Rating: 
Summary: Fun, fun, fun!
Review: This book is just fun, fun, fun--a well-written, absorbing novel that you won't want to put down. It takes place in the 1970s and intriguingly depicts the interwoven lives of a group of young people living in the same apartment building. It's the best kind of summer read--100% enjoyable, 100% intelligent, 100% good-hearted without being overly sappy.One other thing: this book does contain some depictions of sexuality--gay and straight--that could be seen as promiscuous, if you are inclined to think in those terms. However, the reviewer on this page who griped that Maupin was "irresponsible" to write this way (given the AIDS epidemic that surfaced in the 1980s) must not realize that this book was WRITTEN in the 1970s. It's an accurate depiction of how life was back then. If you read the other books in this six-part series, you'll see that as they move into the '80s Maupin DOES deal with AIDS by having his characters deal with it. These novels are actual snapshots of the time they were written, not some sort of retroactive nostalgia trip. They are fully realized, fabulous achievements, and open-minded readers will love them. All six books in the series are highly recommended.
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Summary: San Francisco meets the Mary Tyler Moore Show
Review: This book was the beginning of some wonderful friendships for me. The characters are good folks. I first read this book several years ago, watched it made into a series (which I really enjoyed), read the follow-up books, and this year saw Armistead Maupin speak in Austin, Texas on his speaking tour. The characters are warm, funny, real (and unreal, in the best sense) and genuinely fun to "be around". I was immediately reminded of the cast of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, with a squeaky-clean transplant coming into a new city, a new apartment, and making new friends. No, the characters are NOT interchangable, although in many ways, Mary Ann is much like Mary Richards, and Mona reminds me a lot of Rhoda, with her ascerbic humor, and even her weird relationship with her parent. But, as I said, this is not simply a re-hash of a popular 70s sitcom. In so many ways, it is a fun way to crawl into the skins of people in the San Francisco 70's-- a time and place completely unknown to me. And doesn't a good book transport you to another time and/or place? It demonstrates the attitudes of a completely different era--pre-AIDS and the somewhat amazing idea that there are (gasp) gay people who are actually happy and well-adjusted with straight friends and "family". I echo what another reviewer said: be careful when you pick this book up at bedtime. "One more chapter" turns into ten more. For the last three books, I bought the "omnibus" edition "Back to Barbary Lane" which was, frankly, what I should have done for the FIRST three. It's more economical, and I prefer to carry around one hardback than 3 paperbacks. Buy this book. Or better yet, buy the "omnibus" edition. Oh, hell, buy BOTH omnibus editions....you'll read 'em all anyway!
Rating:
Summary: The first novel in a great series.
Review: A classic. Why should you read it? Because Armistad Maupin actually loves his gay characters; they aren't ashamed of their sexuality, nor do they apologize for it. He has a light and breezy style, with a lot of dialog. You could easily read this on a long, rainy afternoon. Published well over 20 years ago, I'm sure most gays will still see those all to familiar scenes (the bar posing, sex, drugs, that little silver dish with multicolored soap balls over the toilet...) that proves the old adage, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Rating: 
Summary: Overhyped
Review: A good friend absolutely waxed poetic about this series of books and insisted I try one. "You'll want to read all of them!" she promised. Well, I just finished the first installment in the popular series and I say, no more! From reading the many rave reviews, I've had to conclude that I'm totally out of the loop on this one, because I found the story to be hideously contrived, stupendously vapid and, considering the AIDs epidemic that decimated San Francisco's more amorous citizens just a decade later, amazingly irresponsible. We're supposed to look upon the exploits of these shallow and self-centered 70s people as great fun? Sorry, but I don't buy it. Anybody who thinks Maupin's "tales" depict some kind of Utopian past needs to shake the cobwebs out of their head and get a life. If self-indugence and an account of risque (and risky) behaviors typically amuses you, you'll probably enjoy this book. If your reading tastes run a bit deeper, don't waste your time with this tripe.
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Summary: A wonderful journey
Review: Reading the 'Tales of the City'-Series was such a wonderful experience I could easily repeat it as much as I could. Maupin's style is so great and terrific, it's strange I hadn't heard of him that much, before I read it. The characters are surely some of the best ones ever created in literary history. The developement of the storyline is so surprising and unexpectable it's breath-taking. The twists and turns are so effective, because you seem to know the characters so well, and never had thought... well, you have to explore the secrets by yourself. I have never seen such a developement of characters. The same persons are totally different in the last book than in the first one. It's great. I won't rate every book differently, although they are very different. But they are so great alltogether and so well-connected it's hard to tell them apart. This is wonderful stuff!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant satire of 70's San Francisco!
Review: I have heard so many wonderful things about the Tales of the City book series that I finally decided to give it a whirl. What a brilliant and hilarious book! The book introduces the reader to San Francisco during the Seventies (the time in which this book was written) and the mythic apartment building at 28 Barbary Lane. Each character in the book has his or her spark of wit and neurosis. I especially enjoyed Mrs. Madrigal, Mary Ann Singleton and Michael. I marvel at the brilliant and exceptionally witty characters. It didn't take me long to realize -- especially with the author's Afterword -- that the book is a satire of the gay scene in San Francisco. The characters have a great deal of humanity in this book, for it is obvious that the author had a message to send to his readers. Is Armistead Maupin -- as some people have said -- this era's -- or rather, the Seventies era -- Charles Dickens? With his incredible writing and undeniable wit, I'd say yes!
Rating: 
Summary: The Dickens of 1970s San Francisco? Nah--but a fun read...
Review: "Tales of the City" by Maupin is a fun, nostalgic romp through 1970s San Francisco. Set in the disco, drug, and easy sex days in the nation's hippest city-still coming down from its Summer of Love high-"Tales of the City" weaves the stories of several characters in gripping and fun serial fashion. Maupin originally wrote the vignettes as a series of newspaper columns. The book collected these columns together, so you can whip through the stories without having to wait for another installment. And you will whip through this book. The length of the chapters and the cliff-hanger prose ensures a quick read. It's a fun if not deep book. It's especially interesting if you live in or often visit San Francisco. For really that's what this book is: a love story about a city.
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Summary: A metaphor for our lives...
Review: The only reason this isn't getting five stars is because Mary Ann irritated me so darn much in the beginning. :) I saw the mini-series, read the book, then started making my friends do likewise. We still explain situations in terms of the series. The friend who lived with me for the first three years after college and I were often described as "Mouse and Mona" and everyone knew what we were talking about. This first book in the series is the fastest-moving, lightest, and for some might be the most enjoyable. It wasn't for me; I considered More Tales superior. But read this one first, get to know and love the characters, and then just keep reading!
Rating:
Summary: Emotion and intrigue
Review: The compelling story of an apartment building brimming with some of the most interesting San Fransiscan characters one could imagine. Well written and believable, this story gets a strong recommendation from me.
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Summary: THE book to give as a gift
Review: Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City begins one of the most entertaining, touching and involving series of books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The dialogue crackles, the action is paced brilliantly, and the characters pop off the pages and stay with you long after the final chapter ends. The cable network Bravo has recently re-broadcast the film version of "Tales" as part of their Gay Pride month series. While PBS and Showtime have done an admirable job translating these tales into well-produced mini-series, nothing can compare to reading these amazing books and becoming involved in a time and a place that are gone forever. I have given this book to friends and family on countless occasions. It never fails to delight and entrall. And everyone I have given the book to has gone on to read the complete series. I miss my friends on Barbary Lane, and I am EXTREMELY eager to read the next book by Mr. Maupin. Please, Armistead! Hurry!
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