If you have seen the classic film or the stage show then most of the story is already quite familiar to you--not a bad thing to say about any adaptation. And I do like the fact that the books has many more adventures with the older Patrick between college and his first few years out in the adult world.

The biggest difference is how really adult the Mame character is around Patrick at any age. Things hinted at in the film--racism, sexism, antisemitism and homophobia are all talked about in much broader strokes and show the worldly view of Mame in a more flattering light.

So why only three stars?

I didn't like the end of the book. It is very much the end of the film/stage show but it is really on the idea that Patrick and Peegan both really don't want their son to be at all like Mame. They really do talk about how they want him to be conservative and normal--which under cuts the point of a character like Mame and make me wonder if Patrick ever saw how much better his life was because of her.

Maybe I am being picky that is certainly how it felt.