Michael Tolliver Lives: A Novel (Tales of the City Book 7)

Maupin's "Tales of the City" novels had an undeniable impact on my life. I was a closeted college sophomore when I checked the first three books out of the Springfield, MA library in the Fall of 1990. I had a feeling I was coming late to the "Tales" party at that point but was instantly taken with 28 Barbary lane and its inhabitants. I was so square at 19 that the thought of a pot smoking landlady made me vaguely uncomfortable; I don't miss those days or my old rigid self. At the age of 22, the landmark PBS miniseries had me spending my tax refund check on a ten day vacation to San Francisco so that I could check out the city Maupin immortalized on my own. Any misgivings about a pot smoking landlady were gone.So now, thirteen years after I read the last book in the series, I was over the moon to see "Michael Tolliver Lives." But after reading two negative critic reviews, I was worried. Could this book measure up to my memories? Yes, and then some. "Michael Tolliver Lives" is different than the previous novels in the "Tales" series; this is one man's, first person narrative, unlike the multi-character structure of the other "Tales" books. But "Michael Tolliver Lives" is as wonderful, moving and beautiful as anything Maupin's ever written (quick plug for "Maybe the Moon.") Here are the characters we know and love. Times have changed, but Mouse and Brian and Anna Madrigal, the pot smoking landlady (and some others, but that'd be ruining the surprise) are here and take no time making us love them again.As the title implies, this is Michael's (aka Mouse) tale. Mouse is as sharp as ever and his wry observations make you realize how much you've missed him. In this book, we learn more about his family: his mother, his brother, his sister in law, and see Michael come to an even deeper understanding of the role he's played in his family's life, and outside of it. This part of the book was one that stayed with me; some of Michael's thoughts are exactly where I have been at times, and that recognition really got to me. (Another nice moment of identification for me is when Michael cites the scene in "Poltergeist" when JoBeth Williams feels her daughter's soul move through her. I thought I was the only one who appreciates that scene.) The novel also reflects the crazy times we live in, as Maupin has always done from the hedonistic 70s to the Reagan 80s to now. It's nice to know that we're all in this together. It's been indescribably wonderful to catch up with our old friends (I've grown to love the pot smoking landlady immensely and wish I'd "known" her personally) and see how they've been surviving. In these post-9/11 years, we need our friends from Barbary Lane. And here they are.

Even with moments of contentment and bliss with family, it's not easy to become old, and more awful still to know that if you leave the place you love you can never return. Those seem to be the recurring themes of "Michael Tolliver Lives!" People expecting a trip back to the Barbary Lane of the 1980s are going to have an experience similar to bumping into an old friend from that period - everything's changed and both of you aren't quite comfortable with how the other one (and how you!) looks.Maupin did a wonderful job of planting our feet firmly in the early years of 21st century America, and San Francisco in general, in MTL. He's seen enough in the past 20 years (read or see "The Night Listener") to let us off with sweetness and light in this novel.MTL is not a three-kleenex read - far from it! His returning characters have depth and perspective and help Michael through the storyline with style. His new characters are drawn with love - generally toward Michael, but certainly shared among one another. There's a lot of humor, almost to the point where the book should have a public transit/restaurant/breakroom advisory stating "This book will make you laugh out loud at inopportune moments". And then there are tears, followed by a re-cementing of the bonds of the narrator's invented family, both biological and created over time.What I most like about Maupin is how good-natured he seems to be. He demonstrates in his writing that he knows his audience. While the academics of today may sniff and scoff, the academics of a few decades from now are going to be studying every word Maupin has written for deep insights into the culture of San Francisco and the United States. Way to go, Armistead!The above paragraphs were written on Sunday, June 17 and constitute my review. My original comments written BEFORE I read the book follow:*NOT A SPOILER!* I haven't even opened the amazon.com box yet!Here are a few observations about the modern novel, which may seem a little negative, but are indications of the literary form's strength. First, I'm not an English major. However, I do read reviews and bestseller lists and hear a lot about what people want when they pick up a work of fiction.For argument's sake, let's divide them into two groups - those who like literary works which stand on their own, and those who like serial works made up of novel-length works which stand on the shoulders of their predecessors. An example of the former is (and I'm just looking around my writing chair) "Oryx and Crake", by Margaret Atwood. Examples of serial fiction would be the Harry Potter series, the work of Armistead Maupin, or John Updike. I've enjoyed Maupin, J.K. Rowling, and John Galsworthy ("The Forsyte Saga" - the "Barbary Lane" of early 20th century England).In the Friday, June 15, 2007 issue of the Los Angeles Times, Maupin was on the front page in one of their occasional "Column One" features. In the last few lines of the article, Maupin is asked a question which he answers in both a coy and leading manner (read the article if you want a spoiler). He suggests that there *will* be another book in life of Michael and his friends.The commonality between Galsworthy and Updike is that they wrote their own series books in threes and killed off their main characters at the end (with kindness, of course). My guess is that Armistead is going to have great fun with the next book, and then, somewhere around 2011, is going to give Mouse his quietus in a third and final volume.There are thaws in my theory, of course. I'm not in Armistead's head, and English literature, American literature (and Proust himself!) have many examples of serial works which don't divide neatly into threes. But, at the same time, it seems to be a tendency.I'm going to open the mailer this afternoon and start enjoying myself. I've been along for the ride since the very beginning in the Chronicle (just after the Pacific Sun) and I'd like to see a lot of smiles (and some well-warranted tears) on Maupin's readers' faces.

Fantastic book - I first read these when in snippets (sent by post by a friend living in SF - no email in those days) from the San Francisco Times and again when first published - a real reminder of life in the 70's and 80's - but hey Amazon - just because I buy books by a Gay writer (not that it is relevant) - it does not mean that I only buy 'gay' products so stop focusing my 'things I may like list' with a focus on what you consider to be Gay products - anyone can read excellent and entertaining books and sexuality has got nothing to do with it!!!!!

Addition to my Maupin collection, as good as ever!

Mouse is one of the characters who will live with me forever, like Anna Karenina. It may seem a hyperbolic comparison, but I almost feel he's a real life friend.

I really enjoyed this book.. Yes, it's quite different from the other tales of the city, however, for most readers the last books hold a degree of nostalgia. Whereas this book is happening in the now.

Michael Tolliver was always a stand out character to me so I liked this continuation of his life. Such a shame they got the TV series so wrong - totally wrong characters playing the parts.