Farewell Tales

An exquisite final soirée for the Tales family..

Very thoughtful of Armistead to finally lay to rest some of the who, how and when’s of the one and only A.M.

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Such a delight, I didn't want it to end.

What a joy to have Kate Mulgrew narrating this wonderful story. I wish Netflix had done these stories for the revival, although it was still enjoyable.
This was a much more fitting finale and after listening to these new tales, the tv revival felt a little disappointing and even wiped out some of the characters and storylines from books 3-6.
Listen and enjoy.

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I want Captain Janway to read all the books

On a serious note, Mulgrew makes an outstanding performance on this recording. It’s astonishing how each book in this series is bettering on the story.

Read this, get past the first couple if it’s a struggle as this saga is has all come together beautifully.

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Amazing book, as usual.

Great final book in this story. Had me in tears many times. It's a shame it wasn't read by Armistead himself. I would have greatly enjoyed that.

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Last hoorah from my old friends from Barbary Lane

What made the experience of listening to The Days of Anna Madrigal the most enjoyable?

It is very hard not to come at this review without impressing my love and many years entanglement with all Maupin's Tales books. I probably can't stand outside it and tell you how it reads as a first timer. You simply have to start at the beginning with Tales of the City and you will see what I mean.
My experience of reading is that I was meeting old friends and discovering secrets that have been kept buried for years.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anna Madrigal - the landlady of all Tales Fan's souls

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Maupin is writing of beloved characters that he has been writing about for many many years, you cannot help but see how invested he is in his main characters and they are very real.

Any additional comments?

I have read all Armistead Maupin's Tales books set in the 70s/80s which tell the story of the lives and loves of friends living in San Francisco. I was so pleased when he began writing books set in the present. I believe "The Last Days.." is the last of the series. I will truly miss these people, they have become old friends!

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Catch up with old friends

Loved catching up with old and new friends from Barbary Lane! Kate Mulgrew was perfect

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Happy/Sad

Having read the book when published I downloaded all the ‘Tales’ books for these uncertain times and listened to them all. Apart from Armistead’s own narration I have to say Kate Mulgrew has to be the best one!
From the story ( and Anna’s backstory) the whole thing was a joy. The only thing was the knowledge that Anna’s tale was coming to an end.
My only (small) point is that we don’t find out how Wilfred, Mouse’s friend and adopted son of Mona’s, is at this time.
If only Netflix had chosen this book (and the previous 2) for their limited series and given Anna (and Olympia Dukakis) a fitting goodbye.
I’m sure there are enough open plot points for Armistead Maupin to write another volume.
How is Michael?
Shauna and her ?baby
How is Jake after Anna?
Mary-Ann?

Please another volume!!! And please bring Kate back as narrator.

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Abyssinia

I never wanted this to end. I literally cried it was so moving but also roared with laughter several times.
Fabulous narration

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my favourite so far.

I have loved every one of these books. I was fortunate enough to discover them only a few years ago and so could live through the 70s/80s/90s and 00's with three wonderful characters in a fairly short space of time.
How marvellous to have a book all about everybody's favourite landlady, Mrs Madrigal. To see her growing up as Andy, her relationship with Margaret and how the events of her teens helped shape who she is today was wondrous. The continued adventures of the other characters were fab too. I hope we will be hearing all about Jake and Shauna (Tales of the City: The Next Generation) for years to come. Thank you again, Armistead Maupin.

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Read the book

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This is a difficult book to listen to due to the narrator. With so many characters and much of the book being dialogue it is virtually impossible to differentiate between who's supposed to be talking.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It's great to catch up with the Tales of the City characters, although this seems to lack some of the intertwining magic of some of the other books

What didn’t you like about Kate Mulgrew’s performance?

I think Kate is perfectly cast as Anna, and even the narrator. But she can't do voices, so there needed to be a couple of other actors recording other roles to help understand what's going on!

Any additional comments?

As an audiobook with various performers this would have been ideal, but with one reader who can't do accents or voices it was so monotonous that I stopped half way through and got the book

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3 people found this helpful