Maybe the Moon, Armistead Maupin's first novel since ending his bestselling Tales of the City series, is the audaciously original chronicle of Cadence Roth -- Hollywood actress, singer, iconoclast and former Guiness Book record holder as the world's shortest woman.
All of 31 inches tall, Cady is a true survivor in a town where -- as she says -- ""you can die of encouragement."" Her early starring role as a lovable elf in an immensely popular American film proved a major disappointment, since moviegoers never saw the face behind the stifling rubber suit she was required to wear. Now, after a decade of hollow promises from the Industry, she is reduced to performing at birthday parties and bat mitzvahs as she waits for the miracle that will finally make her a star.
In a series of mordantly funny journal entries, Maupin tracks his spunky heroine across the saffron-hazed wasteland of Los Angeles -- from her all-too-infrequent meetings with agents and studio moguls to her regular harrowing encounters with small children, large dogs and human ignorance. Then one day a lanky piano player saunters into Cady's life, unleashing heady new emotions, and she finds herself going for broke, shooting the moon with a scheme so harebrained and daring that it just might succeed. Her accomplice in the venture is her best friend, Jeff, a gay waiter who sees Cady's struggle for visibility as a natural extension of his own war against the Hollywood Closet.
As clear-eyed as it is charming, Maybe the Moon is a modern parable about the mythology of the movies and the toll it exacts from it participants on both sides of the screen. It is a work that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit from a perspective rarely found in literature.
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"It's been a long time since I've read a "normal" novel (i.e. no paranormal aspects, no zombies or other creatures, no magic, and set in current time). I happened to come across this book in a used book store and thought I'd give it a try. It is the story of Cadence Roth, a dwarf trying to revive her acting career in Hollywood. She and her group of friends all feel like real people with real relationships and genuine love for one another. I really enjoyed the diaglogue; it was funny and gave me the feeling I was watching a movie (which is sort of how the story is set up). This book has led me to explore more of Maupin's books, so now I'm reading Tales of the City!"
— Kelly (4 out of 5 stars)
“Highly funny and deeply poignant…Maupin sounds the feminine side of his psyche with a heartfelt resonance that few male writers ever accomplish.”
— Boston Herald“Scathingly funny, haunting…Maupin enlightens, entertains and perhaps even empowers his readers.”
— Atlanta Journal Constitution“One of the ten best books of the year.”
— Entertainment Weekly“Maupin uses a uniform tone in telling the story of Cadence Roth—a once-famous but now forgotten actress. His lethargic, deadpan delivery makes Cadence’s cynical attitude delightfully amusing.”
— AudioFile" This one started well, but tended to 'lose' me about half way through. I really enjoyed Maupin's earlier 'Tales of the City' and perhaps my enjoyment of this one was tempered by my fond memories of his earlier work. Maybe though, I just found it hard to relate to the adventures of a dwarf singing star in Hollywood! "
— Lynn, 2/7/2014" Found a copy of this at a hostel in Italy and tore through it in one day. I've never read anything by Armistead Maupin before, which now seems absolutely absurd given how much I enjoyed this book. Will now spend the rest of the summer reading his Tales of the City books! "
— Nancy, 2/6/2014" The diary/story of 34" Cady Roth and her life on the edge of Hollywood, is really about accepting your limitations without letting them define you. There was a slow part in the middle, but overall, the engaging story, the complicated relationships, the humor, and the clear-eyed cynicism of Cady's voice made it a worth-while read. "
— Kerfe, 2/4/2014" To be honest, I found this book boring. "
— Cecil, 2/2/2014" Funny, sad, memorable book about the trials and tribulations of a dwarf actress. The premise sounds stupid but it's a really good book and a worthy follow-up to the Tales series. "
— Matt, 2/1/2014" Armistead Maupin take a break from his beloved "Tales of the city" characters and San Francisco to the sunnier South California. This book is a fictional diary of Cady, a little person, that even if talented, has an hard time to find a job in Hollywood because of her height. The book is a joy to read, fun and witty, and I strongly recommend it. "
— Marco, 1/28/2014" Oh!!! Remember the little lady inside the ET costume? (the one that was not an animatronic) Sweet. "
— Scott, 1/16/2014" About friendship and prejudice -- the story of a 31 inch tall woman. "
— Donna, 1/11/2014" I really enjoyed this book. Maupin is a master at writing dialogue. It's a very simple story but it pulled me in and I couldn't the book down. "
— Jeff, 12/15/2013" Maybe the Moon: A Novel by Armistead Maupin (1993) "
— Kathleen, 12/1/2013" Features a midget! "
— Brian, 11/18/2013" Amazing read about an often overlooked, literally and figuratively, actress. Tender, tough, and heartbreaking by turns, this book will stay with me for some time. "
