RULES FOR SAYING GOODBYE

Katherine leaves tacky Fresno for a swanky East Coast boarding school, where she learns about kissing, character assassination, and cocaine. Then it's on to New York City, magazine writing, lots of booze, and one bad man after another. As narrator, author Taylor's voice is pleasing. She reads with an easy grace, becoming charming, bright, smarmy, cheerful, or sardonic, as called for. Taylor's coming-of-age novel is autobiographical--her protagonist's name is Katherine Taylor, and she has a sharp wit and a barbed tongue, too. Taylor's writing isn't self-indulgent--it's painfully honest and playfully ironic. RULES FOR SAYING GOODBYE (there are 11) is a witty primer for posh 30-somethings and a smart, sassy listen for everyone else. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]