3.5 for content, 4 for enjoyment. I was home sick and desperate for cozy reading material when I remembered I had a stack of these in the basement.

Tales of the City is charming as always, and I really enjoyed Michael's storyline in particular; his search for emotional connection is sympathetic and heartfelt without being sentimental.

That said, for an ostensibly comic novel, there's a lot of darkness in this book. Most of it was deftly handled, but the main plot was slightly odd and dated, with the Jonestown massacre as a backdrop for a suspense narrative. I understand the impulse to explore a story that loomed large in San Fransisco at that time, but I'm still not quite sure if Maupin pulled it off.

Our heroes have entered the eighties, and while the references to culture and fashion make me smile, I want to wave my hands at them and shout, No! Go back, it's a trap! Hoping the author doesn't break our hearts too much in the next couple volumes (although it will be perfectly appropriate if he does). ( )

3rd in the tales of the city series. This one has Michael reunited with a long lost love. Brian andary Ann getting engaged. And the return of Dede Day which is the major point of this novel. ( )

Gotta love the San Francisco soap opera. ( )

4/4 ( )

Another comfort re-read. A minor character takes centre stage as Prue, a society columnist falls in love with a homeless man who lives in the park who turns out to be more than he seems. ( )