Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Harper (1989), 368 pages
Description
The calamity-prone residents of 28 Barbary Lane are at it again in this deliciously dark novel of romance and betrayal. While Anna Madrigal imprisons an anchorwoman in her basement, Michael Tolliver looks for love at the National Gay Rodeo, DeDe Halcyon Day and Mary Ann Singleton track a charismatic psychopath across Alaska, and society columnist Prue Giroux loses her heart to a derelict living in San Francisco park.
Media reviews
Le Magazine littéraire
Délicieux, tendrement ironique, chaleureux...Un régal.
Têtu
Entre un ouvrier au grand coeur, une star de cinéma et son médecin favori - Jon Fielding pour ne pas changer-, Michael court toujours après l'homme de sa vie. Mary Ann, entrée à la télévision, court après le scoop de la sienne. DeDe revient de loin et Mme Madrigal cultive des petites herbes
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dans son jardinet...Ajoutez à cela quelques kidnappings, une course poursuite entre l'Alaska et Barbery Lane, et vous aurez une idée de ce pétillant roman d'où on ressort tout étourdi, un sourire bêta scotché aux lèvres. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member AlexTheHunn
Maupin's delightful and fascinating characters find their way through San Francisco in the heady 70s. This is my personal favorite in the series.
LibraryThing member klarusu
I can't really believe it's taken me this long to find these gems, but sometimes it's the ones that lie undiscovered under your nose that prove the most surprising. These books detail the lives of a motley band of individuals who live in San Francisco on Barbary Lane under the watchful eye of the
I guess, should you choose to, you could level the criticism that the interlinking storylines are all-to-convenient and readily wrapped up .... but I didn't find it problematic. It is an inherent quality of the original media they were published in and you have to allow for that format. I'm just glad to see them put together as a book so that they can be enjoyed by everyone. I think that if you cannot overcome objections to plot and structure, then these books were probably never meant for you. Personally, once I found them, I couldn't put them down and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next batch.
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matriarchal Anna Madrigal. The pluses and minuses of these stories all stem from the fact that they were initially serialisations in a regular newspaper column. It makes them an addictive doddle to read - each book is divided into bite-sized chunks that have an element of self-containment mixed with a splattering suspense that leaves you wanting more. The characters are skilfully drawn and quickly come to life and become much-loved friend - a testament to Maupin's skill as a writer. They are each a little window onto life in San Francisco at the time - an interesting documentation of society there.I guess, should you choose to, you could level the criticism that the interlinking storylines are all-to-convenient and readily wrapped up .... but I didn't find it problematic. It is an inherent quality of the original media they were published in and you have to allow for that format. I'm just glad to see them put together as a book so that they can be enjoyed by everyone. I think that if you cannot overcome objections to plot and structure, then these books were probably never meant for you. Personally, once I found them, I couldn't put them down and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next batch.
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LibraryThing member webgeekstress
As with others in the series, this is of interest mainly for the depiction of life in San Francisco during that era. It's considerably weaker, and less plausible, than the others in the series.
LibraryThing member Kenkwa
Further Tales of the City continues on with the characters you just have to fall in love with from the very first book. Being an eclectic reader, this book was recommended to me by a salesperson at my local bookstore, and I am glad I listened. To be able to sit down and actually guffaw at some of
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the crazy antics these characters get themselves into!! It would be so much fun to be a resident of Barbary Lane for just a year! Show Less
LibraryThing member ferebend
This is the third of six books in the Tales of the City series. Much of the same good stuff. Rapid plot development with tons of twists, satisfying character development and a whirlwind climax, with lots of humour and neat cultural references all over the place. Oh, and uniform fetishes. There's
There are still a couple of disconcerting things. Whereas the first book took place in the mid/late seventies and the second book was a direct sequel, the third book thrusts the characters suddenly into the early eighties. That took a while to deal with. Also noteworthy is the "writing out" of one of the major characters, which wasn't dealt with very well at all.
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that, too. ^_^There are still a couple of disconcerting things. Whereas the first book took place in the mid/late seventies and the second book was a direct sequel, the third book thrusts the characters suddenly into the early eighties. That took a while to deal with. Also noteworthy is the "writing out" of one of the major characters, which wasn't dealt with very well at all.
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LibraryThing member jeffome
Another coincidence-filled jolly good time.....this one a wee bit more graphic than previous volumes in the series, but still just plain fun....short little chapters, ridiculous circumstances and a rather startling take on a major world event that was fun to contemplate.....have at it......you
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probably will not regret it. Show Less
LibraryThing member presto
Further tales of the City jumps forward a few years from More Tales of the City, but most of our favourite characters are still there; the residents of 28 Barbary Lane; Anna Madrigal’s children. The improbable events and unlikely coincidences continue with unabated abandon, but this is part of
It’s every bit as good as and possibly even funnier than its predecessors; highly recommended.
