Entertainment Tip: Losing Clementine

Clementine Pritchard, world-renowned artist, has just 30 days left to live when the book opens. On day 10, she throws herself a last dinner party, inviting colleagues, neighbors, friends and even an old professor from art school.

The menu is all her favorite foods ordered from all her favorite restaurants. She serves everything from roasted bone marrow to macaroni and cheese. In Clementine’s case, she’s allowed a little more artistic license in her party planning than most of us would take, but her theory is sound.

The tables and chairs are an eclectic assemblage, the flowers come from a neighbor, everyone brings wine and the food is taken care of. The tip? Take help where you need it. Don’t be afraid to mix take-out with home-cooked items, and when guests offer to bring something, take them up on it.