Rating: 
Summary: Fiction first but plenty of entwined autobiography
Review: "The Night Listener" is one of those really good books, which gets progressively better as the story develops. The primary plot is about the relationship between late night radio host, Gabriel Noone, and a 13-year-old boy, Pete Lomax. Pete is suffering from AIDS as the innocent victim of serious and prolonged sexual assault propagated by his father and others. Donna Lomax, a lady doctor who Pete first talks to on a child abuse hot line, has adopted him and tries to give him the love and security to which every child is entitled. Pete has committed his sad tale to writing and sends the "set of bound galleys" (manuscript) to Gabriel Noone in whom he has developed a trust from listening to his nocturnal banter on the radio. They communicate by phone and soon reach a level of intimacy in which Pete refers to Noone as Dad. The trust is almost absolute and it is only when a tiny suspicion is fed to Noone by Jess (see below) that the seeds of doubt form in Noone's mind. Noone and Pete's relationship is based entirely on their phone calls, as the two have never actually met. Noone has frequent phone conversations with Donna too, building up another bond of trust and friendship. The plot develops wonderfully and this fictional part of the book is excellently put together. In parallel with the main story line is the clearly autobiographical thread of Maupin's own life. There is the difficult relationship with his own father, an ageing homophobic man who won't acknowledge or discuss his feelings. There's his young stepmother and, as can often be the case, this is one tricky relationship. Then there is the recently ended long-term relationship with his partner Jess, a younger man who has turned to a more macho type of gayness. Whilst Jess has moved out of their shared home and taken new lovers, the two of them maintain a friendly but not intimate relationship for personal and business reasons. The book has a strong gay theme, which for me was quite an eye-opener, particularly one graphically described pick-up in a long distance truck driver's toilet block and the subsequent consummation. The writing style is descriptive and eloquent and one memorable passage describes the death of Noone's dog, written with exceptional clarity and passion. However, the main theme, revolving around the welfare of Pete, is told with building suspense which makes the book very hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping piece of literature window-dressed as mystery
Review: *The Night Listener* is gripping from beginning to end. Literally I am glued to the page. Writer and radio storyteller Gabriel Noone just broke up with his partner Jess who battled with AIDS. Things take a sharp turn as Jess' viral load plummeted to zero. As Gabriel noted that he would "like to believe there was a moment when I received this news with unalloyed joy...For the great love I'd longed for all my life had been a certainty only while Jess was dying." Anyway Jess moved out and found himself a new circle of friends and social etiquettes. 13-year-old Pete Lomax was the "godsend" who stepped into Gabriel's life at the perfect timing. Gabriel was asked by his publishing agent to review galleys of Pete's book and write a blurb for it. Immediately hooked to Pete's story Gabriel began a series of phone conservations with Pete who lived in Wisconsin with his foster mother Donna. Donna came to his rescue after Pete sneaked out from his folks' house in a blizzard. His parents had physically and sexually abused him, and prostituted him with pedophiles. Donna (a psychiatrist) was the first person Pete ran into at the hospital. She already knew about Pete's HIV status and decided to protect him from strangers and most importantly, his painful past miseries. When Pete finally let down his guard and spoke to her for the first time a few months after his escape, Donna encouraged him to overcome this fear by writing his memories down on paper. Afterall, Pete "trusts voices more than he can trust a face." As Gabriel and Pete talked more on the phone, their relationship become like father-and-son. As the publisher had no means to legitimate Pete in order to publish his book, Gabriel began to have doubt about the existence of Pete. He began to think if Donna and Pete, who shared the same high-pitched Wisconsin accent, are the really the same person. When the book was dropped finally, Gabriel made a trip from San Francisco to Wisconsin to locate Pete. This novel is extremely imaginative. Some might have thought Maupin has gone too far with the idea a middle-aged gay man making a last attempt of fatherhood with a 13-year-old dying of AIDS. But I find this book very appealing and gripping. At first Gabriel Noone seems really pitiful and pathetic. He always looks at life in a pessimistic eye. His relationship with Jess wrecked only because he never acknowledged his true feelings and emotions inside. The search for Pete after Donna disconnected phone service turns the book into some suspenseful mystery. Pete really taught Gabriel a lesson of love: to believe and let go. And what makes this book on my A list is the ending that comes with a twist. Good to the very last page. I have to say Armistead Maupin has become a favorite author of mine after *The Night Listener*. Literature window-dressed as mystery. 4.5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow
