DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN?

Author: Erica Orloff ISBN: 0373895356 10/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: RED DRESS INK

I'm Lily, a New York newspaper columnist, mother of two, divorcee of one and partner in crime to Michael, English professor, novelist and best friend extraordinaire. We've been friends forever—well, since I nearly burned down our apartment building while trying to cook. Michael and I have weathered disco, bad fashion, bad perms, bad boyfriends—for both of us—my failed marriage, parenthood and writer's block. Laughter has helped—and so have the martinis. But now we face our biggest challenge: the C word. And if I have my way, Michael will be giving up his freewheeling bachelor ways and settling down once and for all. Because I have some very specific wishes for who should take over parental duty when I'm gone. Of course, I refuse to take this lying down—even when the doctors tell me to lie down and shut up. Because although I'm sick, I'm determined to wear my high heels and lipstick. I'm gonna look good or die trying, dammit.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

On her fortieth birthday, Lily Waters wakes up with the unpleasant realization that she's a grown-up. Luckily, her best friend of twenty years, Michael, is there to cheer her up with a box of Krispy Kremes and a lawn full of pink flamingos.

Michael turns forty a week later. Though gay, he's a little wistful about the two kids and a house lifestyle that Lily has. And for some reason, he thinks about death.

Lily has the kids, but also had the divorce with the man who then ran off to London with his Vapid Child-bride. He has nothing to do with their children, though he usually sends the child support checks. And of course, she has the falling-down house and out of control credit card bills. So when her newspaper editor insists she get a mammogram for an article about Breast Cancer Awareness month, she can hardly say no, even though she feels too young for the test.

The technician finds a "spot" which leads to a series of tests. Lily feels fine, and although she can't even feel a lump, it's cancer. Stage four. For Michael this brings on a series of flashbacks from the AIDS deaths of their friends in the late 1980's, when it got so bad they went to a funeral a week. He has been the kind of guy who left any lover who tested positive, but with Lily so ill, he finally has to grow up.

This book raises many questions. How can you fall in love when your best friend is dying? How and when do you give up the fight? Does cancer make you asexual? What is best for the kids you leave behind?

DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN? is one of those poignant, profound, tear jerker-but-still-funny books. I've read three Orloff novels now, and she just keeps getting better.

Heather Hiestand