John Genderson, a middle-aged fiction writer, comes to live with his mother after two failed attempts to start a family. Immersed in himself, the protagonist returns home to find out why his mother never appreciated him. John hopes that by finding out the reason and establishing a relationship with his mother, he will learn to get along with other women as well.

But soon he realizes that he himself never really appreciated her. Gradually there are changes in their relationship, affecting not only the writer, but also his younger brother Jeff. At the heart of this profound story is wisdom allied with bittersweet humor.