Review - Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Publisher - Black Swan

Pages - 269

Blurb from Goodreads

San Francisco, 1976. A naïve young secretary, fresh out of Cleveland, tumbles headlong into a brave new world of laundromat Lotharios, pot-growing landladies, cut throat debutantes, and Jockey Shorts dance contests. The saga that ensues is manic, romantic, tawdry, touching, and outrageous - unmistakably the handiwork of Armistead Maupin.


My Review

Mary Ann Singleton has came from Cleveland to San Francisco, it is 1976. She is an innocent young secretary and she is bored, she wants to catch up with her old friend and see what life is like on the other side. She meets Michael, homosexual and fabulous, his best friend Mona who works for a big company and her boss is a slave driver. Mrs Anna Madrigal, their landlady and person who knows everyone and has a few secrets of her own. Her newest lodger, Norman is quiet and secretive and has a bit of an attraction and pull for Mary Ann who is finding this new fast life hard. Beuchamp is married to his bosses daughter, he is a bit of a player and has a chip on his shoulder. There are many other characters and each has some link to the other or brought into each others path which is quite an interesting link within the story.

There is secrets, sex, drugs, mystery and love to name but a few. I read this book years ago and knew I liked it but couldn't remember it all. After getting it for World Book Night I decided to reacquaint with it, I am glad I did. I will be finding the rest of the series as I can't wait to find out what is happening with the rest of the characters.

It is a very easy to read book, it has a bit of a trashy pull to it as it is full of gossip, lies and secrets and you love or hate the characters very early on so are eager to read more. I could have read this through in one sitting to be honest and it has very short chapters which is always a bonus. 4/5 for me and I will definitely be reading more of this author.

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WBN competition - Tales Of The City by Armistead Maupin x2 copies

I am a bit late so apologies, this was meant to run the day after World Book Night (WBN) however with the exam and holiday, WIFI wasn't great there, it got a bit behind.

This is the first book in a series, I liked it so much that when I read it the first time I went off and bought up the others, as well as watching the show. I reread it on holiday and, with my tons of others, you can find my review here http://www.alwaysreading.net/2014/05/review-tales-of-city-by-armistead-maupin.html

There are two copies to give away and I haven't restricted it to the UK so anyone can enter. I have set it to run to the end of the month and the same rules apply as with the pre-loved giveaway. I will also get that listed asap so bear with me and good luck people. a Rafflecopter giveaway

World Book Night 2014

Well the time is almost here, it is after midnight so technically it is World Book Night, 2014!

I have been a giver for three years in a row. It is such a worthwhile thing to do, I give out at hospital, in the town center (which has been met with sweetness, distrust or just avoidance), I met a giver last year too, I was delighted.

This year I am giving out Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. I read this book years ago and went on to buy the others in the series, it has been a good few years and don't remember much about it but I did enjoy it and as a very stressful end of term is coming up I will reacquaint soon!

A 3000 word report is due on Thursday and a big exam so tomorrow is a busy busy day. I will of course be taking time out to give out my fabulous World Book Night Books and I will share any stories.

Here was Trixie "my wee helper" giving her usual lot of helpfulness, she is pretty cute though eh? She spent almost an hour in that box!

I will also be listed one or two copies of this book as a giveaway, I will see how good I get on tomorrow so watch this space. For any other givers, I hope you have a great day and lots of stories to share.