#armistead maupin tales of the city review

[thequeereview]

Book Review: Mona of the Manor by Armistead Maupin ★★★★★

A decade after the publication of The Days of Anna Madrigal, Armistead Maupin returns to his beloved Tales of the City with a delectably satisfying new addition—the tenth book in the series—Mona of the Manor. Transporting us to Gloucestershire, England in 1993, we’re reunited with Mona in her late forties, ten years after she became Lady Roughhton as the not-so-blushing mail-order bride of Lord…

[kepage3]

TBR Challenge 2022 - Books Read in 2002 - 20. More Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin

TBR Challenge 2022 – Books Read in 2002 – 20. More Tales of the City – Armistead Maupin

Genre: LGBT, Humour Narrative Style: Third person from a number of different viewpoints. Rating: 4/5 Published: 1978 Format: Paperback Synopsis: The further adventures of Michael Tolliver, Mona Ramsey, Mary Ann Singleton and Anna Madrigal. Book challenge: TBR Challenge 2022 Time on shelf: I’m not actually sure where this book came from – I don’t remember buying it – but it has been on the…

[fictionalwonder]

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin: The rich life of a literary Icon woven through San Francisco's later 20th century history makes for a warm personal doc that holds its share of insightful tales, celebrity interviews, and doesn't shy away from controversy. It also works as a reminder of how recent it was so many barriers in the media were broken. Fiction writers make a difference and this doc reminds us of the lives Maupin and his writing impacted.

[wolfythoughts]

Book Review: Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin (Series, #1)

Book Review: Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin (Series, #1)

Summary: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 Review:This was first published as a novel in 1978, although it was published prior to that as a…

[thebookbabble]

Sure Of You

Sure Of You by Armistead Maupin

publication date: 1989 pages: 262 ISBN: 978-0-06-092484-3

In this charming and moving novel, Maupin followed a group of friends as they navigated long-term relationships, changing careers, and the specter of AIDS in the gay community. Unbeknownst to me when I picked up the book at the library, Sure Of You was the sixth and final installment in Maupin’s “Tales Of the City” series. Its role as part of a series, however, in no way hampered my enjoyment of the book. Sure Of You worked very well as a stand alone piece.

Sure Of You presented Mary Ann and Brian, a couple whose relationship was challenged by Mary Ann’s demanding career as a TV personality; Michael and Thack, lovers who attempted to make a life together while Michael’s HIV-positive status was an ever present reminder of the irresolute nature of the future; and Anna and her daughter Mona, on a trip to Greece to discover sex and connections. Maupin’s characters, and their relationships, were some of the highlights of the book. Everyone had a signature voice and explicable – and sometimes conflicting – motivations.

Maupin’s dialogue, which was a large portion of the book, was also excellent. Every character’s dialogue was distinctive, and entire conversations seemed natural. He also captured the intimate nature of relationships by showcasing confidential and realistic dialogue. There was this scene, for example – which showed the undercurrents that flow when humans get together:

“What’ll it be?” Brian asked from behind the bar . . . Burke . . . addressed Brian: “You used to be a real bartender, didn’t you? Down at Benny’s.” “Perry’s,” said Brian. “That’s right.” “I was a waiter, though.” “Oh.” “He was a lawyer before that,” Mary Ann put in, “but he took on so many liberal causes that he sort of burned out.” Michael saw Brian’s expression and knew what he was thinking: Why does she always have to say that? Wouldn’t waiter have been enough?

The book generally had a personal and intimate plot. The story focused not on saving the world or overcoming a villain but on the relationships that encompass our lives. Maupin took these relationships seriously and showed how a word or a look can create turmoil or joy.

Maupin was adept at furthering the plot through dialogue. Many conversations between the characters created such tension and suspense within me that I absolutely could not put the book down. The writing fostered that preoccupation, all while imbuing the book with a humor-tinged melancholy.

This book introduced me to full characters with resonant lives, which mirrored many of my own experiences. It also presented gay people and issues in the context of unassuming characters and stories. I would recommend to anyone who likes novels revolving around rich characters and detailed histories.

5/6: seek this book out

I have the Amazon and Goodreads pages for this book:

Amazon Goodreads

[markcampbells]

2019 Year in Review!

@thatgirljazz tagged me--thank you, Jess! :)

@malionnes, @afterthenovels, @flashbastard, @candlesandpretense, @tilyoutryit -- if any of you want to, have at it! (I’m sorry, I never tag people, disregard if you’d like!)

