Michael's Secrets

In "On Tuesdays, They Played Mah-Jongg," Milton Stern introduced readers to a quiet, well-mannered young gay man named Michael, who claimed kinship with a quintet of chain-smoking, big-haired, menopausal Jewish women. In "Michael's Secrets," we learn much more about Michael, his life growing up among the women, and the reasons for the choices he makes.

Michael is a screenwriter, whose steady gig with Los Angeles Live ends when the show is cancelled after 18 seasons. As if losing his job wasn't bad enough, a dear octogenarian friend goes belly-up at her birthday party, and his dog dies. At a loss over what to do with himself while he waits for the premiere of the movie that may make or break him, he takes up another friend's offer to co-write a screenplay, and moves to Washington, D.C. for a year.

"Michael's Secrets" is a wonderful book of self-discovery, taking us along with Michael on his journey to understanding himself, and the choices (usually bad ones) that he makes, particularly in his love life. We see more of the fabulous women from Stern's first book, as Stern whips back the covers and exposes the flaws and secrets kept hidden from Michael and us until now.

The wonderful thing about this book is that one needn't have read the first one to enjoy it. From page one we are drawn into Michael's life, rooting for him to finally make the right decisions, holding his hand as he finds out the truth about himself and his family, and aching for him to find happiness.

There are sex scenes in this book, which were missing from its predecessor. Hot and sexy, they serve to add to the book's overall appeal, and give us additional insight to Michael's psyche.
All the lovely - and often hysterical - details and characters we grew to love in "On Tuesdays, They Played Mah-Jongg" are present here in "Michael's Secrets." I highly recommend this well-written, often funny, sometimes sad, and always entertaining book.