"Dear . . . I have no objections to anything"

Unlike Mary Ann Singleton, I was 18, not 25, when I first saw San Francisco. I was from Seattle, not Cleveland. I was going to Stanford, not running away from a life without promise or excitement. But in so many ways, I was able to feel in touch with Mary Ann as I read through Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. That was part of the beauty of this book.

Tales of the City is a charming and endearing story set in the San Francisco of the early 1970's. It began as a serial in the San Francisco Chronicle in a somewhat different version. Since then this story has become enmeshed into popular culture both for San Franciscans in general and in particular for lesbian, gay and bisexuals who call the city home. That is not to say that those who hail from other localities and sexualities are not as enthralled by the tale . . . but there seems to be an even closer connection for those who call the city home.

Maupin weaves a complex tale that follows the lives of a building on 28 Barbury Lane (it is a fictitious apartment complex for any tourists looking for it). After only a few chapters you are already finding all of the connections between the various characters both unbelievable and yet exhilarating. With every character so closely connected, you can't stop reading for a moment. So-and-so is working for So-and-So who is having an affair with So-and-so#1's . . . you get the picture.

The over-the-top plot interconnectedness is balanced nicely with a simple style that doesn't hit you over the head with lofty issues or overly flowery language. I will again return to Mary Ann as an example. You find a sincerity in her naivete as she embarks upon the adventure that is the city of San Francisco. She heads off to the Marina Safeway (notorious [or famous?] in that day for being a pick-up hot spot). She doesn't play the game and doesn't really know how and eventually she is left in tears in the produce section. How many of us have not felt that fear and loneliness when we head off to a new place and leave the safety net behind? It is at that early juncture of the book that I knew Mary Ann was my protagonist for the duration of the series (there are six books in all).

But if the sweet mid-west girl isn't your cup of tea, then there are plenty of other characters to entice you into reading. There is Mrs. Madrigal, the lady of the complex who mixes a motherly attitude (the residents are her children) with a modern edginess that includes growing and smoking various high caliber types of marijuana:

Mary Ann: Do you have any objections to a pet?
Mrs. Madrigal: Dear . . . I have no objections to anything.

And so goes Mrs. Madrigal. A few of the other characters (my favorites to be exact) are Mona, the kooky woman who is always there with a quirky comment and a joint. Michael, her gay roommate who seems to always be in love-limbo and Brian, the swinging straight guy who seems to hide his niceness. But underneath whatever simplistic five word description these and other characters fit, there are plenty of secrets and plots to make them more than your run-of-the-mill 1970's residents of San Francisco.

I still pick up Tales of the City and just start reading through various parts of it. I can pick up anywhere and be satisfied. The book is written in short chapters that are each a vignette to make the whole. It seems amazing when the various scenes come together to form a piece that is remarkable well crafted and polished.

Tales of the City has indeed become a part of the culture and history of San Francisco. just yesterday I was at the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade and what did I see, but a satyr (Greek mythological figure that is half goat - below the waist, and half man - above the waist) riding a bike. In Tales of the City you will recognize this as a costume Michael wears out to a party. It is amazing when a group consciousness can be sparked by a book.

The above review is an entry in the epinions.com National Gay & Lesbian Pride Month Write-Off.

These following writers are also participants in the Write-Off:
caconti; mshawpyle; arazim; caravan70; cmuir; cowboydj; doublecoog;
ed_grover; elloraine; endora60; ergopropterhoc; erik_kosberg; fdknight;
forkids; frazzledspice; gracef; jrk; kcfoxy; kchowell;
kurt_messick; leah; redlass; and stonehousellc.