Top 5 films you watched in 2019:

Booksmart

Wild Nights with Emily

Making Montgomery Clift

Little Women

Papi Chulo (note: this falls into the pretty unique category of “not the greatest film in the world but had weirdly specific personal resonance,” so it’s not quite one I recommend in the same way I do the others, but hey, check it out if you want to see something different from Matt Bomer)

Top 5 TV shows in 2019:

Doom Patrol

Gentleman Jack

Black Monday

The Other Two

Mr. Robot (new to me! I’m still not current, but I finally started it after not being sure if I’d like it all these years and I love it)

Top 5 albums of 2019:

Beetlejuice (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Hadestown (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

... uh, I don’t think I listened to anything else released in 2019! I’m a sad person who largely listens to podcasts and showtunes and believe me I am embarrassed by that LMAO. I do want to catch up to some of the newer music I’ve missed, like Lizzo!

Top 5 books you read in 2019:

the Tales of the City series - Armistead Maupin

Less - Andrew Sean Greer

Orlando - Virginia Woolf

How I Learned to Drive - Paula Vogel

tie!: Torch Song Trilogy - Harvey Fierstein / Too Much is Not Enough - Andrew Rannells

5 good/positive things that happened to you in 2019:

I came out as bi/pan to friends and family after a long period of conscious and unconscious questioning, and in general just accepted myself for who I feel I am. In the process I got much better at talking than I previously had been, which was good and necessary.

I had fun times by myself as well as with friends! I love my friends and spending time with them, but it felt nice to do things by myself that appealed to me. Some of the highlights were a Mary Shelley/Frankenstein exhibit, a photography exhibit inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando curated by Tilda Swinton, and a play about St. Vincent’s Hospital.

I supported as much queer art as I could, and it felt great. There’s a reason pretty much all of my favorite media listed on here has queer themes or performers. I’m hoping to broaden my reach in 2020, and have already made steps to fix my blind spots.

As part of getting better at talking to people, I opened up about my insecurities about dating and relationships, and found a lot of support from those around me. I’ve made some really great bisexual friends who have been invaluable to me in helping me feel validated and supporting me in a really unique way.

I decided to start trying to get better at things I’ve always wanted to! Since I’ve always wanted to read more poetry, I bought a few collections and look forward to finding things I like and trying new things.

[kiradurbin]

Super Short Reviews:  Spring / Summer TV part 3

Super Short Reviews Spring / Summer TV part 3:

Undercover (Netflix) – Inspired by true events.  When you think of beautiful Belgium, do you think … Ecstasy ?  Probably not.  But thats where most of it comes from, and these nice detective folks are in it for the loooooooooong haul.  And I do mean long, cuz the pacing in the first episode tuned me out. Gentleman Jack (HBO) – British and period enough to attract any Anglophile, but the subject matter is acutally more LGBTQ.  Based on the coded diaries of Anne Lister, who kept detailed accounts of her affairs with other women, and her attempts to run her family home.  Good good good.   Abyss (Netflix) – Korea.  Super cute, and I even laughed a few times (which is saying a lot for a foreign language show since your eyes are always split between the faces and the action and the subtitles.)   

  Perpetual Grace Ltd. (Epix) –  This is so unique and bizarre it also gets a “show of the summer” award.  The cast list alone should make you want to watch: Ben Kingsley, Jacki Weaver, and Luis Guzman.  It’s a con game that goes oh so so SO wrong and you really have no idea who to root for but who cares, because you really  just want to know what strange thing or character is going to appear next. 

