Customer Reviews
Still on Form - By: R. Haines, 22 Sep 2008 
Could this book live up to the wonderful Tales of the City series? I approached it half-expecting a let-down. Well this book certainly isn't a let-down though it is different in style. Maupin has a real gift for creating a world, however weird, that you can believe in. He populates that world with eccentric but loveable characters that you reallly care about. Although the book is essentiallly light & humorous, Maupin, as before, manages to illuminate deeper human issues with tenderness & emotion but still with a wry smile. In this book death, loss of various types, love between older & younger & aging (to list but a few) alll have a gentle light shed upon them. In the best sense an "easy read" because he writes so beautifully. A lovely book that I could not put down.
Lacking in fun - By: N. Robinson, 15 Aug 2008 
Having read & been a real fan of "The Tales of the City" books & TV programme I was reallly looking forward to this book.
This book is truly awful. It lacks the humour & wit of the original books & it is spoiled by only being told in the first person. It is quite bitchy & unnecessarily graphic.When the author has to resort to graphic sex descriptions to pad out the story then it is time for him to pack up.
Very disappointing. Another book destined for the charity shop.
Just when i thought all was lost - By: J. C. Murray, 15 Aug 2008 I stumbled upon this accidentallly about 2 years after i had read the "Tales of the City" series & it was like bumping in to an old friend! After the disappointment of reaching the end of the original series......it turned out it was just career break. Maupin delivers yet another fabulous novel that makes you laugh & cry within the space of just a couple of pages.
Expect the usual emotional roller coaster of course & visits from a few old friends.
This is part of a series of books that, although timeless, i wish would never end.
The return of Micheal Mouse - By: Tealady2000, 29 Jul 2008 
Fans of Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City' will be eager to find out what became of Michael Tolliver & the rest of the crazy characters from San Francisco. This book is quite a departure from the TotC series because it is written in the first person & therefore we reallly hear Michael's voice for the first time (although to be honest I wasn't sure if I was hearing Michael's voice, or just the author's, since their lives seem to share many similarities). Furthermore this book is mostly about Michael - there are just brief updates on the others (only Anna, Brian & Shawna play much of a part). Nevertheless this is an easy, fun read, outrageously rude in places & absolutely hilarious in others. If you haven't read any of the Tales of the City series, you're better off starting with those (and you're in for a treat).
Back to the city! - By: Philip Thompson, 25 Jul 2008 As a novel its quite a good story & well written but the key success for me was I found I was visiting friends again that I didn't know I'd missed so much. It was great having these characters alive & hearing them speak again as the original "Tales" books were so much fun to read. Maupins greatest success is in creating characters we reallly care about & thats why it gets five stars not for the story but the thrill of Anna, Mouse, Brian etc being brought back to me.
