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SFBill
10-04-2009, 02:48 PM
Hello all,
I'm reading AM's Tales of the City series again for probably the 5th time, but first in 10 years. What a fun ride! I'm up to the 5th book in 6 in the collection titled Significant Others. The fictitious woman's music festival Wimminwood is featured and thought of JI.com of course! :)

Has anyone else here read these charming and entertaining books?
The PBS, HBO, SHOWTIME film treatments did not do them justice! Though Olympia Dukakis was fab as Anna Madrigal!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_City
Bat
10-04-2009, 03:16 PM
I just read them again earlier this year...first time in a long time for me, too, and they are just as good as they ever were, which is to say, enchanting!
I loved the idea that they even made it to TV, wasn't too critical and thought the one I saw was pretty good...have to agreee that Dukakis was superb as Madrigal, tho! I sure wish someone would make the whole series and sell it on CDs, whether it ever gets onto TV or not doesn't matter, but it would make a great series to view at home!
Jim in Chattanooga, TN
10-04-2009, 03:19 PM
I read the books about 12 years ago. Really enjoyed the first ones in the series. The stories got a little crazier towards the end though.
Bat
10-04-2009, 03:22 PM
Yeah they did....you really had to live in SF at the time, tho, to see that against that backdrop, they weren't really unbelievable. :eek:
SFBill
10-04-2009, 06:30 PM
Yeah they did....you really had to live in SF at the time, tho, to see that against that backdrop, they weren't really unbelievable. :eek:

That is so true, Bat. I first saw San Francisco in 1984...BabyCakes the fourth book of 6, captures so true the time of the AIDS epidemic. It's heartbreaking.
Somehow the author also weaves in such warmth and humor, certainly not about AIDS, but the characters in general. Not an easy thing to do in my estimation.

The 3 books prior to that really give an insiders view of the swinging 70's in San Francisco....Gay and Nongay!

Significant Others, which is the 5th of 6 deals with Wimminwood the fictitious women's music festival-- and Bohemian Grove a real event in the Russian River--verrrry Republican....are central themes here. I'm curious about the famous poet that Armistead talks about in this one. Is it Lily Tomlin?

Anyway, these books seem far out---but I think they capture the times beautifully. Does everyone realize they were first published as a serial in the San Francisco Chronicle? Oh migawd. I would have loved something like that!
Sara
10-04-2009, 07:18 PM
I loved the idea that they even made it to TV, wasn't too critical and thought the one I saw was pretty good...have to agreee that Dukakis was superb as Madrigal, tho! I sure wish someone would make the whole series and sell it on CDs, whether it ever gets onto TV or not doesn't matter, but it would make a great series to view at home!
Oh, I loved-loved-loved the entire book series!! Read each one twice.

I agree. Though the televised version isn't as good as the books (as usual), these episodes are still very worth watching, IMHO. Netflix has these available as DVD rentals: "Tales of the City" (3 discs), "More Tales of the City" (2 discs), and "Further Tales of the City" (1 disc).

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq287/schoolcounselor4kids/TalesoftheCity1.jpg


http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq287/schoolcounselor4kids/TalesoftheCity2.jpg
SFBill
10-04-2009, 07:20 PM
Oh, I loved-loved-loved the entire book series!! Read each one twice.

I agree. Though the televised version isn't as good as the books (as usual), these episodes are still very worth watching, IMHO. Netflix has these available as DVD rentals: "Tales of the City" (3 discs), "More Tales of the City" (2 discs), and "Further Tales of the City" (1 disc).

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq287/schoolcounselor4kids/TalesoftheCity1.jpg


http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq287/schoolcounselor4kids/TalesoftheCity2.jpg

ohmigawd! Sara, You Rock!
Thanks for letting me know they are available on NetFlix. Didn't even think of it.
Marcia Drummergal
10-05-2009, 06:20 AM
Bat. I am fairly certain that several years ago, I purchased one of these DVD sets for you.....I'm also fairly certain they have yet to be viewed.....

Marcia ;)
hoops
10-05-2009, 08:22 PM
ooooooooooooooo bat, you got pinned! lol
peace
hoops
Bat
10-05-2009, 08:31 PM
If you did, I would love to see them! Find them for me...I want to see them!!! NOW!!





please;)
lucille
10-05-2009, 08:41 PM
Loved the tv series and loved Laura Linney. She has to be one of the best actors and least recognised for her talents. I watch everything she is in and am never disappointed. She was great in John Adams.
Bat
10-05-2009, 10:10 PM
Alas, it wasn't CDs, it was books...good, actually...that M got me, so I just read them again...nice. Thanks again, Marcia!
Marcia Drummergal
10-06-2009, 08:01 AM
Alas, it wasn't CDs, it was books...good, actually...that M got me, so I just read them again...nice. Thanks again, Marcia!

You see.....I feel like lately, I have "old-timers" disease! All of this turning 50 stuff. On contemplation, I can't recall if I bought her a set of books or DVDs! It's been too long. I'm not giving up yet though, because there are a couple of BIG boxes of VHS and DVDs in the basement. One of us has gotten pinned, yes Noel. Not ready to give up quite yet!

Marcia:D :rolleyes:
hoops
10-07-2009, 08:33 PM
good for you Marcia, stay strong!
peace
hoops
David from London
10-08-2009, 01:33 AM
And I've been watching the Golden Girls. Brilliant!!
Mary6906
10-08-2009, 05:55 AM
Oh, one of my favorite shows, too, David. I watch the reruns pretty much every day.
Marcia Drummergal
10-08-2009, 06:38 AM
And I've been watching the Golden Girls. Brilliant!!

Definitely a favorite of ours! Each woman on the show was FUNNIER than funny. Two bad we lost "Sophia" and "Dorothy". But they live on in re-runs!

Marcia :)
Dar
10-08-2009, 02:17 PM
Loved Tales of the City, both the books and the movies. I thought they did a good job. For the most part I liked the casting too. I particularly love Laura Linney, and I agree she was sensational in John Adams.
And of course Olympia Dukakis rocked!

So fun to see some of the other actors showing up in other shows.
Every time I see Thomas Gibson (the actor who played Beauchamp Day) I call out Beecham!!
SFBill
10-22-2009, 07:52 PM
Loved Tales of the City, both the books and the movies. I thought they did a good job. For the most part I liked the casting too. I particularly love Laura Linney, and I agree she was sensational in John Adams.
And of course Olympia Dukakis rocked!

So fun to see some of the other actors showing up in other shows.
Every time I see Thomas Gibson (the actor who played Beauchamp Day) I call out Beecham!!

Hey Dar!
OK I rented MORE TALES OF THE CITY.....(I just finished the first 6 books)
I'd only seen the PBS production of the first book--YEARS ago--and was not smitten....but I'm beginning to question that. (I may have been a literary separatist activist in those days) ha!

I loved seeing so much of SF while watching MTOTC...even though I live here, it's always fun seeing SF in all her glory.

I also think they did a good job translating the book...I had to get use to the less than Hollywood-standard sets--but once I did I really got into the characters.

a few notes.....

Colin Ferguson as Burke Andrews----um--yum---hello...whoa! ...now where was I....?

oh
Paul Hopkins as Michael...what a face! but interesting how they hide his body shape in long shots.....um --that does not include the up close and personal shot! ha!




The scene where Michael dictates a coming out letter to his parents should be required viewing on planet Earth.