Fall Asleep Forgetting by Georgeann Packard

An elegant man, restaurant owner and poet, designs his end-of-life drama to be performed on a beach in early September. He fails to include, however, the intensity of hiswife's sexual nature, an unlikely third party, and the forces of human nature that rip through this small community of misfits living on Long Island's eastern tip.

Whether black or white, gay or straight, young or old, liberal or conservative - all struggle with humor and heart to survive this summer of 2001. Some are plagued by overindulgence in lavish foods or religious zeal or sexual desire. Their lives collide in surprising ways and each, at some point, is provided an opportunity to act heroically.

These are individuals to be remembered, maybe treasured, or possibly, even forgiven.

In the end, you may want to revisit your own definitions of love, religion,and sexual identity . . . maybe even consider the way that a death might become a form of group salvation.