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the charm of the stories. But what holds the book together is the skilful way that Maupin involves all the regular characters in the main plot; and main plot there certainly is (with a Jonestown connection), a plot which keeps one guessing to the end.It’s every bit as good as and possibly even funnier than its predecessors; highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member thorold
Another cruise-ship plot? What is this, The Love-boat?
Actually, this is one of the best plots in the series. When I re-read it, I took the opportunity to look up Jim Jones and the People's Temple: I hadn't realised quite how conspicuously the leading lights of liberal San Francisco (Harvey Milk,
It is interesting, though, that when this one was adapted for television, they had to bring in a whole new plotline in order to give Olympia Dukakis enough to do to make it worth her while to play Mrs Madrigal. The plot of the book is very focussed on Mary Ann and DeDe, as well as bringing out Prue Giroux, who was only a very minor character before. Michael's plot is important, but seems to be almost independent of what all the other characters are doing. So this book is maybe stronger as a self-contained novel than as an episode in the cycle.
Actually, this is one of the best plots in the series. When I re-read it, I took the opportunity to look up Jim Jones and the People's Temple: I hadn't realised quite how conspicuously the leading lights of liberal San Francisco (Harvey Milk,
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Angela Davis, Maupin's colleagues on the Chronicle, etc.) were taken in by Jones. Maupin must have been stepping on some tender toes when he brought the subject of Jonestown up.It is interesting, though, that when this one was adapted for television, they had to bring in a whole new plotline in order to give Olympia Dukakis enough to do to make it worth her while to play Mrs Madrigal. The plot of the book is very focussed on Mary Ann and DeDe, as well as bringing out Prue Giroux, who was only a very minor character before. Michael's plot is important, but seems to be almost independent of what all the other characters are doing. So this book is maybe stronger as a self-contained novel than as an episode in the cycle.
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LibraryThing member debavp
Maupin never fails to deliver with these characters.. It’s a very fast read, so you have to slow down and enjoy it. This one had quite the drama and an “Oh No” moment. A very interesting look back at the big socio-political events of that era. If the intent at the time of original publication
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was “conspiracy theory”, it certainly would have been plausible. Show Less
LibraryThing member satyridae
Lovely narration by Barbara Rosenblat. I wish I could find the next 3 narrated by her, as I also have the last book to listen to. Worth a listen if you are a fan.
LibraryThing member maggie1944
More laughing out loud, more thoughtful pauses when remembering some of the awful stuff that happened back in the day, more caring about this merry band of people who populated San Francisco in the 1970s. Maupin sticks a genuine mystery into this book, and there were moments when I did not know if
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I put the book down because I did not want to find out "what happens", or if I was too excited to read "what happens". How he pulls an impossible story together at the end is a wonder to behold. And the heroes are totally lovable! Show Less
LibraryThing member sunnydrk
The characters and tales continue to grow. Old friends reemerge and new friends are made.
LibraryThing member CharlotteBurt
Another comfort re-read. A minor character takes centre stage as Prue, a society columnist falls in love with a homeless man who lives in the park who turns out to be more than he seems.
LibraryThing member ChrisWeir
3rd in the tales of the city series. This one has Michael reunited with a long lost love. Brian andary Ann getting engaged. And the return of Dede Day which is the major point of this novel.
LibraryThing member raschneid
3.5 for content, 4 for enjoyment. I was home sick and desperate for cozy reading material when I remembered I had a stack of these in the basement.
Tales of the City is charming as always, and I really enjoyed Michael's storyline in particular; his search for emotional connection is sympathetic and
That said, for an ostensibly comic novel, there's a lot of darkness in this book. Most of it was deftly handled, but the main plot was slightly odd and dated, with the Jonestown massacre as a backdrop for a suspense narrative. I understand the impulse to explore a story that loomed large in San Fransisco at that time, but I'm still not quite sure if Maupin pulled it off.
Our heroes have entered the eighties, and while the references to culture and fashion make me smile, I want to wave my hands at them and shout, No! Go back, it's a trap! Hoping the author doesn't break our hearts too much in the next couple volumes (although it will be perfectly appropriate if he does).
Tales of the City is charming as always, and I really enjoyed Michael's storyline in particular; his search for emotional connection is sympathetic and
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heartfelt without being sentimental.That said, for an ostensibly comic novel, there's a lot of darkness in this book. Most of it was deftly handled, but the main plot was slightly odd and dated, with the Jonestown massacre as a backdrop for a suspense narrative. I understand the impulse to explore a story that loomed large in San Fransisco at that time, but I'm still not quite sure if Maupin pulled it off.
Our heroes have entered the eighties, and while the references to culture and fashion make me smile, I want to wave my hands at them and shout, No! Go back, it's a trap! Hoping the author doesn't break our hearts too much in the next couple volumes (although it will be perfectly appropriate if he does).
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Language
Original publication date
1982
ISBN
0060964065 / 9780060964061