's characters - the McPheron brothers. 

I'd like to meet the McPherons.  More than that, a part of me hopes they are real and still living in the Eastern half of Colorado. Harold and Raymond are two old bachelor brothers living out on a cattle ranch by themselves, tending their animals and sharing a splendidly quiet seclusion - they aren't the two people most people I know would think I want to meet, but Haruf invented two special men.  

The two embody the sentiment of the title - down to earth and rooted in what matters. Their kindness, no their goodness, ties the novel together. Harold and Raymond give to those who need without judgement. They change when change means making someone else's life a better one. 

There aren't many McPherons out there, but I feel like I've been lucky enough to meet a couple.  To my shame, they are a 'type' outwardly speaking that I would likely regard with some suspicion, figuring them to be conservative and harsh in their judgement of those who do not conform to their world view.  Haruf reminds me that, like the brothers, I should give a little more than that.

Plus, they have a fine sense of humour (as evidenced below).

(Absence of quotes is Haruf's choice.)

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     Then Raymond opened his hand and let go. The man stood up. You dumb old son of a bitch, he said. I was joking. 

     You got some of that right, Raymond said.