— Janet, 10/26/2013" That the difference between us and them is as thin as the crack in the sidewalk. "
— Donna, 10/20/2013" This book made me mad when I was done because I realized while I was reading it I could have been reading something else that was actually good. "
— patti, 10/18/2013" Interesting love story with little people, MTV would love it. "
— Keith, 9/26/2013" Maupin's books are always chatty & fun, like letters from friends. His characters are a lot like the people you know. This is even true of the lead character in this book, who is both dwarf and diva. She's witty, cynical, and has a unique take on the world, and when the book ends, you miss her. "
— Jenny, 7/27/2013" Odd. Very odd. I've enjoyed most of Maupin's books, but this one--not so much. "
— Liza, 3/23/2013" story was entertaining but not very exciting; i felt using a dwarf as protagonist served as a vehicle for a trying-to-make-it-in-showbiz tale. "
— Rowan, 2/23/2013" This is another book I read every year or so - Maupin's not exactly "high art" literature but the story of Cady Roth is one of those rich, oddly comforting tales that stays with you long after the book is finished. "
— Gracie, 12/25/2012" Skillfully done. The author has a strong awareness of how his writing affects the reader. I thought this was a positive thing, but others may disagree. The story itself is worthwhile. "
— Ali, 11/18/2012" An easy read about the smallest woman in the world written in 1st person. Cute but nothing spectacular. "
— Sasha, 7/3/2012" Maupin's first non-Tales novel manages to carve out a truly distinctive voice for its protagonist and truly humanizes a rarely seen character perspective in mainstream fiction. "
— Pat, 5/26/2012" An interesting complement to the "Tales of the City" series. "
— Nancy, 12/11/2011" Being a little woman myself, reading this book was a blessing. Learning how other women deal with everyday problems, made me feel it's possible. Mr Maupin did a great job, I can't imagine how he understands so well the vision of a little person. A brilliant book. "
— Filomena, 9/7/2011" Maupin's first non-Tales novel manages to carve out a truly distinctive voice for its protagonist and truly humanizes a rarely seen character perspective in mainstream fiction. "
— Pat, 6/29/2011" <em>Maybe the Moon</em> is likely Maupin's weakest novel. A strong central character eventually has to give way to the harsh reality of a crushing end, and her gay friends have a story that is simply too large for the scale of her personal story. <br/> <br/>A good book, but not a reread. "
— Alex, 2/12/2011" This was interesting - the main character was a little person with a very big personality. The author was impressive in telling the story from a female's perspective, AND that of a little person. I found it very entertaining. "
— Karen, 1/4/2011" Maybe the Moon: A Novel by Armistead Maupin (1993) "
— Kathleen, 8/23/2010" That the difference between us and them is as thin as the crack in the sidewalk. "
— Donna, 6/5/2010" I read this one after I finished the "Tales of the City" series. A hollywood story with some interesting twists, as the narrator is a little person. I discovered on Goodreads, that she was based on a friend of Maupin's, which makes the book more interesting in retrospect. "
— Alice, 1/21/2010" I read this back in the day. I think a housemate gave it to me. It was interesting but not gripping. A woman who's a dwarf and actress tells the story of her life and search for career and fame after The One Great Role. Definitely original, though. "
— Sandy, 9/8/2009" An easy read about the smallest woman in the world written in 1st person. Cute but nothing spectacular. "
— Sasha, 8/27/2009" A good read. A dwarf doing all possible to have a career and solid relationship. "
— Alice, 5/11/2009" I really enjoyed this book. Maupin is a master at writing dialogue. It's a very simple story but it pulled me in and I couldn't the book down. "
— Jeff, 4/6/2009" one of my favorite Maupin book. so moving. it had a great impact on me as a teenager. maybe cause it has to do with the wizard of oz. you're never the same again after reading a story with Munchkins! lol <br/>very good book "
— Maakaari, 3/11/2009Armistead Maupin is the author of numerous novels, including the highly popular Tales of the City series. His novels Sure of You and The Days of Anna Madrigal made the New York Times bestsellers list. He was the 2012 recipient of the Lambda Literary Foundation’s Pioneer Award. In 2014 he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree by the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. Three miniseries starring Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney were made from the first three novels in the Tales series. The Night Listener became a feature film starring Robin Williams and Toni Collette. He was born in Washington, DC, in 1944 but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, he served as a naval officer in the Mediterranean and with the River Patrol Force in Vietnam. He worked briefly as a reporter for a newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina, before being assigned to the San Francisco bureau of the Associated Press in 1971.