  The Society (Netflix) – Schadenfreude!!!   I hope I have time to go back and watch the rest of all these spoiled teenagers get their due.  I don’t even care if they figure out which twilight zone episode they are in.  On a side note, can someone explain to me how tv show high schools have football teams when there are never enough people to actually play???   Florida Girls (Pop) – Redneck tv at its finest.  You’re definitely laughing AT these gals.  Already got a second season. Pandora (CW) –  This is fun!  Its like Star Trek / Gate University for YA viewers. Thumbs up for that age group. I Hear You (Netflix) – China.  I think this is supposed to be a comedy?  Or at least, the situation is ridiculous and the characters act like children or cartoons. Very YA – even more PG than a Hallmark romance. Years and Years (HBO) – UK. And you thought Black Mirror was disturbing?   This is honest and crazy and real and still British humour funny. Watch it if you still have HBO. Trinkets (Netflix) – This is like If the Breakfast Club girls had met in a shoplifters support group.  Brianna Hildebrand, Kiana Madeira, and Quintessa Swindell are all fantastically likable.  Huge YA thumbs up. Pearson (USA) – Gina Torres leaves NY corporate law (SUITS) to spin off to the dark ugly brown Chicago Mayor’s Office.  Fun!!  The story lines are good, but I lost patience for Ms. Pearson’s attitude rather quickly.  Smug Smug Smug UGH.   Good Omens (Amazon) – BINGE ALERT. Michael Sheen and David Tennant literally sparkle with glee as they bring Neil Gaiman’s world to television life. And is there anyone better suited than Frances McDormand to play “God” ?  I loved every second of it.   What / If (Netflix) – I adored Jane Levy in SUBURGATORY and im glad to see her get a chance to show off her dramatic chops.  But Renee Zellweger smirking, squinting her eyes, and crossing her super skinny legs does not a PLOT make.  This is trying really hard to make something slightly interesting into super dramatic.  People cheat.  So WHAT?  Maybe I would have watched more IF I cared.   South Side (Comedy Central) – I dont’ know if this will be as funny to anyone who’s not from Chicago but I thought it was hilarious.   One of two Bashir Salahuddin comedy creations this summer.   BH901210 (Fox) – Hopefully you were smarter than me in realising this was going nowhere fast since it didnt get renewed.   Why they did this instead of just even 6 episodes of a real show I will never know. NOT REVIEWED:  

LA’s Finest (Spectrum) – Spun off the BAD BOYS movies – Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba are LAPD detectives.  Totally realistic im sure.   It’s Bruno (Netflix) – Comedy. Even the first 20 seconds of the preview annoyed me.  The dog is super cute though.   Curfew (Spectrum) – UK.  Sean Bean! Billy Zane! Miranda Richardson!  Street Racing!  (what?!?) Crime Diaries (Netflix) – Columbia. Murder Mystery inspired by true events. Side Games (Spectrum) – Spain.  The Mafia gets into second division football (soccer.) Malibu Rescue (Netflix) –  Looks like if Malibu Skipper had her own show.  Then again, if you are the right age to watch this, you have no idea who Malibu Skipper is.   Euphoria (HBO) – so bored in the first ten minutes I realised I would rather be cleaning my bathroom. So I did.   How To Sell Drugs Online (Netflix) – Germany.  No thanks.   Los Espookys – I heard this was hilarious, but my HBO went away for the same reason you all made your HBO go away.   Armistead Maupin Tales of the City (Netflix) –  This was a mini-series I think in the late 90s?  then there was a movie? now there is this? I was too confused  to try and sort it out.   Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO) – assuming it is what the title says.  

[onekisstotakewithme]

book asks!! 2, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19

HI HELLO ANON

2. Top 5 books of all time

Uhhh fuck. okay this isn’t in any order (and my taste is probably pretty damn basic) but 1) In Cold Blood, Truman Capote 2) Outlander (the first one mostly) by Diana Gabaldon 3) Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer (? I think) 4) The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers 5) The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

6. what books have you read in the last month? Oh boy... uh. I haven’t done a lot of reading in the last month because y’know, work, and the new season of Stranger Things, but More Tales of the City (Armistead Maupin), The Opposite of Always (Justin A. Reynolds), We Contain Multitudes (Sarah Henstra), The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole 1999-2001 (Sue Townsend), and... i think that’s it?

7. is there a series/book that got you into reading?

A Series of Unfortunate Events!!!!

17. top 5 children’s books? 1) The Dr. Seuss Sleep Book 2) Go Dogs Go! 3) If I Had Duck Feet 4) Corduroy 5)  Love You Forever

18. do you like historical books? which time period? I love historical fiction of all kinds and all years honestly, like I loved Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (!! so much!!) which is set in and around WWII... and the revolutionary war... and just any time in the past really, it’s why I’m such a sucker for period drama. but more korean war stories. dammit

19. most disliked popular books? Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe, made more worse by the rave reviews I saw about it. also the mortal instruments. not a fan. not. a fan.

thank you for the ask! ♥

[tabloidtoc]

TV Guide, May 27-June 9

Cover -- Summer Preview -- Kiefer Sutherland in Designated Survivor 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: Ask Matt -- Fosse/Verdon, Modern Family, Your Feedback -- David Boreanaz, In the Dark 

Page 7: Cops & Robbers -- Live shows like Live PD 

Page 8: Tributes -- Tim Conway 

Page 9: Peggy Lipton, Doris Day, the return of Court TV 

Page 10: Family -- Can James Holzhauer really beat Ken Jennings’s record on Jeopardy? 

