Rating: 
Summary: The Third Time's the Charm!
Review: "Further Tales of the City" is by far my favorite of the series. It is here that life continues for our characters, but they grow far beyond what has taken place in the last two books, especially MaryAnn.Here also Maupin, moves forward with his wonderful concept of "chosen family," weaving MaryAnn, Brian and Mouse together as a great example of how workable and tender a "non-traditional family" can be. The price of that family, and that friendship - and standing up for what is right - is high as the book ends, but that only makes it all the more real and satisfying. Be with your friends of 28 Barbary Lane as innocence is lost in the early 80s just before the Spectre of AIDS his San Francisco in all its fury. It is a time and place that can - unfortunately - never come again.
Rating:
Summary: The Third Time's the Charm!
Review: "Further Tales of the City" is by far my favorite of the series. It is here that life continues for our characters, but they grow far beyond what has taken place in the last two books, especially MaryAnn. Here also Maupin, moves forward with his wonderful concept of "chosen family," weaving MaryAnn, Brian and Mouse together as a great example of how workable and tender a "non-traditional family" can be. The price of that family, and that friendship - and standing up for what is right - is high as the book ends, but that only makes it all the more real and satisfying. Be with your friends of 28 Barbary Lane as innocence is lost in the early 80s just before the Spectre of AIDS his San Francisco in all its fury. It is a time and place that can - unfortunately - never come again.
Rating:
Summary: The peak of "Tales."
Review: "Further Tales of the City" marks the point in the series where Armistead Maupin reached the top of the game. After some practice in the first two sensational installments, he acheives his best balancing act to date and exercises his grasp on the humanity of his characters. To quell the complaints from others regarding the severe changes in characters, it's important to realize that while only six months had passed between "Tales" and "More Tales," an additional four years lies between the second and third parts. This leaves the door open for a lot of evolution. The tragic occurances DeDe experienced in those four years perfectly explains her journey from point A (pampered, albeit unhappy, socialite) to point B (Sharp, yet broken - therefor even sharper around the edges - survivor.) Mary Ann's change from secretary to TV personality - not to mention hopeful journalist - is logical, considering her dormant ambition that was eluded to in her last blow-out with Beachamp in "More Tales." What's more, the exploration of characters like Prue Giroux add to the "it's a small world" feel of Mr. Maupin's San Francisco. As for the plot-lines, these seemingly unrelated misadventures tie up so cleanly in what winds up being the most heart-pounding climax of any "Tales" book to date. "Further Tales" concludes the first trilogy of the series logically and satisfactorally (despite the missing link of Mona.) With this novel, Mr. Maupin proved that he not only is an unsinkable story teller, but also a man that understands his characters and their lives to the fullest. As for the remaining three books, they are also exceptional pieces of literature, ascending to a peak with "Sure of You," but they still remain in the shadow of this excellent work.
Rating: 
Summary: A Compelling Continuation...
Review: ...but, perhaps Maupin should have left the characters with at least trace amounts of who they were when 'Tales' began. I am impressed with the consistancy of the story, however. He can spin a 'Tale' better than anyone I know! Have you noticed... These people are, in essence, living your life sometimes? There's a reality there that not just anyone can manufacture convincingly. All in all, a terrific sequel!
Rating:
Summary: Why is this my favorite "Tales" novel?
Review: As a Tales fan, I've always enjoyed this one the most. Maybe because it charts DeDe's courage and incredible transformation. Maybe it's the way Mouse mulls over whether he's following a cookie-cutter concept of being gay. Or maybe it's the way Maupin revisits his earlier theme of creating one's own "family" and turns it upside-down. Maybe it's just Mary Ann's TV job as a Martha Stewart prototype. In any case, Maupin's ear for dialogue is sharp, and his ability to communicate his characters' frailities really start to gel in this one! It's a wonderful read and a gripping novel.
Rating:
Summary: Why is this my favorite "Tales" novel?
Review: As a Tales fan, I've always enjoyed this one the most. Maybe because it charts DeDe's courage and incredible transformation. Maybe it's the way Mouse mulls over whether he's following a cookie-cutter concept of being gay. Or maybe it's the way Maupin revisits his earlier theme of creating one's own "family" and turns it upside-down. Maybe it's just Mary Ann's TV job as a Martha Stewart prototype. In any case, Maupin's ear for dialogue is sharp, and his ability to communicate his characters' frailities really start to gel in this one! It's a wonderful read and a gripping novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Reading San Francisco from Paris
Review: French as I may be, I very much enjoyed the third volume of the Tales. The characters are pretty consistent from one volume to the other, even though they tend to change - but then, don't we all? Paris, year 2000, might be far from San Francisco in the eighties, but the very human stuff this novel is made of goes way over and above the boundaries of languages and countries. The "added value" over my little straight life out here lies in the thriller-like quality of some of tales in the Tales. Very enjoyable!
Rating:
Summary: More and more and more. The beat goes on...
Review: Further tales of Mary Ann Singleton and Michael Tolliver, Maupin's alter-ego, a sweet young gay man lookin' for love in all the wrong places. The continuation of Tales of the City, first serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle, follows the further calamitous adventures of the residents of 28 Barbary Lane. This series of books focused around the early ages of the Dark Age of the AIDS era, but the tragic effect is leavened by Maupin's wild and wacky sense of humor, the preposterous interweaving of the lives of these people, and an overwhelming love for nearly each and every character. As someone said, these books are a love letter to San Francisco and all the best that it stands for.
Rating:
Summary: Charming and Fun, Easy Read
Review: Having never read the preceding novels, I wasn't sure what to expect from Maupin's writing style. I found it easy to read, and he really seems to care about his characters. Although the plot gets pretty unbelievable, it was fun to just say hey and go with it. An especially fun read if you live in the Bay area. Would make a great novel to bring to the beach.
Rating:
Summary: The Barbary Lane Saga goes on!
Review: Here the Author mixes the lives of his somewhat evolved personae (Mary Ann now almost a TV celebrity,Michael matured, but no less charming) whit the social and cultural evolution of the times, and whit one of the most horrible events of late seventies, the Jonesites mass suicide in Guyana. But even so, the Author does not lose his pungent humour and his love for bizarre, uncanny situations ( the strange encounter of Prue whit the man in the shack in the park). I've also missed Jon, former Michael's lover (the reasons for their breakup aren't too clear). But all the same, I've enjoied it like the first two.
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