THE FIRST DESIRE

It is 1929 in Buffalo, New York. Rebecca Cohen, wife of Abe, mother of Goldie, Sadie, Jo, Celia, and Irving, has died. Suddenly, Goldie disappears, providing the catalyst for deep, lengthy reflections by each of her siblings. They examine Goldie's place in their lives and, in the process, uncover their own fears, resentments, and weaknesses. Narrator Bernadette Dunne provides each character with his or her own voice. Author Nancy Reisman takes the story forward into the '50s, and Dunne believably chronicles the crises that eventually end Goldie's self-imposed exile. Reisman's first novel is lyrical and poetic, a lovingly carved puzzle that, when assembled, reveals the dark dramas inherent in one family. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]