Cartoonlike

Armistead Maupin's novels reflect more awareness of, and affection for, the texture of real life than As If After Sex. Maupin's characters may get into cartoonlike adventures, but they are real people. Torchia's characters do drearily familiar things, but they are ghosts.

The gangsters use "dese and dose" accents, the props are cartoonlike (dollar bills the size of legal paper and cardboard cutout guns), and the acting style is distinguished by histrionic poses.