by Ward Just
First published 1979
The death of Amos Rising sends shockwaves through his family and the entire town of Dement. As editor of The Dement Intelligencer, Amos served as both patriarch and civic anchor. Now his survivors must figure out how to fill the void he left behind. His daughter Dana Rising emerges as the most compelling figure in this transition. Smart, attractive, and determined, she embodies the family's potential as they grapple with their inheritance and responsibilities. The town itself becomes a character as it transforms around them. Each Rising family member brings different ambitions and capabilities to their shared crisis. Ward Just examines how public duties and private desires collide in small town America. The novel explores what happens when the center no longer holds and a new generation must step forward to define itself.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, generational-conflict
Setting: Dement
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books