Parting Is All We Know of Heaven Author:Molly Moynahan Cordelia Cavanagh works as a receptionist at a New York City squash club but aspires to an acting career. After her sister is brutally murdered, she indulges in survivor guilt in the worst way and spends the rest of the novel trying to make sense out of her muddled feelings about her dead sister, her psychologist mother, and her frustrated actor... more » father. Cordelia unwisely hooks up with Philip, a true lowlife, with whom she has fairly graphic but unexciting S & M sex. She also tries anorexia and drugs, to no avail. She finally comes to her senses and seems to resolve her conflict somewhat, but her relationships with various family members and friends remain tenuous.« less