272 pages
English language
Published Nov. 8, 2000 by Transworld Publishers Limited.
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.
I had a hard time reading this book, but liked the characters. I switched halfway through to watching the tv show, which seemed to follow the book very closely, and was a much more enjoyable experience for me. 3 stars for the book. 4.5 for the show.
J'ai lu les fameuses et sympathiques Chroniques de San Francisco d'Armistead Maupin quand j'étais encore un jeune adulte, et j'avais pris énormément de plaisir à les lire. Je les recommande à tous les lecteurs qui aiment rire et être ému par un livre !
I bought Tales of the City with little idea of what it was about aside from glowing reviews and a $2 price tag. The book turns out to be a pioneering novel that openly and honestly depicted the lives of gays and lesbians living in mid-1970s San Francisco. Originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle, the book has become a classic of the genre.
I found the stories themselves to be a bit melodramatic, populated by a fairly large number of cartoonish characters. It could be that there were just too many characters to give any one sufficient time to develop much depth. The authentic narrative of life in 1970s San Francisco was intriguing; I knew relatively little about the period.
I'd recommend the book for its perspective on the time and place, especially the attitudes and interactions of people in what was clearly a time of transition.
Delightful. Had seen the tv version but first time reading. Made especially interesting since I now live in San Francisco. It was fun and cheesy and good entertainment.
