Significant Others

You gotta read the whole set of books by Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City series). Truly wonderful characters, set in San Francisco. If you watched the British broadcast of Tales of the City, and loved it, then these books are for you! The last couple of books was written after the mini-series, so there's lots of laughs & heartaches from there. He writes beautifully, has some excellent wit, and deals with major problems in the process. I give it more stars than Amazon has, it's like you live there with those crazy characters. What a deal that is! Pick them ALL up and read them in the series, I promise you won't be sorry!

When I first started reading Significant Others, I didn't think I would like it. First off, two of the residents of Barbary Lane moved to another place, which kind of broke up the family feel of the story. The time is supposed to be either '85 or '86 and there is one main character who seems to be regulated to the background (I'm not talking about Mona).But as I kept on reading, the story lines sucked me back in. Maupin is a great story teller that keeps the reader hooked, even though the time is different, places are different, and the beloved characters are different. Remember, the story takes place nine or ten years after we've been introduced to the Barbary Lane family, and they're not the same people they were in '76.I'm not going to give away any secrets from SO. Just know that although the story and characters have evolved, Barbary Lane retains that human interaction/warmth(?) element, which seems to be the thread linking all of the Tales of the City books together.But on the other hand, SO does feel like a "darker" book. Perhaps it's because the characters have grown up. Maybe it's because they've become cynical. Maybe it was the disease that was devouring the city. Or maybe, I feel that SO is darker because I know it's the second to the last of the TOTC series...and the realization that nothing lasts forever, finally hit me.

As always, Armistead Maupin's writing is superb and his characters intriguing. The story line moves away from 28 Barbary and into the countryside, so we sort of lose touch with some of our favorite people. Even so, Maupin introduces us to some hilarious characters and situations - a women's camp and a high-falutin' men's retreat, both of which are populated with wild and crazy people. I simply loved the first three books in this series, which brought back all those good memories of San Francisco, but I'm also enjoying the "spreading out" of the setting and feel I'm getting to know more about the people who live in the city and what they do and what makes them who and what they are.

I would recommend this book to Maupin readers who enjoy the entire Tales set, which will conclude this very month. My husband and I have come to enjoy the characters very much; some people would be uncomfortable with the frank and honest--and relaxed, but never graphic--portrayal of gay life as normal life. That would not be Maupin's problem. It's a fine series, and it inspired to some degree Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street series, which has a similar affectionate tone and appreciation of people.

I have read the Tales of the City series multiple times. I continue to enjoy Armistead Maupin's stories following the lives of the characters that started in the first in the series Tales of the City

I have read these books completely out of order but it has not made one iota of difference in the quality or excellence of the material. I have come to know and love all of the amazing characters. I have become invested in their lives, their loves and their emotional highs and lows.I am going to be extraordinarily sad when I finish the last volume. Although I am a gay woman, your life experiences cross paths with our daily life. Familiarity is nice sometimes. Thank you.

A year ago when I was thinking about relocating to the SF area, I picked up the first book in this series, got hooked, and bought the entire series. It made me fall even more in love with the city I knew I had to be a part of. I year later, I do work in SF and live very close by (rental market in SF is a whole other story - if only Mrs. Madrigal had a place available!!). Light, fun reads - I really enjoyed the entire series.

It continues the saga and is a delight to read. After the initial 3 Tales of the City, you kind of want to know what was next for the main characters and Maupin provides wonderfully. Each character is well defined and you come to feel you know these people. I'm glad he continued the saga even if these last 4 books will never be televised.

i read the first two books when i lived in SF in 1981 and loved them then the TV series great. Coming back to the series and reading all of them has been a total joy. takes me back to my time in North Beach living on Lombard St it all feels so familiar. Apart from that the writing is sharp, characters to really care about, the humour laugh out loud funny, unexpected plot twists, sense of place amazing and massive heart, classic classic classic. Makes a wet and miserable winter in England more bearable. Let's go........

I absolutely adore this series . I read them as a teen ions ago . Every few years I reread them, the characters are like old friends and I love this particular cat flap to Barbary lane . I now live in an RV and have done for four years . As you can imagine I had to downsize drastically so very few books . So entering the 21st century I have recently brought a kindle and this was a must , so now I can visit Barbary lane when ever I want. To anyone who hasn't read this series , beware you will get hooked .one of the best series for time travel . Thanks Armistead xxxxxx

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!!!!!

My bestest friend in the whole wide world kept this little secret hidden from me for over 13 years. I recently had to go into hospital for a major operation and she bought me the first three Tales of the City books to read whilst recuperating. Six weeks later I have now read 6 of the sequence, am in the middle of "Michael Tolliver Lives", have one more to go before having to wait in rabid anticipation for the final instalment, "The Days of Anna Madrigal" to be published in January 2014. I purchased "Significant Others" on Kindle because I'd just finished the "Babycakes" paperback and couldn't wait to go to the shop the next day. Albeit slightly the fault of my so called bestest friend in the whole wide world, but I can't believe it took me so long to find Mike, Anna, Brian, Mary Ann, DeDe et al, but my goodness, don't I feel blessed. If you are searching for a little solace and comfort, with friends who will love you no matter who you are and what you do, who will take the fear away and help you realise that everything is going to be OK, then pick up Tales of the City - start on page one and enjoy. It's a book romance you will never forget. Don't wait.

I was a great fan of Armistead Maupin's Tales from the City and its sequels, capturing as they did the 80s and beyond of the San Francisco alternative and gay scenes. Glad to be able to buy a new edition to revisit those times. These are soap operas in a way, but so entertaining and witty. I think reading Maupin, at his most light-hearted, is like reading a lovely gossipy letter from a friend. Easy reading, and that's no small recommendation. It takes talent to make prose so smooth.