Book Review- Armistead Maupin's Mary Ann in Autumn

When I was a teenager, I discovered Armistead Maupin's series, Tales of the City and I read through all six books in a single weekend. I was ecstatic when decades later, Maupin decided to revisit the characters in Michael Tolliver Lives. Although it had the same characters, Michael Tolliver Lives was a departure from the storytelling style that he used in the original series and it was a big let-down. I loved the series so much, that I couldn't help but give him a second chance, with Mary Ann in Autumn.

PLOT - Television star Mary Ann Singleton returns to her friends in San Francisco, after discovering that her husband is cheating and that she has cancer. She moves in for an extended visit with her best friend, Michael Tolliver and Michael's much younger husband, Ben. During her stay, Mary Ann undergoes an operation and reconnects with several friends that she failed to keep in touch with during her successful life in New York. One of her biggest struggles, is reconnecting with her estranged daughter, the very bohemian Shawna. Will a much changed Mary Ann be welcomed back in her beloved San Francisco? 

LIKE- Mary Ann in Autumn is a return to the format that made the original series so successful. Although Mary Ann is central to the story, there are several character subplots and plenty of intrigue and scandal. The story delves into serious topics, like aging, homelessness and gay marriage rights, but overall, it never takes itself too serious. At its core, this is a soap opera with lovable characters. It has several outlandish, but fun, plot twists. 

DISLIKE - My only criticism, is that sometimes Maupin lacks subtlety. He takes themes and pounds the point, rather than finessing them into the story. On the other hand, this doesn't disconnect me from enjoying his stories, because there is nothing subtle about a soap opera, nor should there be.

RECOMMEND- Fans of the original series should love Mary Ann in Autumn. If you've not read the original books, do yourself a favor and go through the series before reading this one. A big part of the charm of Mary Ann in Autumn, is a return to the characters and a reminiscing of their days living at twenty-eight Barbary Lane. 

Book Review- Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street

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I'm a huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Smith is a very fast and prolific author (writing multiple series and typically churning out a book per series per year)  and I decided that it was time to plunge into another of his series. 

I timed starting the first book in the series, 44 Scotland Street, with my trip to Edinburgh, where the story is set. Although I only spent a few hours in the city, it was enough to give me a small frame of reference. It's a gorgeous city and I hope that I will be able to return to it in the future.

 As Smith mentions in the forward, his 44 Scotland Street series is reminiscent of Armistead Maupin's late 70's Tales of the City book series set in San Francisco. I discovered Maupin's series when I was in high school and quickly devoured all of the books over a Christmas holiday.

The comparison between the two series is a good one, as both include a plethora of quirky characters, a good mix of comedy vs serious content and both series make the city in which the story is set a primary character. The characters are all very much a product of their environment.

Just as in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Smith writes characters with their warts exposed, but in a gentle manner. He has a keen eye towards social interactions and knows how to translate his observations into his writings. He has an ability to create a multitude of characters from all sorts of backgrounds, but manages to bring forth the commonalities make all of the characters relatable. I always feel like a Smith book is similar to watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie, except less sappy. Smith writes stories that leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. 

I'm excited to have read the first book in the 44 Scotland Street series and can't wait to dive into the next one!