Maybe the Moon - Armistead Maupin > Reviews (1)

I’d probably never have read this book if it wasn’t by Armistead Maupin. I’m more of a SF and horror sort of reader, and most reality-based books don’t appeal. Maupin’s ‘Tales of the City’ series though are great reads. Fast moving, quirky and full of humour and sharp observations. ‘Maybe’ is his first post-Tales novel. In some ways it’s a departure, and in some ways it will be familiar to readers of the earlier books.

The setting is Hollywood, and the central character is Cadence Roth. She played a leading character in the second greatest film of all time (after ‘Star Wars’ apparently), ‘Mr Woods’. But nobody knows who she is, the reason being she was never seen on screen or publicly credited. Cadence is a dwarf, and she was the one who wore the rubber suit to play the elf of the film’s title. Ten years on she’s still totally unknown and she considers that her greatest role was playing a horror film monster that appeared in a refrigerator, because at least for that one you actually saw her face… At the time of the book she’s reduced to going to an agent who she considers to be something of a sleaze, since he books circus acts and the like. Being proud, she still makes it quite clear that she will not take part in dwarf throwing. Instead she ends up as part of a group that entertain at kids’ parties. It’s a living, but she never stops hoping for a chance of recognition as an actress.

Her sidekick and housemate is Renee. She is, to put it politely, rather dumb. They’re an odd couple, with Cadence providing the brains and Renee very definitely the brawn. Also, while Cadence is rather bitter over the whole Mr Woods thing, Renee remains the film’s biggest fan. She owns an Mr Woods doll, gets Cady a Mr Woods notebook to write in, and when a Mr Woods ride opens at the public part of the studios, she pretty much nags Cady to take her along. You’d think Cady wouldn’t be able to stand all the reminders, but from Renee somehow she can. She’s annoying, but has that puppy-dog enthusiasm that means that you can’t help loving her. She’s Cady’s one true fan, and it seems Cady can’t resist that, for all her principles!

Other characters include Neil, the boss of Cady’s troupe, and object of desire for both her and Renee, Cady’s gay friend Jeff, and the once-child star of ‘Mr Woods’, now closet gay film star, Callum. And a few agents, neighbours etc…

There’s not a great deal of plot to speak of, and I wouldn’t want to give away what there is. Suffice it to say that the book does build to a climax with Cady getting a chance at recognition in an unexpected way. It also takes in a love story (yep, Cady does get laid!)

The ‘Tales of the City’ were notable in that they were episodic, and originally written in instalments for publication in a newspaper. While ‘Maybe’ is not that episodic, it’s not in standard novel form either. The book takes the form of a diary and as such is also mostly in the first person. Of course this means that things are very much seen from Cady’s point of view.

I don’t want to give away anything, but the final few pages of the book are comments from others on Cady’s diary. They bring a new slant (is Cady as talented as she thinks herself?), which allows you to examine what you’ve read, but also provides a final darkly humorous and horribly true picture of Hollywood.

Like ‘Tales’ gay characters are very much visible. While the three major characters are straight, gay secondary characters provide a chance for Maupin to comment on Hollywood attitudes and hypocrisy, where many actors are gay but whatever you do you don’t let the punters know.

Of course the main ‘different lifestyle’ explored here is Cady’s position as a dwarf. You are never allowed to forget it, and some people may find it feels like having it shoved down their throats. Every time she has to be helped from a car or needs something to stand on it’s noted. A good deal of the book is also taken up with tales from Cady’s past and the indignities she’s faced. Whether ‘Maybe’ accurately reflects what it’s like to be a dwarf I don’t know, you’d have to ask a dwarf. But I feel it gave me some insight, and I do feel Maupin has done his research. I suspect many of the stories in the book are ones told to him by real dwarfs. And some of them are very funny, in a dark way.

But if you don’t identify with Cady as a dwarf I don’t think it really matters. Myself, I identify with her as one of life’s eternal hopefuls, who never quite makes it but keeps on going. You get to know her humour and spirit. You also get to know her (perhaps warranted) disillusionment and depressive moments. She keeps trying but there’s also times she seems to throw away chances, for her principles or for other reasons. I guess some people reading this may want to kick her butt into gear.

Overall the book is character rather than plot based. Don’t expect action. It’s very bitter-sweet, but also has a good portion of humour. It gives a great portrait of Hollywood pretensions and hypocrisy. The central characters are flawed yet sympathetic. It’s slower than The Tales, but ultimately I think more moving. An excellent book with a lot to savour and learn from. I’ve found it’s one that stays in your memory.

My copy is paperback, copyright 1992, 335 pages, cover price £5.99.

ISBN 0-552-99569-X

UPDATE, 03 MAY 2004

While reading this book I did speculate if the ‘Mr Woods’ of the title might relate to any real film. It didn’t take much thinking to come up with the idea that it sounded rather like ‘ET’. I choose not to speculate on that in this review however, as I feel you don’t make that kind of ‘accusation’ without some basis. However since then Ciao! user danielse has put me on to some information relating to this. It seems the character of Cady is indeed inspired by Tamara De Treaux, the woman inside the rubber suit for ET, and a friend of the author’s. If you’d like to read an interview with the author on this, it’s at http://www.literarybent.com/mtm_04_behin​d.html

The interview gives a lot of insight into ‘Maybe’ and it’s relation to Tamara and goes on to Maupin’s own experiences with Hollywood.

I think it’s important to note that Maupin states very clearly that Cady’s story is not Tamara’s, and as such I don’t think anyone should assume too many similarities between other characters in the book and other real life people either. But it’s clear that the book is indeed about things that can and do happen in Hollywood and which have been experienced by Maupin and his friends. ‘Maybe’ is indeed very much reality based. I think you’ll need to read the book first to fully appreciate some of the comments in the interview. But if you haven’t you’ll still find it interesting, and it doesn’t give things away.