Page 12: The Roush Review -- Return of the tough guys -- Deadwood: The Movie and Luther 

Page 13: The Hot Zone, When They See Us, What/If 

Page 14: Cover Story -- Designated Survivor’s second term -- Netflix is bringing the show back 

Page 18: Summer Preview New Shows -- 3 things to know about The Hot Zone 

Page 19: American Princess, NOS4A2, Perpetual Grace, LTD., Grand Hotel, Reef Break, City on a Hill 

Page 20: The Loudest Voice, Four Weddings and a Funeral, David Makes Man, When Hope Calls, Pearson 

Page 22: 3 things to know about BH90210 

Page 23: Returning Shows -- sizzling soaps -- The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives 

Page 24: Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough on America’s Got Talent 

Page 26: 3 things to know about Grantchester -- James Norton is leaving but is in the first two episodes 

Page 27: Luther, Pose, Queen Sugar, Instinct, Yellowstone, Big Little Lies 

Page 28: Suits, Veronica Mars, Orange Is the New Black, The Terror: Infamy, Stranger Things 

Page 30: Summer Preview Calendar 

Page 34: What’s Worth Watching Week 1 -- Monday, May 27-Sunday, June 2 -- Deadwood: The Movie 

Page 35: Monday, May 27 -- Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, 24-Hour Tributes: Memorial Day, NHL Hockey, Tuesday, May 28 -- Biography -- Jeff Dunham, Jeff Foxworthy, Animal Kingdom, Songland, Chrisley Knows Best, America Unearthed 

Page 36: Wednesday, May 29 -- The InBetween, MasterChef, American Ninja Warrior, Property Brothers: Forever Home, Archer: 1999, Thursday, May 30 -- The Twilight Zone, RuPaul’s Drag Race, NBA Basketball 

Page 37: Friday, May 31 -- Clint Eastwood marathon, Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story, Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Investigation, The Graham Norton Show with Dark Phoenix’s Sophie Turner and Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, Saturday, June 1 -- Bad Times at the El Royale, Wildlife, The Kitchen, Death at the Mansion: Rebecca Zahau, Sunday, June 2 -- Fear the Walking Dead, Secrets of the Zoo, The Weekly, MLB Basketball 

Page 52: Streaming Guide -- Netflix -- Laura Linner returns in Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City 

Page 54: Netflix -- Outlander, Prime Video -- Good Omens 

Page 55: Hulu -- Ask Dr. Ruth, The Handmaid’s Tale 

Page 56: New Movie Releases 

Page 57: Series, Specials and Documentaries 

Page 59: What’s Worth Watching Week 2 -- Monday, June 3 - Sunday, June 9 -- Alone 

Page 60: Monday, June 3 -- The 15:17 to Paris, Days of Our Lives, 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Below Deck Mediterranean, Wedding Cake Championship, Tuesday, June 4 -- MasterChef Junior, Dance Moms, The Radkes, Wednesday, June 5 -- Becks, CMT Music Awards 

Page 61: Thursday, June 6 -- The Cold Blue, Unspouse My House, Queen of the South, Sanford and Son 

Page 62: Friday, June 7 -- Your complete guide to the Women’s World Cup 

Page 64: Saturday, June 8 -- Tennis, A Star Is Born, Sunday, June 9 -- Claws, 73rd Annual Tony Awards, Celebrity Family Feud, The $100,000 Pyramid, To Tell the Truth, Good Witch, Tennis 

Page 88: Cheers & Jeers -- cheers to Jon Cryer, S.W.A.T., Adam Sandler’s SNL serenade, jeers to Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. DeLuca, The Bachelorette reunion, Fox for closing The Passage, Empire

[tugglegrassblues]

SHORT BOOK REVIEW: The Q

SHORT BOOK REVIEW: The Q

The QBook Review | 📚📚📚📚 4/5Rick R. Reed | NineStar Press So many thoughts. On the surface, The Q is a very good story about life in Appalachia. Life filled with gay and gay friendly towns folk. Upon reading the first couple of chapters, the book seemed to be more a collection of short stories. But then the a-ha moment that this is more like Armistead Maupin’s, “Tales of the City.” 28 Barbary…

[scvpubliclib]

In “Logical Family,” Armistead Maupin describes a conservative upbringing before he became a beloved author and L.G.B.T. activist.

