Verhalen van de stad (1978)

I listened to the audiobook read by Frances McDormand during one day of marathon manuscript formatting, and enjoyed this lovely little soap opera. I'm glad to have met Mary Anne, Mouse, Mona, Mrs. Madrigal, DeDe, and the rest. I'd move into 28 Barbary Lane in a second, although I'm guessing rent costs a little more now. ( )

Half the fun of this book is reading about a specific time and place in San Francisco in the late seventies, post-hippies, and pre-tech. ( )

I've been interested in reading this series ever since I saw the television adaptations. It's been a while since I've seen those, now, so I find it difficult to make too many direct comparisons. But I daresay the books are at least on par with what I remember of the teleplays.

What I love about Maupin's writing is the way he is able to connect the reader to the characters right away. It didn't take long to get pulled into the world that he's created for these people and to ride along on their journey. While the story shifts frequently between the characters and their perspectives, it's never a jarring transition and everything seems to build together toward some rather surprising ends. Definitely prepared to pick up the next book in the series. ( )

This was ridiculous and sweet, quirky and silly. Reading it was just FUN. I loved the characters, the kitschy San Francisco 70s setting, though the Mona-going-off-with-D'Or bit kind of wore on me (and maybe got a bit TOO ridiculous). Anyhow, I've got to get the next one in the series, but hold on to it for a day when I need these people to life me up again. ( )

Lives of a group of characters in 1970s San Francisco.

I've read this before round about 1980. I found it a frustrating read then, and I did again this time round. It started life as a column in a San Francisco newspaper and there is a lot which probably made perfect sense to its first readers in the city and which I'm not picking up on. There are just too many in jokes or brand names, shops, and districts used in descriptions which obviously mean SOMETHING but I have no idea what. It feels like a party where I don't know anybody or anything about what they're talking about. ( )