This novel, winner of the First Novelist Award of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, is the story of the Goodman family. Absalom Goodman is terminally ill with a malignant brain tumor and his illness has precipitated his son, Sonny's, return to Philadelphia. Sonny, a rising young executive at a computer firm in Minneapolis, has lost touch with his roots. Absalom's daughter, Rainy, lives in the house she grew up in. She and Sonny clash over what will happen to the house once their father is gone. Their mother, Gwen, resents her husband's illness as well as her children's ingratitude. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.