Customer Reviews

Until They Bring the Streetcars Back

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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

This was such a dynamic read that I literally could not put it down. Having been raised in the setting of the story initially had me hooked, but the mystery of Gretch the wretch, and the solution to her unfamoble family horror had me turning the pages before I was done reading them. Cal is a hero in the same vein as Atticus Finch, someone who sticks up for rights of the unpopular and different. His selfless acts had me in tears. Not only did I grow up just 3 blocks from him, I also went to Central High, have a sister named Peggy, had a father who drove the streetcars, was born in 1949, and spent a short portion of my youth in the workhouse. I can't recomend this book highly enough!

Stanley Gordon West's Until They Bring the Streetcars Back is like nothing I have ever read before. From start to finish it keeps you guessing and inching to read more. Many novels focus on one hardship or conflict, but this one focuses more in depth towards problems existing beyond what is actually occurring. A young, responsible adult in Calvin Gant must find a light at the end of the tunnel for the help of a friend, Gretchen Lutterman. With his personal life to compensate for, Cal sets all that aside for what seems like a neverending nightmare, but after his deliberate attempts and confidence he helps Gretchen through the good and bad.

This book caught my attention and touched me like no other book has. There are so many lessons to learn from Cal and what is of real importance in life. If you have not read this book I recommend you do so because it will grab your heart and never let go.

Great storytelling! A wonderful,special, lovely book! A friend told me I had to read it and I took his advice. Wow! I read it in two sittings, the last keeping me up past 2 am to finish it. I didn't want it to end. I suggested that my seventeen-year-old son read it--my son who never reads a book. He started it during commercials on TV and then I noticed he wasn't watching TV any longer. He disappeared for two days. I think it was the only two days in his life he hasn't watched TV. Then we debated who loved the book the most. I'm forty-three and I won, I think. He's out looking for other books by Stanley West. While reading "Streetcars" I caught myself laughing out loud and found myself choking up with joy or sorrow. This book goes on a shelf with a few other books I intend to cherish and reread sometime in the future. I wish I could give it ten stars. It touches the deepest human emotions and looks at life with an unblinking eye. I found myself in it; in the characters, people you come to know and love and hate to say good-bye to. I recommend "Streetcars" to everyone. You feel better about yourself and life for having read it.

I thought that Until They Bring the Streetcars Back by Stanley Gordon West was an excellent book. It really opened my eyes to the topic of abuse in the home and made me realize that not only did it happen then, but it still happens today.
West did such a good job of making you become emotionally involved with the characters. Many people say that it was too depressing, but it was just depicting what the pain is really like for some people.
Cal was an excellent character. He gave up so much in his own life to guard and help Gretchen to safety. There aren't too many people out there that would be that willing to give up everything they had just for the better of one person. Cal risked everything he had and while he did so lost the most important thing to him, his father.
I also enjoyed how Until They Bring the Streetcars Back tied in with Growing An Inch. They were both great books and since they were part of a triology and stemmed off from each other, it made it even better. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone.

I really identified with the main character. It was an interesting storyline. It would make a good book club selection.

I started this novel some time ago and then put it down, thinking I knew where it was going. I went back to the book later and found myself more than pleasantly surprised by the plot twists I didn't expect (though some of the story was fairly predictable). In short: once I got about a third of the way into the novel, I was hooked. A very good read. My only real criticism is that the central character is a bit too good to be true. Overall, it's a nice coming-of-age novel and fits in nicely with other books set in Minnesota such as "Grand Opening" and "Hillcrest Journal."

This book goes up as one of my favorites. I felt connected with the characters and think about them a lot- even though I am done reading it. I see Gretchen and Cal and Sandy and Lola in my own school and can learn from their experiences. This book is easy to understand and relate to. It is a very quick read. West is able to translate common looking situations into life lessons. Streetcars is also a funny book that all high school students can relate to.

This book was absolutely amazing and also very touching. There was never a dull moment in the book. Through every chapter it was interesting and tugged at the emotions of the reader. I thouroughly enjoied reading this book and I think Stanley did a wonderful job of writting it. This book is so well laid out that you feel like you are right there watching every action while it is taking place. My favorite part was the runner and finding out he was only having fun with the kids and that he truly enjoied chasing them. AWESOME BOOK WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD READ!!!

I really enjoyed reading Until They Bring the Streetcars Back. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. I really enjoyed the way West kept his readers in suspense, and always kept me wanting to read more. This, like West's other books deals with real life situations, which apply in the world today. To me this is very impressive simply because this book is set in 1949-1950. I am looking forward to reading more of West's books, and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.