This is the ninth and final installment in Maupin's Tales of the City series. Mrs. Madrigal, the legendary transgender landlady of 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco, is now 92 years old and frail. She no longer grows her own pot to share with her tenants but uses it medicinal since suffering a stroke. She is being cared for by a devoted caretaker named Jake Greenleaf. Her chosen family, former residents of Barbary Lane, have plotted to give her one last hurrah. She ends up on a road trip with Brian and his new wife, who take her back to Winnemucca, where she grew up living in her mother's brothel. Other "family" members, Michael and his husband Ben, Brian's daughter Shawna, and Mary Ann head for the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The trip to Winnemucca reveals the story of Anna/Andy's youth and the tragedy that caused hir to leave town. Some surprises occur but this is mostly a gentle exit for the woman who wants to "leave like a lady." I'm sorry to see the series end but the author leaves the reader still loving Mrs. Madrigal and his other characters. I must go back and reread the previous books.
I met Armistead Maupin in 1999 at the Gateway Men's Chorus concert 'Music for Michael Mouse: Songs Inspired by 'Tales of the City'." He read excerpts from his novels during the concert. And he was friendly and charming and very gracious to his fans.
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