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alainab113's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, and Suicide
eyesofcrows's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the book on an on and off basis, mostly because I was listening to the audiobook and it got snatched up by another person when I was at 30%. Moving on, it was a very complex story with a wide array of entertaining characters. The story of Mary Ann and Mona and everyone involved was interesting reading about. I will say that I got confused with the characters sometimes (there were a lot of them and, again I was listening to the audiobook). A few characters felt as if they only appeared in the latter half and didn’t have as much build up as others. Also, Mary Ann experienced so much death??? I was not expecting two deaths in this book.
I had a very good time listening to this. I’m not used to so many characters but I felt as if everyone had their personality.
I had a very good time listening to this. I’m not used to so many characters but I felt as if everyone had their personality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Death
ddrosche's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Abortion
barbarella85's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug use
throwback682's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia and Abortion
novella42's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Recommended to me by a bookseller who mentioned it got them through COVID when they were too scatterbrained to focus on reading. A couple weeks after that conversation I found myself unfortunately in the same position. I gave it a try (accidentally downloading the abridged version without realizing it) and found the lighthearted little vignettes of queer folks in San Francisco worked like a charm.
I was surprised how progressive it was for its time, and grateful for the glimpse into queer history. I'm a sucker for found family tropes and recognized Mrs. Madrigal in quite a few of my own friends.
It was also a reminder of a time in my life when some friends and I took a budget trip to San Francisco, sleeping on couches and eating dehydrated soup rations just to be able to see the city. I felt like I was there again. The city came through almost like its own character. It was the comfort I needed, with one exception.
There was one component of the book that was racist and which was not handled well. (Spoiler for this book and a little for book two as well.)The racism of the transracial character isn't really addressed at all, nor why it was problematic for her to take on a Black identity or appropriate a lot of Black culture and make a ton of money off it. It was good that Mona broke up with her, but she seemed mostly upset about the lie, rather than the act itself. Maupin seemed to have been a big fan of Black Like Me. As if transracialism was an easier way for him to write about racial issues than just including a BIPOC
character in the first place. When Maupin brings the character back in the next book, he doubles down on the lack of consequences, letting her off the hook entirely and painting her as still slightly exotic. It left a bad taste in my mouth and is the reason I took off a star.
As a side note, I was bored enough and nostalgic enough over the city setting that I found the 1993 miniseries streaming free online and watched all eight episodes in two days. It was *remarkably* faithful to the material, staying close to the author's writing in a way I think modern miniseries don't bother with. I want to read the rest of the series so I can then watch the rest, especially the 2019 Netflix miniseries with Elliot Page and a lot of the original actors.
I was surprised how progressive it was for its time, and grateful for the glimpse into queer history. I'm a sucker for found family tropes and recognized Mrs. Madrigal in quite a few of my own friends.
It was also a reminder of a time in my life when some friends and I took a budget trip to San Francisco, sleeping on couches and eating dehydrated soup rations just to be able to see the city. I felt like I was there again. The city came through almost like its own character. It was the comfort I needed, with one exception.
There was one component of the book that was racist and which was not handled well. (Spoiler for this book and a little for book two as well.)
character in the first place. When Maupin brings the character back in the next book, he doubles down on the lack of consequences, letting her off the hook entirely and painting her as still slightly exotic. It left a bad taste in my mouth and is the reason I took off a star.
As a side note, I was bored enough and nostalgic enough over the city setting that I found the 1993 miniseries streaming free online and watched all eight episodes in two days. It was *remarkably* faithful to the material, staying close to the author's writing in a way I think modern miniseries don't bother with. I want to read the rest of the series so I can then watch the rest, especially the 2019 Netflix miniseries with Elliot Page and a lot of the original actors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
viktorsboy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia and Pedophilia
marioncromb's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Interconnected stories, easy read, being in serialised chunks. Vibrant picture of San Francisco. Some of the end twists are a little... i don't even know. But mostly its fun, although some heavy stuff does happen
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Abortion
katiemack's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I hated this when I first started reading it--Armistead Maupin's style involves overly snappy dialogue and dropping as many San Francisco references and '70s activities into his chapters as he can--so at first it was difficult to keep going. In spite of this, I ended up getting sucked into the lives of the characters (except Mary Ann and Brian, both of whom are repulsive in different ways), and I have to give Maupin credit for creating a compelling, soap-opera-esque atmosphere that enmeshes everything and allows for a more readable flow.
This book ended up being fun but dated; I feel like I'm too young to fully enjoy it.
This book ended up being fun but dated; I feel like I'm too young to fully enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Suicide
Minor: Death and Sexual content
helen___'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol