Hilarious series of books by Armistead Maupin, read in my youth, about people in San Fran.

Mee naar de openingsmeeting.

I did have the first book in this series, but let it go a while back. I'm not sure if I'll read this or just release it.

More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was not at all what I’d expected! In fact, I expected a series of short stories rather than one complicated, intertwined tangle of storylines whirling around the hub of Barbary Lane and its lodgers, ably conducted by the over-the-top Mrs Madrigal. Though it takes some time before we meet her and discover her name is an acronym for something. Everything is slightly larger than life, particularly the personality of the over-the-top extravertly gay character Michael (otherwise known as Mouse), who is actually somewhat shy and disillusioned. The plot would have done Shakespeare proud, with cross-dressing, complicated family relationships and misunderstandings aplenty. It’s funny, poignant, touching and ridiculous as a Bond plot. The one thing that really made me wonder if it was entirely necessary was Michael’s illness, which was melodramatic; surely Jon would have stayed anyway? In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would be happy to read more of Armistead Maupin’s books. As mentioned on the back cover, the comparison with Garrison Keillor’s Lake Woebegone books is valid: both amusing, both episodic, both showing the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. I’m also reminded of the TV series Modern Family. And if you’re put off by the gay storyline, don’t be. This is about looking for love, falling in love, family andrelationships, with the emphasis on humour.



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Released at the Little Free Library on Powell Street in Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island.

If you find it, please write a short journal entry to say where you found it (you may do this anonymously). If you release the book somewhere else, you can tell its previous readers so we can follow its journey. If you’d like to do the same, you can join for free. It’s a lot of fun and there’s an international community linked by a forum, too. If you do join, i would love it if you mentioned me, bookguide, as the ‘referring member’. Happy readiing!

This book has been released as part of the following BookCrossing challenges:
- The Ultimate Challenge - read and release books, with extra points for a monthly theme
- Reduce Mount TBR (To Be Read) - read and release books on the TBR list since before the end of the previous year. My reading goal is 36 books.