When Warhol Was Still Alive

McMullan's debut, set in the mid-80s and peppered with pop-culture references, proves rather prosaic, for all its behind-the-scenes glimpses at a fashion monthly. Underpaid editor Catherine, who compiles the entertainment page for a women's magazine, is so overwhelmed by her Manhattan lifestyle that she's frequently chosen to appear as a beauty ``don't'' in the magazine's pages. She's single, can barely pay her rent and, worst of all, her latest romantic prospect is a bisexual man who is bedding both her uppity boss, Fran, and her only friend, the flamboyantly gay, Andy Warhol-obsessed Joey. Aside from Catherine's growing realization that she can get by without a man or the approval of her boss, practically the only event of consequence is Joey's battle with AIDS--with its inevitable outcome. That Joey is healthy in one chapter and on his deathbed the next is characteristic of the story's lack of continuity; McMullan often cuts to the chase without adequate buildup or transition. As the book skips from crisis to crisis, even the most sympathetic reader will grow frustrated with the choppy narrative. (Apr.)