The California Book of the Dead [Paperback]

Tim Farrington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998

In the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, an eclectic and dazzling cast of characters gather in a house share. Burning off their pasts to reinvent themselves in California, here is a lovably unusual and richly drawn group of friends: Marlowe, a political lesbian ripe for a radical life change; Daa, her devoted lover, ever willing to forgive; a stubbornly heterosexual male massage therapist; Sheba, a clueless innocent in paradise; Dante, the gentle troubador who specialises in unrequited romance, and Vic, primed for lessons in love, San Franscisco-style. THE CALIFORNIA BOOK OF THE DEAD follows their lives as they grapple with love and liberation, substance and soul in a landscape where nothing is what it seems. In a land of spiritual soirees, sexual bonding, and pagan and Buddhist ritual gatherings, they play out their destinies as the rude realities of life and death intervene. Tim Farrington's phenomenal debut novel illuminates our times with loving accuracy, unfurling a story both magical and true.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this humorous debut, Farrington draws on his experience of living in ashrams and communes in California in the 1980s to bring readers a 1990s take on hippie life. His authentic dialog and lucid style perfectly suit the idiosyncratic characters, an intimate group of friends and housemates in a rambling San Francisco house, where "crystals dangled everywhere from dental floss." Immersed in their reality of Buddhist rituals, pagan praise to the Goddess, sandlewood candles, beads, and a variety of sexual partnering, they hurt and heal one another in search of spiritual enlightenment yet never take themselves too seriously. Lesbian Marlowe struggles with her art, patient lover Daa, and grief for her friend Jackson, "who slipped away on a wave of peace" surrounded by chanting Buddhist monks. Farrington's fresh use of language lifts this romantic comedy above stereotypical retrohip. Recommended.?Molly Gorman, San Marino, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Farrington's quirky, lovable cast of characters, colorful souls careening around the California landscape, seems to cry out for a miniseries like, say, Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Marlowe, half of a devoted lesbian couple, is an artist obsessively painting a series of mopheads while she grieves the loss of her friend and soul mate, Jackson, to AIDS. Her lover, Daa, a transplant from the Midwest, is a kind of earth mother, ready to forgive almost anything, even Marlowe's unexpected pregnancy by their boarder, a New Age massage therapist who also seduces Marlowe's innocent cousin from the South, who has made her way to Lotus Land in search of spiritual inspiration--etc., etc.--you get the idea. This gentle, affectionately satirical look at the rituals often associated with California and at those who, seeking alternatives in salvation, are drawn to the West Coast, is one enjoyable book. Whitney Scott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067151959X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671519599
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,830,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best debuts of the year., June 12, 1998

By 

Russ ([e-mail]) (London UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The California Book of the Dead (Paperback)

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most interesting novels in recent years..., July 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The California Book of the Dead: A Novel (Hardcover)

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..

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant but not masterful or overwhelming, July 2, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The California Book of the Dead (Paperback)

Having an absolute passion for San Francisco I was thrilled to find this book, and while the read has been relatively enjoyable, this book did not set my world alight.Unfortunately many reviews rave about it, but I can't see why. The characters are stiff and developed as subtly as cardboard cutouts. Plot developments are clumsy and obvious. The writing style is fine, but altogether the book becomes a very bland and superficial interpretation of lives and loves in one of the world's most exciting cities.The book also does not delve into the city - there is little action in the environs which is a real disappointment.Marlowe and Daa also take on a 'token' lesbianism after a while. All the heterosexual characters have sex often but Marlowe just wants men, while Daa, the 'real' lesbian, comes across as underdeveloped as a character and dull to boot.So why did I rate it at all? Because it's gentle and pleasant, because I think the other worldliness and craziness of the spiritual quest in California is well portrayed, and because it helped me to fall asleep each night.