Review: Gabriel Noone is a self described "fabulist by trade". He is an openly gay San Francisco radio show host. His whole life changes when he recieves a package with a book in it. He has been asked to write a blurb for the back. This is nothing new to him and he expected not to even open the book at first. But with his life falling apart around him, he decides to read it. It is the autobiography of a 13 year old boy by the name of Pete Lomax. From early childhood Pete had been sexually abused by both his parents and and a ring of pedophiles from the Midwestern states. He meets this boy and becomes close friends with him, communicating only over the telephone. After questions arise to the authenticity of Pete, Gabriel begins his journey to prove that Pete is real once and for all. This story is made up of many multi-dimensional characters that allow you to be completely engrossed in the story. Armistaud Maupin makes this book both disturbing and enlightening, light-hearted and dark, and both good clean fun and deeply sexual. The book is a relatively quick-read despite it's many pages of small type, the pages will fly by as you try to solve the mysteries of Pete's existence and that of Gabriel Noone's struggle to find himself. I do not recommend this book to those who are not incredibly mature. Both because of the sexual references and because of the disturbing mystery of the book. I myself found my head spinning and had several sleepless nights before finishing the book. To those who are able I highly suggest this book.
Rating:
Summary: "Elementary, my dear Watson."
Review: Here we have a book by Mr. Maupin in which he lightly expands the world we came to know in his "Tales of the City" series. Characters from that series are present in the book, yes, but this doesn't detract from this new string. It's more like a little morsel for his faithful readers that, when they read, their eyes widen and they think, "Yeah!! I know that!!" I read this book and was sucked into Gabriel's world with ease. The writing was fantastic, and the answer to the question on everyone's mind is played from every angle...if not in actual events, then in Gabriel's mind. A mystery of a different kind (no one is killed, no crowned jewels are stolen), "The Night Listener" pulled me from one extreme of opinion to the other. By book's end, I was in awe with Maupin's ability to keep the reader guessing...even after the last word is read and the book is put down. I give this book 4 stars because although I love the kind of ending that lets you write your own epilogue, I really wanted a definite answer to the questions that arose. Nevertheless, this book was a great read!!
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Honestly, as a huge Maupin fan and a worshipper of his Tales of the City series and Maybe the Moon, this one is not my favorite of his. Its alittle creepy. Pedophelia, leather, anonymous sex with a trucker, and a mysterious plot twist at the end kind of chip away at Maupin's invincibility as a writer in my opinion. HOWEVER, notice I still HAD to give it 5 stars because even though it may not be the best Maupin it is STILL written by him and he is by far one of the best authors ever! Despite the total wierdness that is involved in the book its still unmistakably Maupin's handiwork and is therefore a worthy, worthwhile, and fabulous read! Just read Tales and Maybe the Moon first!
Rating:
Summary: just perfect
Review: I cannot come close to describing how much I loved this book. Having thoroughly enjoyed the series "Tales of the City," I was very eager to read more of Maupin. Let me assure you I wasn't let down for a minute. This book tells the story of Gabriel Noone and his search for meaning in the midst of a break up with his partner and reaching his mid fifties. Without giving to much away, the story takes us on a journey into what Gabriel needs and wants in his life, whether real or a dream. The longing, pain and love that is felt in each word had me openly weeping at times, laughing out loud and cursing the characters. Like all good things the story comes to its only conclusion, but like a diner of Chinese food, when your done your totally satisfied; fifteen minutes later your wanting more. I am still wanting and missing Gabriel and his life and dreams.
