Babycakes (Tales of the City Series, V. 4)
by Armistead Maupin
List Price:
Our Price: $7.10
You Save: $6.90 (49%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.15 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Armistead MaupinEdition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 1994-01-26
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 336
Book Reviews of Babycakes (Tales of the City Series, V. 4)
Book Review: A darker time begins
Summary: 4 Stars
A lot of readers consider this the beginning of the darker "Tales" books, but that's only half-true. "Babycakes" does go into darker territory, reflecting the changes happening in San Francisco, but the following book in the "Tales" series, "Significant Others" is lighter and has some classic moments. Maupin has said he could not ignore what was happening in the gay community at the time, and who can blame him? To have written another "Tales" story set in 1983 and not mention the AIDS crisis would have been silly. Yes, we liked our SF stories light, but the books never shied away from cultural commentary.
That said, I will be honest and say "Babycakes" is my least favorite of the "Tales" series. It's not because of the mention of AIDS (plus, Maupin's writing in this book is even stronger then before), it's partly because of the grayness. This book seems to be set in perpetual rainfall, drizzle, overcast skies. This also reflects on the characters (Mary Ann and Brian even have gray industrial carpet) and their actions.
But my biggest problem of all with the novel is the character of Simon. Maupin has always written cleverly and often, we have no idea where a story will end up (as seen in this same book when Michael discovers Mona in the UK), but with Simon, the reader knows exactly where the story's going. There's no fun mystery, and indeed, only a last minute (but highly, HIGHLY implausible) revelation by Simon gives this a tiny moment of the unexpected. Simon also never comes alive as a character as do other new characters introduced in the book (like Wilfred and Teddy) and may as well walk around with "plot device" on his shirt.
On the plus side, it's great to see Mona again. If you're not happy with this book, just remember it's not the end of the Barbary Lane gang so just see it as a book of character growth and development and wish them well for their next adventure.
Summary of Babycakes (Tales of the City Series, V. 4)
"An extended love letter to a magical San Francisco."
--New York Times Book Review
When an ordinary househusband and his ambitious wife decide to start a family, they discover there's more to making a baby then meets the eye. Help arrives in the form of a grieving gay neighbor, a visiting monarch, and the dashing young lieutenant who defects from her yacht. Bittersweet and profoundly affecting, Babycakes was the first work of fiction to acknowledge the arrival of AIDS.
"Armistead is a true original. His tales are bang up-to-date. They will surprise and maybe even shock you, but, I promise, they will make you laugh."
--Ian McKellen"Maupin has a genius for observation. His characters have the timing of vaudeville comics, flawed by human frailty and fueled by blind hop."
--Denver Post"Armistead Maupin's San Francisco saga careens beautifully on."
-- New York Times Book Review
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Books and e-Books
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2007-08-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.24
Price in other shops:
The Beach Houseby Jane Green
Viking Adult; Published: 2008-06-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.90
Price in other shops:
The Last Lectureby Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
Hyperion; Published: 2008-04-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)by Eckhart Tolle
Penguin; Published: 2008-01-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops:
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2006-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.34
Price in other shops:
When You Are Engulfed in Flamesby David Sedaris
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2008-06-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.49
Price in other shops:
The Shackby William P. Young
Windblown Media; Published: 2007-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.04
Price in other shops:
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novelby David Wroblewski
Ecco; Published: 2008-06-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.89
Price in other shops:
Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Foodby Jessica Seinfeld
Harper Collins; Collins Living; Published: 2007-10-01; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $13.24
Price in other shops:
Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-08-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.64
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Tales of the City (Collector's Edition)Release date: 2003-02-25; DVD
Best price: $34.96
Price in other shops:
The Night Listener Movie Tie-In Edition CD: A NovelHarperAudio; Published: 2006-08-01; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $5.82
Price in other shops:
Michael Tolliver Lives (P.S.)by Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 2008-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.24
Price in other shops:
Maybe the Moon: A Novelby Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 1993-08-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.97
Price in other shops:
Michael Tolliver Lives: A Novelby Armistead Maupin
HarperCollins; Published: 2007-06-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.11
Price in other shops:
Tales of the City (Tales of the City Series, V. 1)by Armistead Maupin
Published: 1989-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
More Tales of the City (Showtime Tie-In Edition)by Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 1998-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.05
Price in other shops:
Further Tales of the City (Tales of the City Series, V. 3)by Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 1994-01-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.95
Significant Othersby Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 1989-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Sure of You (Tales of the City Series, V. 6)by Armistead Maupin
Harper Perennial; Published: 1994-01-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.04
Price in other shops: