The California Book of the Dead

by Tim Farrington

Book Overview

Marlowe and Daa search for a lover and roommate to replace the departed Jackson, while masseur Jack seduces Marlowe's cousin, Sheba, into their world of Buddhist rituals, banana smoothies, and California enlightenment.

This story of an eclectic cast of characters in a house share in San Francisco as they grapple with love and liberation, substance and soul, and where nothing is what it seems.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067151959X
• ISBN13: 9780671519599
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Washington Square Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

worth reading

i recently read this book and i heartily agree with the first reviewer. i couldn't stop reading the book. and as i read more and more i started hating marlowe more and more and i agree that the ending was REALLY ill fitting. i think that the reasoning for this is on the most part that i didn't see why someone would end a loving relationship with someone that was working fine for 10 years and just decide to go off and be with a guy JUST becuase he was a guy no matter how unfit for marriage. it's just stupid. i think that in this day and age people can see a good relationship is a good relationship. and the writer must have gotten confused and panicked or something. HOWEVER the rest of the book is interesting and overall it's not bad. im actually interested in reading more books by the same author simply because of how wonderfully he wrote. i dont think you'll be too disappointed. give it a chance!

One of the best debuts of the year.

This novel has in almost every review I've read been compared to the 'Tales of the City', and I can't quite see why. I love Maupins' series, and enjoyed Tim Farringdons debut also, but it seems that purely because both are set in San Francisco and both tell the story of an eccentric cast of characters they have been lumped together in reviewers minds. Don't get me wrong, you will almost certainly enjoy one if you like the other, but the books are very different in their style and in their execution. The 'Book of the Dead' is a thoughtful and also moving description of the lives of a houseful of friends/lovers/family, and yes it also has parts that are very funny, but don't expect a laugh out loud roller coaster of zany antics. Instead savour the way Farringdon writes about the relationships between his characters, all of whom are searching for something. And his wry, but non-judgemental observations on the New Age/ Alternative lifestyle trap that they fall into along the way. One of the most interesting books I've read recently and highly recommended

Let's call it the Northern California Book of the Dead

I think this book has merit. It is certainly engaging and witty. It reminds me a great deal of The Serial, but updated for the 90's. But make no mistake, this is really a northern California novel--a minor pleasure, but not definitive of CA culture

One of the most interesting novels in recent years...

Sometimes it takes me a long time to finally decide what I want to read, but on a recent trip to the bookstore i was browsing through the new releases and happened upon this novel. The cover is immediately striking and encouraged me to open the cover to read the liner notes. They struck an inner cord as well. I decided to purchase the book. I started reading it and was immediately wrapped up in the story in which Mr. Farrington was telling. His attention to detail and inner struggle amongst the four roomates was captivating. He winds you through these lives as if you were living them yourself. Definitly a must read for those whom are searching for that something they feel is missing in their lives. Mr. Farrington's novel may just open that little void up and let you, if but only for awhile, experience enlightenment on a higher plain..