In this poignant and poetic novel, looking back on her sixty years, a dying woman examines the great relationships of her life When she learns that she is dying, Laura Spelman vows to spend her final year only on what matters most. As she quickly realizes, this means coming to terms with her most fruitful and important bonds-her "real connections"-all of which have been with women. From her tempestuous daughter and beloved aunt, to a promising lesbian writer she is mentoring and a cherished friend from her youth, Laura revisits her most significant relationships, each fraught with its own history and meaning. Insightful and witty, A Reckoning is an unforgettable portrait of one woman's journey to seize life before it ends, and of the power in embracing the fact that the most challenging interactions are often the most rewarding. This ebook features an extended biography of May Sarton.