TomLowe’sidentityandhisprideareinvestedintheworkhedoeswithhisbackandhishands.Hedesignedandbuilthisfamily’sdreamhome,workingextrahourstopayofftheadjustableratemortgagehetookontheproperty,convincedheismakingeverysacrificeforthehappinessofhiswifeandson.Until,inamomentoffatiguedinattention,shinglingaroofintoo-brightsunlight,hefalls.Inconstantpain,addictedtopainkillersatthecostofhisrelationshipswithhiswifeandson,Tomslowlycomestorealizethathecanneverworkagain.Ifheisnotaworkingman,whoishe?Heisnot,hebelieves,thekindofpersonwholivesinsubsidizedhousing,thoughthatiswherehehasendedup.Heisnotthekindofpersonwhohatchesaschemetocommitconvenience-checkfraud,togetherwithneighborsheconsiderslowlifes,untilhefindshimselfstealinghisbanker’strash.WhoisTomLowe,andwhowillhebecome?Canhefindawaytoreunitehandsandheart,mindandspirit,tobeonceagainagiverandnotjustataker,toforgeaself-acceptancedeeperthanpride?AndreDubusIII’ssoulfulcastincludesTrina,thestrugglingmomnextdoorwhosellsherownplasmatogetby;Dawn,thetough-talkingownerofthelocalhairdressingsalon;Jamie,awell-meaningpotheadcollegestudentreadytostickitto“theman“;andamixofstrangersandneighborswhowillneverknowtheroletheyplayedinchangingalife.Tooneman’spainfulmoraljourney,Dubusbringscompassionwithanedgeofdarkabsurdity,forginganovelasabsorbingasitisprofound.
