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Armistead Maupin Continues "Tales of the City" Series
Shakesthecoffecan:
If you have not read it, get you a box of Kleenex first. :'(
The tone of the book starts off somewhat differently than earlier ones, but you soon find yourself sucked into Maupin's story, and putting it down will take some effort.
Set in about 2012, Anna Madrigal, now age 92, goes on her Sentimental Journey back to Winnemucca, Nevada. As one might guess, she has unfinished business there, the really old unfinished business of Andy Ramsey, told through flashbacks to 1936 and the Blue Moon Lodge. Andys
first taste of love, and Burning Man, and Brian's reunion with the world's most beautiful fat woman, and the coming generation, to be conceived in a tent in the Nevada Desert, under a blue moon.
It is Maupin at his best, and it is not to be missed.
Shakesthecoffecan:
And I will NEVER look at a bottle of Lysol the same again.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wieGYj-g5Y[/youtube]
southendmd:
I also just finished The Days of Anna Madrigal, and it is a wonder. Dedicated to Olympia Dukakis, of course.
Armistead spoke in Provincetown last year, and did a reading from this last book. I got to speak to him afterward and thank him for his wonderful characters. I had always thought that Michael was his alter ego (complete with younger husband), but he considers himself more of an Anna.
I had met him more than 30 years ago, at Harvard, when their gay group flew him out for a reading. He signed my copy of the first book: "To Paul, Love, Armistead". Sweet!
I believe it was a reader who pointed out to him that Anna Madrigal was an anagram for 'a man and a girl'. He simply included it in one of the later books.
By the way, his own name is an anagram for "Is a man I dreamt up".
Shakesthecoffecan:
;D[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvK_gD3ulaw[/youtube]
southendmd:
Wow! Ten years later, damn!
Armistead is still at it. For those who follow him on facebook, you might know that he had teased us about a new book, during the pandemic. Finally it's out!
Mona of the Manor
Just dropped this week! I had pre-ordered it, and I devoured it in two days.
As you may guess, this is not in chronological order, as he bumped off Mona back in the 90s. This is set in the earlier 90s when Mona is Lady Roughton, owner or Easley Manor, left to her by her mail-order husband Lord Teddy (who wanted a free life in San Francisco).
Mona is just as iconoclastic as ever, even though she has to take on paying guests to pay the bills. Along with her adopted son Wilfred, now in his 20s, they run the place in luxurious chaos.
The book also treats us to a visit from Michael and Anna. Also a sort of mystery and pagan goings-on for Midsummer.
It's a relatively short book, but so lovely to visit with old friends.
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