Rating: 
Summary: Not believable, except in parts
Review: I found this book to be a fun read, but it's not a "masterpiece" or a "triumph." Even by Maupin's "Tale of the City" standards, this is a strangely unsatisfying novel. I thought the storyline itself was confusing and did not really lead much of anywhere. I was fascinated with this book more as a document of Maupin's self-indulgence than as an act of fictional creativity. I would have liked to see a novel that spent more time with Noone's breakup with his long-time lover, Jess. The dynamics of Noone's heartbreak in the context of seeing a lover move from almost certain death to a completely different plane are handled wonderfully, but it would have been preferable to see this story moved to the forefront and the hokey 13-year-old-as-counselor gimmick moved to the background. The novel that Maupin really should have written, unfortunately, is not what we get.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent novel with some difficult aspects
Review: I purchased a copy of this for my partner for Christmas, and soon got a "how dare you buy a book like this for me!" I was then instructed to sit down and read it. A very good thing to be made to do. Make no mistake: this book will not be a comfortable read to all. As it indicates in the blurb (which I didn't read first), one of the characters in the book was sexually abused by his father starting at age four. Now, the details of this are not examined closely, but we are never allowed to forget how Pete was abused. It's not in our faces, but it's never too far below the surface. Having said that, the book is a triumph. Mixing fiction and autobiography together, Armistead Maupin sets out a book which is about the way in which fiction is created. The book is the fictionalised account of Gabriel Noone's failing relationship, his long-distance meeting with a young survivor of sexual abuse, and how the two help each other forward, and all the trials and tribulations associated with that progress. But don't get comfortable: 'The Night Listener' turns your expectations on their heads on several occasions. Mr. Maupin also remembers his long time fans: there are several nods to the 'Tales of the City' series and its characters. If you haven't read those books, I don't think that this book would suffer, but if you have, you get a few little bonuses. As good a book as I have read in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: MAUPIN FINDS HIS DARK SIDE
Review: It's a cliche to say that there are books 'you just can't put down' - it sounds like the kind of 'blurb' the main protangonist of The Night Listener is called upon to contribute to the book that sets the chain of events in this story into motion; but in this case I stand by the cliche. When I got to the final page, the midnight oil had been well and truly burned and I felt as though I'd finished 10 rounds in a ring with Tyson. And so here I am, emotionally bruised and battered by probably the most uplifting and at the same time depressing piece of literature I have ever read. It would be so easy to ruin the plot for other readers - but I won't; suffice to say Jess' conversation with Gabriel halfway through the book, after his phonecall to Wysong left me feeling chilled and clammy at the same time. Tonight, after work I'm going to read the last few pages of this masterpiece again - hopefully this time without crying. But don't let the prospect of tears put you off. The Night Listener is definetely a journey and one I was honoured to make with the turn of each page.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me glued to the page
Review: The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin Based on a true-life event that happened to Armistead Maupin, THE NIGHT LISTENER chronicles the unusual relationship of author/radio host Gabriel Noone and a young boy dying of Aids. The unusual part of this relationship is that their friendship exists only by phone. Gabriel and his partner Jess have just recently separated. Jess, who is also HIV positive, is dealing with it on his own in a separate apartment, with new friends and a new lifestyle. Gabriel is having a hard time dealing with the separation, and is also suffering from a bout of writer's block. The entrance of young Lomax into Noone's life is a godsend. Gabriel learns about Pete's hard life: being used and abused by his own parents, part of a child sex ring where Pete played a major role. Pete now lives with a foster parent, and he is about to have his first major book published. It is during this time that Pete and Gabriel become friends. Their relationship grows into something akin to father and son, but with one catch: Gabriel never meets Pete. They discuss everything under the sun: Gabriel's relationship with his father, with his ex lover, and about his writing. Soon, seeds of doubt are planted in Gabriel's head. During a phone conversation with Pete's foster mother, Gabriel notices a very big similarity with her voice and Pete's. After talking to his publicist, who is the one that is about to publish Pete's book, Gabriel is almost convinced that there is something wrong about Pete and whether he exists at all. For one thing, Gabriel can't find a way to meet Pete. There is always one excuse or another from either Pete or his foster mother. So, when one day Gabriel calls Pete and finds that the phone number is no longer in service, Gabriel decides to try to locate Pete. With only a few clues, Gabriel makes the long drive from San Francisco to Wisconsin. This was my first book by Armistead Maupin, and I have to say that after I finished THE NIGHT LISTENER, I have become an Armistead Maupin fan. I loved his writing style and his directness about a lot of issues that I find are normally skirted in every day life. I finished this book in only a few days. If I had more time I think I would have finished it in a few hours!
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