[kepage3]

Books Read in 2022 - 18. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin

Books Read in 2022 – 18. Tales of the City – Armistead Maupin

Genre: LGBT, Humour Narrative Style: Short, third person vignettes from multiple points of view Rating: 4/5 Published: 1978 Format: Paperback Synopsis: Mary Ann Singleton has just moved to San Francisco. She is naïve, fresh out of Cleveland when she moves into 28 Barbary Lane run by eccentric landlady, Anna Madrigal. She soon becomes friends with other tenants, Mona, Brian and Michael. Time…

[whileiamdying]

Review: The More, Further (Final?) ‘Tales of the City’

By MIKE HALE Netflix gives Armistead Maupin’s modern-day fable of San Francisco lives and lifestyles a fourth go-round. Published: June 4, 2019 at 06:00PM from NYT Arts https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/arts/television/tales-of-the-city-review-netflix.html?partner=IFTTT via IFTTT

[unabletocomply]

Media log 2019

I watched 134 seasons of TV this year (I know I know I’m gross and hideous but — some “seasons” are just six 23-minute episodes, and I also counted series like Kids Baking Championship that aren’t really reviewable, as well as re-watches of Star Trek, Frasier and other series that I put on in the background while doing other things, so don't @ me.)

Three shows got 5-star seasons: Pose (season 1); Unbelievable, on Netflix; and Tales of the City, the Netflix update of the longtime Armistead Maupin series. For me, a five-star show is something that any person, regardless of personal interests and tastes, could and should watch. Notably, all three focus on either women or queer people, especially queer POC.

Another six shows got 4.5 stars, which is laudable: Broad City (season 5, final); The Other Two (season 1); Cloak and Dagger (season 2, sadly final); the original Tales of the City miniseries from 1993; Stranger Things (season 3); Orange is the New Black (season 7).

My lowest-ranked season was Designated Survivor, season 3, on Netflix, which garnered an appalling 1.5 stars. I shall speak of it no further.

★★★★★

I watched 113 movies in 2019 (not counting a few TV Christmas movies with my mother these past weeks). Of films I watched for the first time ever this year, just one earned 5 stars: Spider-Man: Far From Home. (@ me Martin Scorsese.) For movies I re-watched, eight earned 5 stars: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982); Finding Nemo (2003); Moonlight (2016); Thor: Ragnarok (2017); Wet Hot American Summer (2001); Black Panther (2018); The Wizard of Oz (1939).

My average rating of all the films was 3.51. I rate 3-star movies as "worth watching someday when you have time" and 4-star as "highly recommended and worth finding time for in the near future."

My lowest-ranked movie was A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish (2019), an unredeemable Netflix movie that I watched solely because Gregg Sulkin was in it, and even he couldn't save that dumpster fire. At least it was short.

Six movies got a "don't bother" rating of 2: M (1951); Room Service (1938); As Good As It Gets (1997); The Trial (1962); Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018); Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).

★★★★★

I read 13 books in 2019 (I know know, I’m sad and gross and I wanted to do better. Two books in progress.) My average review was 3.46.

My top-rated new book was "The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century," by Kirk Wallace Johnson, which got 4.5 stars. I also gave 4.5 stars to a re-read book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Two books tied for last place with two-star reviews: Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials, and Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense: The Courtroom Battle to Save His Legacy.

Eight books written by men; five by women. Three works of fiction; 10 of non-fiction.

[thepeoplesmovies]

London Film Festival Review - The Last Black Man In San Francisco (2019)

London Film Festival Review – The Last Black Man In San Francisco (2019)

This is not the San Francisco that we think we know. It’s not the glowing colours of Armistead Maupin’s Tales Of The City, nor is it the Lombard Street, the lurid Golden Gate Bridge bathed in sunshine or the Fisherman’s Wharf of the tourist brochures. This is a San Francisco where pollution is taking its toll, where that iconic bridge is shrouded in fog, where community means nothing and…

[hivaidsupdates]

Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City: Review#HIV #PLHIV #endHIVstigmahttps://t.co/RcHZtHfFdW via @au_magazine

— HIV & AIDS Updates U=U (@HIVAIDSupdates) August 15, 2019

from Twitter https://twitter.com/HIVAIDSupdates August 15, 2019 at 06:30PM