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62nd out of 84 books
—
188 voters
Finding Laura Buggs (Cal Gant #2)
In this companion novel to Until They Bring The Streetcars Back, Stanley West transports the reader to 1949 Minneapolis/St. Paul-- those memorable days of corner grocery stores, big band music, and filling stations that check the oil and wash the windshield. Against this nostalgic backdrop, West has set his riveting and heartwarming novel, the devastating story of young Sa
...morePaperback, 277 pages
Published
September 1st 1999
by Lexington Marshall Pub
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At first I thought this book was a first time novel. Written in a very easy language and not too deep or difficult. But as I kept reading, I developed a fondness for the young 17 year old narrator growing up in the late 1940's in St. Paul, MN. The same stomping grounds as my mother and I wondered if this was a glimpse into her high school days in St. Paul. I've read other books from this author and I know he likes to drop place names a lot. So, if you're from around here, it's pretty cool. He se...more
Really enjoyed this book that took place in the 1950's in St. Paul, MN. Lot's of references to local streets and landmarks. Another novel by Stanley Gordon West (Amos, to Ride a Dead Horse) he writes from the perspective of a teenage girl who is adopted. The story unfolds during her senior year in high school and how she evolves as a person runs parellel to the plot (which I won't divulge here). It was an easy read, kept me very interested and was much better than I anticipated (all the right in...more
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I find myself reading historical fiction so often that I find it hard to pick up another genre and accept the fact that I might actually like it. This book has been sitting on my shelf for a while and I can only guess that I picked it up at a used book sale due to the engaging cover. I often fall for that trick.
I'm happy to report that the cover was no trick and following young Sandy Meyer on her quest to find her true parents after learning t...more
I find myself reading historical fiction so often that I find it hard to pick up another genre and accept the fact that I might actually like it. This book has been sitting on my shelf for a while and I can only guess that I picked it up at a used book sale due to the engaging cover. I often fall for that trick.
I'm happy to report that the cover was no trick and following young Sandy Meyer on her quest to find her true parents after learning t...more
I am a huge fan of Stanley Gordon West and think I have read all of his books....While this book was not quite a 4 star for me, it was definitley better than 3 stars....narrated by a 17 year old girl who had been adopted when whe was 1 year old and who went looking for her parents. Lots about high school and dating in the 40's and a little too much use of the words "swell" and "nifty" but a really human story and as always West brings a story that will be hard to forget.
This is a coming of age novel by an author I like. (Until They Bring the Streetcars Back) A young girl is told she is adopted and she begins trying to find her birth mother. It goes through a lot of activities that a young woman would not have been able to undertake. Of course she eventually finds her mother but it ends with a lot of incredible and scary situations. I felt let down by the book. Too bad.
The book was mediocre throughout but it was actually very good towards the end. It reminds me of Perks of being a Wallflower. It's hopeful, funny, and realistic (mostly). The difference is that it's creepy, sad, and a bit gross. Oh! It also reminded me of the Five People You Meet in Heaven novel-- but it's definitely scarier and creepier. Very creepy. I like i. It's pretty good.
This is a very quick read, but it is a good story. I loved Until They Bring The Streetcars Back by West, and while this is a simpler book and a quicker read, I enjoyed it very much.
I was very impressed that a man West's age could write a story as told by a teenage girl...and pull it off as he did!
I was very impressed that a man West's age could write a story as told by a teenage girl...and pull it off as he did!
If you haven't read anything by this author, you are really missing out on some great books. This one takes you back to late 40's Minneapolis/St. Paul and tells the story of a young girl trying to find herself and her "real" family.
I really liked this book. It is written with great voice. You can really feel the culture of the time period.
Another great book by Stanley Gordon West. I have loved all of his books.
Another great book by Stanley Gordon West. I have loved all of his books.
Another one I read after the author's book 'Until They Bring the Street Cars Back' This is a follow up book.
Takes place in the Twin Cities. Not sure what year I read it.
Takes place in the Twin Cities. Not sure what year I read it.
Loved this! Really like this author. Felt like I was in 1949- very descriptive. Then it had the added bonus of a mystery to uncover, and I could not put it down.
Loved recognizing many of the street names, the main character lived across the street from my grade school!!! It was a little whacky at the end, but, in general, I really enjoyed the read.
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Story of an adopted girl searching for her biollogical parents in St. Paul/Mpls. Finds mother had been held hostage in a murder.
A mystery, set in St. Paul in the 1950's or late 40's.
A disappointment after the fabulous Blind your ponies.'
This was a fast read that i found interesting from beginning to end. I loved the historical St. Paul references! I look forward to reading more from Stanley West.
fantastic read, fantastic author and local!
A 5 star book from cover to cover
As a Minnesota girl I was happy to get ahold of an author who wrote local. I loved the first novel I read by this author. However Finding Laura Buggs I found disappointing. I just could not warm to the book. I am not sure why the prose was good and the story idea itself was sound. However I struggled with the book. Perhaps because Laura put herself in so many dangerous situations and I just wanted to smack her and say STOP doing that! Or perhaps it was for another reason.
Found this on the Banned Books table at the library. Local author/setting.
Really enjoyed it- especially growing up in the St. Paul area :) I was in suspense for the majority of the book. Nice read.
Enjoyable follow-up/companion to "Until They Bring the Streetcars Back" with some of the same characters and events from that book. It's a little too similar and the story gets to be more than a little farfetched to be as good as that book however.
This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf
After reading West's other book, a good perspective from a different character of events happening at the same time.
The setting of the book is in St. Paul during the street car era. I actually LOL during a few parts. A very good read!
Good story set in mid-century St. Paul, MN with interesting turns--ending was a little disappointing.
EXCELLENT read!! Set in St. Paul, MN in 1950.
Oct 22, 2008
Suzanne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Yes
Recommended to Suzanne by:
Suzanne
One of my favorie books
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| an adult Nancy Drew mystery | 2 | 5 | Nov 27, 2012 11:10am |
Stanley Gordon West was born in 1932 and attended St. Paul Central High School in Minnesota. He lived in Bozeman, Montana for several years, and now resides in Shakopee, MN. All of his novels are popular book club selections: Blind Your Ponies, two other novels set in the same time and place as Until They Bring the Streetcars Back - Finding Laura Buggs and Growing an Inch - and his most recent, Sw...more
More about Stanley Gordon West...
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