MAYBE THE MOON audiobook

I came across this book in the collection of a friend who had stocked her books with us temporarily. It tore me to shreds. It is an incredibly moving story that held me entranced from the very start. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever felt an outsider at one time or another. A marvellous book.

I just love Armistead Maupin. He has a real love affair for the inner lives of freaks and weirdos, without making them pat or saccharine. In this one, he tells the story through the diaries of Cadence Roth, a 31 inch actress whose one claim to fame was working the elf suit of an E.T./munchkin from Oz hybrid in a syrupy sweet blockbuster called Mr. Woods. She gets some very depressing showbiz-adjacent jobs in the Valley, fights with her agent, lives in reluctant harmony with her best friend and roommate Renée, and dates a typically sized man named Neil. This is something David Sedaris would be all over, but also shows some real heart and longing in its characters, as bizarre as they all are. I liked how brash and bold Cadence was and her sad and sweet relationship with Renée. especially the part where she says sometimes I'm the mother and sometimes Renée is. That kind of chosen family bond they have was really quite strong despite the fact that they are complete opposites (Renée is enchanted, completely unironically so, by Mr. Woods and winces every time Cadence swears.) There were a few moments where Cadence muses in a resigned kind of way about how she can never really have the success she wants and deserves because of her size. It wasn't poor me, it wasn't preachy activisty, it was just perfectly, perfectly done. The ending was so effective I thought. The conversation between the director and screenwriter, missing the mark while trying to force a person's life into something narrative and totally bastardizing Cadence's story really gave the diaries more weight.

Based on the diaries of Tamara De Treaux, the little person who played the alien in the movie E.T., Maupin's Maybe the Moon is a fun read. I'm not completely sure what liberties Maupin might have taken but I had read that Tamara and Spielberg had differences because Tamara told reporters she was E.T. and Spielberg thought she ruined the magic of the film by doing so. All of that plays out in the book and there's a fantastic scene where the lead character, Caddy, plans to take revenge on the director. I'd love to know if that really happened.The book is written in diary form and follows Caddy's every day life involving her roommate, coworkers, a gay friend, and a later love interest. In typical Maupin style, it's written in first person so it's a quick and easy read and it's very easy to connect with the main character. There's not really a lot going on here other than Caddy's struggle to want to be recognized as an actress and not just a little person. Those difficulties really come to light and made me want to learn more about Tamara and her struggles. I also found it interesting that the character who would be based on Elliot from E.T. is gay in the book but there's no indication of that in real life though maybe Tamara speculated in her diaries. Like I said, it's fun to guess how much is true!I've loved everything else I've read by Maupin so I'm glad to finally add this one to the list.

I heard about this book on a Chinese cookery show, of all places, and was intrigued. What would it be like to try to make a life and career in the dog-eat-dog world of Hollywood, standing just 31 inches high? What kind of person would it turn you into?So I had to find out, and even though I had moments where I was just this close to screaming, I am not sorry I did. Cadence Roth has an ego about twice as big as she is, and a large chip on either shoulder. She is fiery, feisty, filthy-mouthed when she has to be, and my gosh she's fun to read! In spite of her many infuriating ways you just can't help loving her and wanting her to succeed. Unfortunately we are not reading a fairytale, this is Hollywood in the real world, and things have a habit of going awry, and I have to say that sometimes Cady does herself no favours.The book is written as a series of diaries. It has moments of laugh out loud fun, some romance, a fast-moving, wittily-told story and a very unexpected ending. I found the book as a whole both moving and thought-provoking, it gives you a very good picture of life at the bottom of the Hollywood ladder. My one wish is that I could obtain it in audio format!

** spoiler alert ** I was rooting for her all the way, I wanted her to get on that stage and sing in front of Hollywood and be seen for who she was. I found the ending sad and a little bitter. Especially the letter from the writer about how he would excise her story. Now, this is how I would have ended it. I'll be brief.Jeff creates a diversion so she can get on stage with Renee, who has her moment in the limelight in front of all the stars she idolizes.Callum (that was his name?) realizes he's been an arsehole and introduces her onto the stage properly, then gets back with Jeff, and comes out of the closet.The director guy, is suitably chastened when she sings her song about him forgetting her. Ditto her agent.She gets her singing career with her guy at the piano. HAPPY ENDING!!That wasn't so hard, was it? I know this story was based on the author's friend Tamara who actually played ET, so there is an element of honoring her memory with the truth. But, the book is not presented that way! All I can say is Gah!

What a delight this was! When one of your favorite authors takes a leap (in this case, out of his familiar Tales of the City neighborhood) and asks us to come along with him as he ventures into new territory, you hold your breath and hope it's going to be okay. This novel was a whole lot more than "okay." It was one of those (rare) novels in which the characters lingered with me for months after I finished it.

This is a wonderful story narrated by a female dwarf actress. I've never read anything that conveys in a believable way what it feels like to be such a person, and in this case does it with humor and with no self pity. The ending was a great surprise and a marvelous critique of the way 'different' people are made uninteresting by Hollywood.

I fell in love with Maupin’s writing through his well known Tales series chronicling the life of Anna Madrigal in the liberal San Francisco. To my knowledge this is one of only two books Maupin has written outside that series which in itself is a real shame. Vastly different to Tales, this novel chronicles the life of Cady, a dwarf struggling to be accepted in 1991 Hollywood. As usual Maupin’s brilliant prose enables him to create a cast of characters that the reader quickly associates as their own close friends. Comical and emotional with a sad yet realistic ending involving Cady’s death at 30 this story is one that challenges us to think outside our own world of normal in order to realise that life, in all its forms, is uniquely valuable. One can only hope Armistead will wrote a few more novels for us yet!

This is a sweet little book, written as journal entries by an actress who is struggling in her career. She was discovered as a young women starring in a record breaking film and now later in life isn't getting any more than small roles. It's poignant and the writer is clever and witty. Just when you want to feel bad for her she reminds you she's strong and confident. She does not get what's due to her yet she demands your respect and doe not want your pity.

I really enjoyed this book. Maupin is brilliant at giving life to different characters, in this case a 30 year old actress with dwarfism. Cady was instantly likeable and her diary entries (though improbably long and detailed) gave a great insight into the world of showbiz and the struggles associated with diminutive height. I was a little disappointed by how the book ended, but it didn’t detract from the great collection of characters and comic events :)

It took me a minute to get into this one, but I ended up loving it. Despite being 30 years old, it felt timely—and like a story I hadn’t heard before. I was lucky enough to pick this one up at a book sale the author threw at his home. Having read all of Maupjn’s “Tales of the City” books, I decided to buy a stand-alone novel of his. I’m glad I did, and I look forward to recommending it in the future.

I found this in a used bookshop and thought "WOW! An Armistead Maupin I haven't read!!" I'm a serious fan of the whole Tales of the Cities series. So I was delighted. Turned out, though, I had read it! But, it was still a wonderful story about Cadence Roth, a dwarf (not a midget, thank you very much) who lives in the big world of hurt and joy and paying bills. She's delightful and so is this book.

Cute and funny! Fictional story of Cady Roth, a 31-inch dwarf who played the lead character in a classic movie only to be forgotten by Hollywood. Can’t get hired on set, so she takes a job working children’s parties and meets Neil who plays piano to her vocals. Great cast of characters and good back story.