by James Considere and Bill Edwards, $14.95; self-published; 93 pages
"Dear Maudine: I thought you would like a note to have when you arrived home from Mexico. You always loved to open mail with those Jungle Red fingernails. Are they still that long?
"I have been invited to Los Angeles to teach ballet, but what if the people don't like me. You know few ballet teachers teach in 5-inch heels."
So begins a typical letter from Millicent to Maude/Maudine in this sparkly little cocktail of a book that will tickle your palate. The letters trace the friendship and adventures of two gay men in the 1950s. Their story is based on a treasure trove of real-life letters accumulated by one of the authors. It is the most delightful cup of correspondence you'll ever see.
The letters begin with the two gay debutantes as they cavort in New York City. Maude moves to Hollywood and Millicent somehow ends up in east Texas. She makes the best of things and gets friendly with a few oil men and cowpokes.
The letters are peppered with references to the pop culture (French dolls, Andrew Geller shoes, rhinestone collars, crinolines) and celebrities of the 50s and earlier times such as Tab Hunter, Hedda Hopper, Anna May Wong, and Charles Laughton, among others. Mindful that their younger readers may not know who some of these bon vivants were, the authors helpfully provide colorful footnotes.
The book is short and so much fun you'll want to read it straight through in one chuckle-filled sitting.