The Harris MenRM Johnson's extraordinary novel is a stirring family portrait that resonates with emotion and wit, as a father faces death—and the three sons he abandoned so many years before. “Mr. Harris, I'm sorry, but you have cancer.” Although devastated to learn he has just one year to live, fifty-five-year-old Julius Harris has always known that the day would come when he would pay for walking out on his wife and three children twenty years earlier. Now, with a sudden and passionate determination to make his family whole again, Julius begins trying to find a way back to his sons. Caleb, the youngest, struggling to support a son and make his way in a relentless world, couldn't care less about his own absentee father. Middle son Marcus can't abide even his father's memory, which gets in the way of his committing to the one woman who has turned his life around. And Austin, Julius' eldest child, so adores what he remembers of his father that he's following in his footsteps, abandoning his wife and children just as Julius had done. Inspired by RM Johnson's own fragile family history, The Harris Men is his poignant exploration of the increasing problem of absentee fathers—and of the compromises made by the families they leave behind. As the Harris men grapple with their fears and their choices, Johnson gets to the very heart of what it means to be a man. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ain’t andhe answer areyou arms athis Austin looked Benning Blue Blue’s brother buthe Caleb asked Caleb looked can’t Cathy Chad chair damn didn’t know didn’t want don’t think door doyou everything eyes face father feel felt fucking going grabbed hand happened he’s head heard hecould hedidn’t hehad hell hesaid hewas hisface hishead I’m sorry Idon’t inhis inthe itwas Jahlil Julius knew leave man’s Marcus asked Marcus’s mind motherfucker never night ofhis ofthe okay onhis onthe picked pulled Ray Ray Reecie Shewas shit shoulder sitting smiled son’s Sonya sorry staring stood stop sure talk tell thathe thebus there’s things thinkabout tobe toget togo tohis told took tosee totake tothe Trace trying tryingto turned voice waiting walked wasit wasn’t wastrying What’s whyI woman worry would’ve wouldn’t wrong Yeah yelled