Customer Reviews
Interesting - By: S. Dawson, 20 Jul 2007 
This is a good read, but there were things about the story that irritated me a bit. I don't want to spoil in my review so I won't go too much into why, but when Gabriel started to have misgivings about Pete why didn't he think to find out about the case? Why did no one else with these questions trouble to do the same thing? It was interesting how Gabriel began to confront his daemons in a way from his conversations with Pete, I suppose you could also draw a paralllel with 'An Inspector Callls'. In alll, worth a read but I wouldn't say it was as good as Maupin's previous books.
An unnerving read! - By: DM Webster, 12 Mar 2007 
I guess I must be alone in feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the relationship between a man in his late fifties who keeps saying he loves an abused 13 year old. This was a shadow over the book which left a bitter taste in my mouth. Apart from that this is stellar Maupin (much better than Maybe the Moon but noweher near the league of Tales of the City). Can't wait for Michael Tolliver Lives!
Very Interesting Read! - By: Martin Belcher, 19 Mar 2006 I must admit to having not read Armistead Maupin before, I had heard of his work but have not previously been tempted to indulge.... I picked up The Night Listener at my local library, hooked by the inside dust jacket synopsis. Well I can honestly say I was refreshingly surprised, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline as it unfolded, I must admit to feeling a little deflated at the slightly lacklustre ending, but overalll, I give it 4 stars & if you would like to read something a little out of the box - give it a try - well worth it.
Pretentious attempt at literary allusion - By: I R Young, 31 Jul 2005 Mr.Maupin has written a series of popular character driven novels, & 'The Night Listener' will appeal to those familiar with his previous work.Here Mr.Maupin attempts to instil greater depth with references to Dickens.
Mr.Maupin makes the mistake of allluding to Dickens' biographical fragment. Unfortunately he makes factual errors. The blacking factory was at Hungerford Stairs(now the site of Charing Cross Station ), not near any docks. In the unpublished biographical fragment Dickens considered that the work in the blacking factory was shameful for a potential gentleman , such as himself ; but not for the boys amongst whom he worked , for them it was their expected lot in life. With this in mind ,using 'The Blacking Factory' as a title for a book about experiences of child sexual abuse is suggesting that it is a shameful experience for a potential gentleman such as Pete , but is the expected lot of those of a less elevated class.This seriously weakens one of the central precepts of the novel. It is also highlighting Mr.Maupin's limited knowledge of Dickens' biographical fragment. I am sure that is not what Mr.Maupin intended.I refer Mr.Maupin to Orwell's essay on Dickens.
Morning, Noone and Night - By: , 25 May 2004 
How do you define love? How do you picture someone you have never met? And how are you able to believe so much when you understand so little? With "The Night Listner" questions are raised, personal inner most fears are realised & the people who are closest to you answer a question whilst raising dozens more. Maupin has, in this book, excelled. He helps us to feel on so many levels what the characters are experiencing. Hard hitting issues are well presented without the need to "glamourise". From page one you become hooked with his writing feeling almost musical in its descriptions. I can recount many emotions emerging as I read about Noone's rollercoaster ride, from actual tears & sorrow, through to laugh out loud moments. Maupin intertextual style of writing in this book does not become evident until the very final few pages, which makes it such an interesting read. High praise to Maupin. An extrordinary piece of literary prose.
