The Art of Saying Goodbye

Bache (Riggs Park) tackles the sensitive subject of cancer in a memorable story about a free-spirited woman with no regrets and the impact her impending death has on her close friends. The story opens with an introduction to the neighborhood, Brightwood Trace, in which Paisley Lamm and her four longtime friends%E2%80%94Andrea, Ginger, Julianne and Iona%E2%80%94all live, and then segues 10 years into the past, to cancer-ridden Paisley's hot tub party to bring all the neighborhood mothers together. Paisley's beauty is often coveted by the women, but they also can't help loving her for her kind heart and good intentions. Now Paisley's terminal cancer has the four friends suddenly appreciating their own families and lifestyles. For the remainder of the novel, we catch a glimpse of each woman's present-day life with short anecdotes in between from Paisley on her most memorable life experiences, like learning to fly a plane or meeting her future husband at the swimming pool when she was only 12. There's a revelation involving adultery that doesn't resonate except to take Paisley out of the sainthood category. Basically, this is a moving, gratifying, and inspiring reminder to live life to its fullest and demonstrate love in every possible way to friends and family. (June)