Book Review: Mary Ann In Autumn: A Tales Of The City Novel By Armistead Maupin

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Review of Mary Ann in Autumn: A Tales of the City novel by Armistead Maupin

I have a confession to make, I have never read anything by Armistead Maupin until now, but this book was so immediately engaging I will be buying the rest of the series.

It is unusual to start at the end of a series but this is such a well written novel that it can stand alone as a great read.

The 57 year-old Mary Ann of the title has a reputation as a drama queen. This time she has two genuine reasons for being so, except she isn’t. In search of a safe place where she can take stock of her life she turns to one of her oldest friends Michael ‘Mouse’ Tolliver, who lives with his much younger husband, Ben in San Francisco.

‘The past doesn’t catch up with us, she thought. It escapes us.’

Well the past isn’t escaping this time, it’s come back to haunt her.

Modern technology is used well in the book to highlight the horror of what’s happened to Mary Ann and also to bring the rest of the world closer to her, especially when she discovers facebook.

Mouse’s business partner Jake finds himself attracted to an ex-gay. These scenes are touching and beautiful as they struggle to respect each other’s boundaries when it’s clear that the attraction is mutual.

Shawna, Mary Ann’s estranged daughter is a sex blogger who aspires to greater things. One day she is moved by the plight of a homeless woman and becomes obsessed with discovering more about the woman’s past.

This is a book about the strong bonds that are created from friendships rather than blood ties. At first Ben is reluctant to have Mary Ann in his home but finds himself unexpectedly warming to her after a little banter about his and Michael’s ‘types’. Mary Ann can’t bring herself to read Shawna’s blog very often, not only because of its subject but because it’s starting to have an autobiographical feel. She finds solace in the friendships she makes on facebook until one message triggers an unpleasant memory. Jake becomes very good at hugging in a ‘fatherly way’ when hugging is the last thing he wants and ‘fearless’ Shawna makes a shocking discovery that brings her greater understanding. The writing is often humorous, Maupin has a fantastic ear for dialogue and the conversations flow naturally.

There are several strands to this story that all come together at the end, leaving you gasping with shock and wanting to read the rest of the series to discover more about the main characters who, by then, will feel more like friends.

With thanks to Alison Barrow, Transworld Publishers for the proof copy.

Publisher Doubleday

IBSN 978-0385619316 £17.99

Armistead Maupin will be in the UK for a tour from 22 November 2010