Increasingly ridiculous, bordering on absurd, and impossible to put down. Maupin’s Tales of the City books have become one of my favorite yearly reads; I simply adore returning to 28 Barbary Lane and these characters. As silly as the plot can be, one of the things I have enjoyed the most, now three books into the series, is how much more space Maupin has given his characters to come across as real, deeply flawed, but still compelling, individuals. Perhaps I’m feeling this more strongly coming out of this book because I know what’s coming - it’s the 1980s, and the looming reality of what awaits so many of these characters was lingering in the back of my mind as the story came to a close. Once again, if you’re looking for high literature, these are not those books, but if you are looking for an increasingly addictive story and cast of characters, capturing a very specific time and place, I cannot recommend this series enough.