Maupin had a problem with his parents. Elements of his family’s dynamics surface in much of his best work. Michael Tolliver, the charming character in the “Tales of the City” series, famously writes a coming out letter to his Mama after she joins the Anita Bryant campaign to “Save Our Children.” Maupin’s parents never responded after the letter was published. The letter resonates with so many gay folks because it often mirrors a cultural event that precipitates/initiates such disclosure.
The title refers to the notion of our “logical” family versus the “biological” one, something evident to most people, especially those who are LGBTQ. Maupin’s mother would often make excuses for his behavior and interests. His father was not so accommodating. A later epiphany on a trip to Palm Springs, leads Maupin to discover that his mother should have been his guide. Instead, he wasted his youth trying to be his father.
Some will recognize the Southern climate in which he was raised. There was a lot of emphasis on appearance and how one might be perceived by peers. At least his family’s religion was mainly treated as more of a social obligation than any deep philosophical pursuit. However, there are many examples of casual racism, sexism and classism. “Common was just plain common,” was a devastating analysis of anyone who did not measure up or just irritated his father.
Maupin was nurtured by his Mother and Grannie. His high school English teacher, Mrs. Peacock, recognized a budding talent. It seems that the important women in his life shaped him more than just the culture or the generation in which he was born. It seems a tribute that he does not want to overemphasize but it surfaces, nonetheless.
Small world stories abound in the book. Maupin worked for raving, wing-nut, homophobe and eventual U.S. Senator Jesse Helms at a Raleigh, NC TV station. This plays out in predictable fashion, though it takes many years before the story reaches its finale. Maupin knew Rock Hudson, intimately. His initial meeting with the star, followed by years of low-key interactions, then Hudson’s illness and death, make for interesting historical context and document an interesting friendship. Maupin’s friendship with Ian McKellen and his urging of the actor to come out, adds to the list of people who have circled through a remarkable life.
Interesting fiction, when inspired by interesting people and interesting events, makes for good reading. Maupin’s honesty in telling his own “Tale” makes his very popular work much more interesting.
Armistead Maupin is best known for his “Tales of the City” novels that began as a serial in the San Francisco Chronicle. The lively series was groundbreaking in its depictions of characters that were beloved yet unrepresented in the mainstream fiction of the era. After writing eight novels that followed these characters, the author has finally written a memoir
Logical Family – Armistead Maupin – Published by www.harpercollins.com
Review by STEPHEN COY Queerguru Contributor