Until They Bring the Streetcars Back (Mysteries & Horror)

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Summary: Mr. West, you shine!
Review: I just finished Until They Bring The Streetcars Back which means the tears are still fresh in my eyes. What a wonderful and moving story. This is by far one of the best stories I've ever read. It has everything I look for in a book. The charcters all had depth and personality. I could picture every minute of this story in my head. This is the second book I have read by Mr. West and I cannot say enough great things about this author. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person last winter and he is one of those people that you instantly feel comfortable with. Someone like I picture Cal Gant to be. I am looking forward to reading Amos and re-reading Laura Buggs. I hope to see more from Mr. West in the future. Until then, Streetcars will remain my #1.

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Summary: This is a great book for anyone at any age!
Review: I read this book for an english class- in highschool. My teacher said her classes from the previous semester had loved the book- our class was no different. Most students finished the book ahead of the schedule.
This book is funny and sweet, and tells a simple story. It also has a great message. I would recommend it to almost anyone (and have recommended it to many of my friends as well as my sister who read it and loved it). You should count on not being able to put the book down once you get about half way through it! I just loved this book!

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Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Review: I read this book sophomore year in my English class and now I am 18 and graduated and found myself eager to read it again. I found myself relating to the book and the characters & being unable to put it down. I love Cal's character I related with him in a lot of ways and almost wish he was real and alive now instead of the 50's. Stanley Gordon West did and amazing job bringing the life of a 18 year old boy in the 50's alive. He kept me interested in the story and excited to read and read and read until I was done with the entire book!!! I highly recommend the book "Finding Laura Buggs" it's also another amazing book my Stanley Gordon West!! I met Mr. West not only is he an amazing author, but an great guy!! So to sum up I loved the book. It was such an great book it put me out of words which is hard to do. I connected with the book on a level that I can't explain. I recommend the book highly and strongly believe you'll enjoy it!!!

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Review: I read this book sophomore year in my English class and now I am 18 and graduated and found myself eager to read it again. I found myself relating to the book and the characters & being unable to put it down. I love Cal's character I related with him in a lot of ways and almost wish he was real and alive now instead of the 50's. Stanley Gordon West did and amazing job bringing the life of a 18 year old boy in the 50's alive. He kept me interested in the story and excited to read and read and read until I was done with the entire book!!! I highly recommend the book "Finding Laura Buggs" it's also another amazing book my Stanley Gordon West!! I met Mr. West not only is he an amazing author, but an great guy!! So to sum up I loved the book. It was such an great book it put me out of words which is hard to do. I connected with the book on a level that I can't explain. I recommend the book highly and strongly believe you'll enjoy it!!!

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Summary: Memorable characters make this a great, moving read.
Review: I stumbled across this book while in a bookstore in Minnesota (the author is from Minnesota) and I like to look at local authors in hopes of discovering the odd gem of a book. "Until the Streetcars Come Back" fit the mold exactly. The setting--Calvin Gant is a high-school senior in St. Paul in 1949-50) is nicely off-beat, but what really makes the story go is the conflicting emotions of a young boy who has the usual high school desires (win the big game, get the girl of his dreams to notice him, impress his buddies) and yet realizes, upon meeting a girl who is both an outcast at school and being physically and emotionally abused at home, that he is probably the only one who can help her. It comes down to being the story of a boy who doesn't always know exactly WHAT to do, but recognizes a responsibility when it is thrust upon him and refuses to abandon it no matter how it affects his own life. One of the hallmarks of a good read is that you hate to say goodbye to the characters at book's end, and this was the case here for me. I even re-read parts of the book to "revisit" them. I haven't done that in a long time. A classic? Probably not, but it you want to relive some of the silliness of your high school years and meet a really memorable cast of characters, including a good old-fashioned hero, check this one out

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Summary: Wow! This book blew me away!
Review: The reviewer earlier who said this wasn't a great read just didn't "get it." I'm glad to hear that this novel is being read in English classes, for that's the way word-of-mouth begins and people start reading the book. I can't remember when I have been so moved by a novel. The main character acts in a selfless manner to try to save an abused girl, gets into more and more trouble, and even goes to jail and suffers the guilt of his father's death "over his shame" (at least partially) because he doesn't tell the authorities why he stole what he stole and how he planned to expose the murdering, abusive father of the young girl. In the end, he doesn't even get the girl--he doesn't get any reward at all, other than knowing that his father is looking down from Glory and is proud of him and his actions (the actions of his new life). His life completely changes as a result of trying to do what he sees as the right thing. This book is very moving and the author describes the emotions empathically, without overdoing it. Maybe it's because my father died when I was a teenager, leaving unfinished business, that I empathize so with this character. I recommend that anyone who enjoys a literary-quality novel pick this book up and give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

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Summary: A Gold Standard
Review: This book, along with "Amos," was given to me for Christmas by my sister. She recommended both, but particularly loved "Amos." I read that one first, and was very moved. I compared it to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Next I read this one. I have a bias toward "coming of age" stories, and I was quickly enthralled. By the time I finished, I felt that I had found a new favorite author. I tried to compare it in my mind to other great "coming of age" stories, but no other books seemed deserving enough. Mr. West is clearly a master of helping us recognize the heroism possible among ordinary people. He succeeded with this story in a way that is hard to compare. Future such stories will be measured against this one. Thanks, Sara!

Rating:
Summary: Implausable and Average
Review: While I appreciate many of the critiques here are high-school students and a generally younger audience, I have to say that this book, while entertaining in spots, was hardly the work representative of a literary genius. How it's gotten quite this many excellent reviews is rather puzzling.

I agree with a previous critic who sighted the flatness of some characters, like Cal's mother, father, Jerry...even Gretchen seemed just a conduit to keep the story moving. I was less impressed than most.

Additionally, I thought the metaphors were contrived and obvious (the rabbit, McClauskey's dog), the narrative dialogue unauthentic (not necessarily the words themselves, which are timely, I'm sure, but the stringing together of thoughts) and almost kitschy at times.

Finally, I thought the story, itself, mostly implausible. While Cal's character was likeable enough, I think it highly unrealistic that a boy with such strong parental and personal expectations resting on his shoulders would get involved in something as bizarre as what Gretchen was going through. First, in all likelihood, a boy like that never would have gotten past the first conversation with that spooky girl without 'bombing' out of there permanently. Second, I hardly think he'd risk his high-school graduation, reputation, his job, his criminal record, his life or his one, true love, for a girl whose story was so out-and-out bizarre, it didn't seem real. The most he would have done, out of guilt, no doubt, would have been to go to the counselor to say that Gretchen was talking like a weirdo and may need some help.

On the good side, the book was a quick and painless read (mostly after the first 20 pages), parts were exciting and page-turning and in the end, I wasn't sorry I read it, just not enamored enough to ever recommend it to anyone. If you've lived in the Twin Cities, it helps paint the picture for you. Again agreeing with the other critic, I'm not sure I'd get the scenes and imagery as well if I didn't currently reside in Minneapolis and work in St. Paul. For someone making the Twin Cities an additional character (as he did with the streetcar), I'm disappointed and unfulfilled.

I'd vote you get this book at the library and read it on a flight to and from somewhere. I wouldn't spend a great, rainy day on this. It's movie-of-the-week, not Academy Award.