In this first book of a series of nine, Armistead Maupin weaves his Tales of the City so that the reader can get a taste of living in mid-1970s San Francisco. Through a multitude of characters who have their own secrets and outlooks on life, Maupin aptly conveys an atmosphere of urban congestion, wanton desires, and back-stabbing drama that makes up a good narrative.
Personally, however, I would have liked Maupin to make the characters' tales a bit more...multi-faceted. The writing is very simplistic and the characters follow stereotypes a bit too much. Furthermore, while the characters' stories are being told, I found myself missing some of the essential nuances of their personalities and histories; I can't rightfully explain this sense of "missing," but I craved to know more about the characters than what was portrayed.
Granted, this is the first book in a series of nine and I realize that I most likely need to read the other books before I pass complete judgment about how the characters are portrayed; however, to me, if I find myself confused with how characters act or with what they do in the first book, then I find myself not entirely enthused to continue the series. I want depth and I want the characters to be relatable.
The book, however, gave me a good idea of San Francisco during the 70s, when it lived through the era of free love and young people from around the country flocked to the city to find their niches in life.
I will eventually continue the series because I'm curious as to what happens to some of the characters. This was a very fast read with short chapters but, contrary to popular opinion, I wasn't too impressed with this book.
Rating: 7/10
Direct link to the book on Amazon:
Personally, however, I would have liked Maupin to make the characters' tales a bit more...multi-faceted. The writing is very simplistic and the characters follow stereotypes a bit too much. Furthermore, while the characters' stories are being told, I found myself missing some of the essential nuances of their personalities and histories; I can't rightfully explain this sense of "missing," but I craved to know more about the characters than what was portrayed.
Granted, this is the first book in a series of nine and I realize that I most likely need to read the other books before I pass complete judgment about how the characters are portrayed; however, to me, if I find myself confused with how characters act or with what they do in the first book, then I find myself not entirely enthused to continue the series. I want depth and I want the characters to be relatable.
The book, however, gave me a good idea of San Francisco during the 70s, when it lived through the era of free love and young people from around the country flocked to the city to find their niches in life.
I will eventually continue the series because I'm curious as to what happens to some of the characters. This was a very fast read with short chapters but, contrary to popular opinion, I wasn't too impressed with this book.
Rating: 7/10
Direct link to the book on Amazon:
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