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Beach Reading #5
Wedding Season
When San Francisco's cattiest television personality Rosa Rivera sponsors a gay wedding contest, Tim Snow's boyfriend begins pressuring him to get hitched. Life for his friends in the Castro becomes comic and chaotic as the lavish ceremony is promised to be held at the restaurant where Tim works. Meanwhile, his beloved Aunt Ruth has been harboring a homeless woman. Is she protecting her nephew from some family secret? As the city's golden boys walk about shirtless in dapper collar n' cuffs with the annual Gay Pride Parade, the drama and the laughs intensify. Will Rosa's meltdown bring the parade to a standstill? Who is being sent to a ritzy detox center? Only San Francisco Chronicle best-selling author Mark Abramson could tell such a captivating story with its shares of both delight and intrigue.
252 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2011
About the author
Mark Abramson
35 books38 followersMark Abramson was a bartender and producer of events such as "Pier Pressure" and "Men Behind Bars" before writing the "Beach Reading" series set in San Francisco's Castro District. He is also working on a memoir called "Castro Street Diaries." "
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 29, 2011
I read the five books (to date) in Mark Abramson's BEACH READING series back-to-back. Because of this, even though each volume has its own story/plotlines, it is hard for me to differentiate between the books; I experienced them as one longer narrative. Each volume furthers the stories of the lives of a group of friends who work at Arts, a fictional restaurant in San Francisco's Castro district. The focus is on Tim Snow, the somewhat psychic waiter from Minnesota, and his beloved Aunt Ruth, but in each novel the reader learns more about the other characters as well. The series (and first book) title, BEACH READING, indicates a light read, perfect for the beach in summer. Therefore I was not looking for heavy duty serious literature, but rather for an engrossing, fun read, and the series does not disappoint. That being said, the fifth book, WEDDING SEASON, is a leap forward in every way. The story and the relationships deepen, the characters' back-stories and histories continue to be fleshed out. We learn more about Tim's childhood, and I was glad that several of the other characters, especially Artie, co-owner of Arts, got to take center stage at times as well. The writing itself is more (for lack of a better word) literary. It is still fun and accessible, but the world that Abramson has created becomes richer, more three-dimensional, and a little darker. It is (again for lack of a better word) the sexiest entry in the series. The imagery is very detailed and specific and evocative without being self-conscious or distracting.
In WEDDING SEASON Tim's psychic powers are also getting stronger. In previous volumes, his powers were generally limited to cryptic dreams that may or may not have significance, which I appreciated because it kept the novels grounded in reality. In WEDDING SEASON, the dreams are more vivid, and their meanings (or suggestions) are becoming clearer. There is still ambiguity, however, in an interesting parallel between Tim's psychic abilities and his HIV meds. His dreams and visions could be explained away as drug-induced dreams, reactions to the medications, though they began before Tim was on the meds, and his grandmother had experienced the same sort of dreams, so there is a case for a hereditary connection. I appreciate the subtle way Abramson makes these connections, leaving the reader to decide for himself without feeling manipulated by the author (even if he IS being manipulated).
Writing this review is making me eager for CALIFORNIA DREAMERS, the next novel in the series, scheduled to be released in June 2012. A new reader can pick up the series with any installment, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning and reading the books in order.
In WEDDING SEASON Tim's psychic powers are also getting stronger. In previous volumes, his powers were generally limited to cryptic dreams that may or may not have significance, which I appreciated because it kept the novels grounded in reality. In WEDDING SEASON, the dreams are more vivid, and their meanings (or suggestions) are becoming clearer. There is still ambiguity, however, in an interesting parallel between Tim's psychic abilities and his HIV meds. His dreams and visions could be explained away as drug-induced dreams, reactions to the medications, though they began before Tim was on the meds, and his grandmother had experienced the same sort of dreams, so there is a case for a hereditary connection. I appreciate the subtle way Abramson makes these connections, leaving the reader to decide for himself without feeling manipulated by the author (even if he IS being manipulated).
Writing this review is making me eager for CALIFORNIA DREAMERS, the next novel in the series, scheduled to be released in June 2012. A new reader can pick up the series with any installment, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning and reading the books in order.
June 7, 2012
After reading a couple of heavyweight book, it was nice to visit with the gang from Arts. Instead of the usual murder, Tim's hate filled, bible thumping drunk of a mother shows up at Ruth's house. Tim's dreams kick into high but he cannot figure out why until Ruth opens up. I enjoyed the wedding contest at Arts and all the crazy drama that Rosa Rivera brought with it. Changes are taking place with Tim, Nick, Sam and Ruth but it feels like some of the things that hold the "family" together will never change. San Francisco just seems like a magical place. I'll visit again soon.
August 11, 2018
The boys were at it again! Love these Castro-based stories.
May 5, 2011
If you've read the previous Beach Reading series, you'll love that all the colorful characters are back; Ruth & Sam are getting married, Tim and Nick are comtemplating marriage - but, guess who's coming to town, uninvited, of course....Tim's mother! Wedding Season was a nice, pleasant read though I missed having a dead body or two for Tim or Ruth to trip over....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2011
The fifth book in the Beach Reading series, Wedding Season continues the escapades of Tim Snow and his band of merry men. All of the A-List characters are on board, and in this episode we find Tim dealing with a lot of personal issues; marriage, his increasing psychic powers, doubts about his relationship with Nick, and a myriad of other subjects. While I enjoyed this addition to the series, I thought that it lacked a clear focus. I like Mr. Abramson's writing, it's clear, clean, and conveys a sense of life in the Castro. I look forward to the next installment in the series.
I give Wedding Season three stars.
September 9, 2011
Wedding Season is my least favorite of the Beach Reading series. I miss the stubble upon dead bodies, life threatening danger, and mystery I’m used to in the previous four fantastic books. For me, this is a more light-hearted, less serious, fun kind of drama read.
Both Tim and his Aunt Ruth struggle with getting married. Aunt Ruth is uncomfortable being the lady of the house, and Tim is not ready to be committed to one man for the rest of his life.
Artie is going overboard when he finds out that the newest TV personality Rosa Rivera is doing a show in their restaurant Art’s. She’s doing a series on weddings and this book is full of her bitchy misadventures as she uses her put-on Italian to put on a show that is over the top and all about her.
The biggest question is will Tim and his boyfriend tie the knot?
Both Tim and his Aunt Ruth struggle with getting married. Aunt Ruth is uncomfortable being the lady of the house, and Tim is not ready to be committed to one man for the rest of his life.
Artie is going overboard when he finds out that the newest TV personality Rosa Rivera is doing a show in their restaurant Art’s. She’s doing a series on weddings and this book is full of her bitchy misadventures as she uses her put-on Italian to put on a show that is over the top and all about her.
The biggest question is will Tim and his boyfriend tie the knot?
December 3, 2011
Wedding Season is my least favorite of the Beach Reading series. I miss the stumbling upon dead bodies, life threatening danger, and mystery I’m used to in the previous four books. For me, this is a more light-hearted, less serious, fun kind of drama read.
Both Tim and his Aunt Ruth struggle with getting married. Aunt Ruth is uncomfortable being the lady of the house, and Tim is not ready to be committed to one man for the rest of his life.
Artie is going overboard when he finds out that the newest TV personality Rosa Rivera is doing a show in their restaurant Art’s. She’s doing a series on weddings and this book is full of her bitchy misadventures as she uses her put-on Italian to put on a show that is over the top and all about her.
The biggest question is will Tim and his boyfriend tie the knot?
Both Tim and his Aunt Ruth struggle with getting married. Aunt Ruth is uncomfortable being the lady of the house, and Tim is not ready to be committed to one man for the rest of his life.
Artie is going overboard when he finds out that the newest TV personality Rosa Rivera is doing a show in their restaurant Art’s. She’s doing a series on weddings and this book is full of her bitchy misadventures as she uses her put-on Italian to put on a show that is over the top and all about her.
The biggest question is will Tim and his boyfriend tie the knot?
January 12, 2013
Well it was greast meeting up with the characters from this brilliant series of books but I would say that this was completely different to the previous books - this being more of a "kitchen sink drama". No mysteries as such probably a stepping stone to set up the next book(s) in the series.
The story concerns a new character Rosa Rivera who is making a series for television about weddings in San Francisco and included an episode from Arts of a gay couple getting married. Otherwise Ruth marries Sam and Adam gets married and the question of Tim marrying Nick comes up. Otherwise Tim's mother turns up Tim's former apartment block - end of story.
Nice read and nice to be in the company of old friends but somewhat unsatisfying.
3.5 stars
The story concerns a new character Rosa Rivera who is making a series for television about weddings in San Francisco and included an episode from Arts of a gay couple getting married. Otherwise Ruth marries Sam and Adam gets married and the question of Tim marrying Nick comes up. Otherwise Tim's mother turns up Tim's former apartment block - end of story.
Nice read and nice to be in the company of old friends but somewhat unsatisfying.
3.5 stars
January 25, 2014
It was great to get back into the lives of Tim, Nick, and the rest of the gang at Arts. I had expected more of a mystery based on the preceding books, but was not disappointed either. The way Ruth engineered getting her sister out of Tim's life was priceless. After her 'exposure' to the community I doubt that she would ever consider coming back to San Francisco. A really wonderful read.
November 27, 2013
I thought of so many ways this story could go wring when I read the synopsis...I should have known with his track record the author would make this yet another surprising character drama and mystery of excellence.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews