Buster Midnight's Cafe

by Sandra Dallas

Book Overview

In this inspired debut novel that reaches from a forgotten rural America to a dazzling Hollywood of the 1940s and '50s, the author spins an unforgettable and moving tale of friendship and shattered... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394576519
• ISBN13: 9780394576510
• Release Date: April 1990
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good all around book!

Great story fro!m a great author! Had me smiling and almost crying. It is nice to read a book once in awhile that leaves you feeling good!

a favorite

I have read The Persian Pickle Club, The Diary of Mattie Spencer and finally Buster Midnight's Cafe. They were all terrific but Buster Midnight's Cafe is my favorite. I laughed and cried and hated for the book to end. Sandra Dallas has written a wonderful book about life-long friendships that grow stonger despite life's hardships. The character Effa Commander writes and reflects back on growing up in the small town of Butte and the different paths taken by those in her group of friends. The support and love they have for one another is unconditional and never ending. A truly enjoyable read!

The Gamut of Emotions and a Whole Lot of Fun

Everyone will love Buster Midnight's Cafe. I found this book while browsing the Contemporary Literature section of a bookstore in Manhattan and was intrigued by both it's title and it's cover. I was so engrossed in the story from the very start that I was regretful each time my train arrived to or from work.Sandra Dallas' use of the vernacular and her unique ability to make us laugh and cry while maintaining the suspense of the story was heartwarming. You will come to love every character in this book for who they are and for the very special relationship they share.Set in a coal mining town, Butte, Montana, beginning at the end of the depression and continuing through WWII, these characters are down to earth, imperfect and lovable. Sandra Dallas has an uncanny way of telling her story and everyone I have recommended this book to has returned to me with thanks for the recommendation and as much love for the story as I had.I read it three times and I'm looking forward to reading it again.You may also want to read Dallas', "The Diary of Mattie Spencer" which I also found compelling. Her, "Persian Pickle Club" failed to hold my attention though. But SIX stars for Buster and Mattie!

We should all have friends as steadfast and true as these

I loved this book and had a terrible time tearing myself away. These three women deal with what life hands them in a "matter of fact" way and then, with the help,love and full support of each other carry on. Friendship, is the essence of this book, undying and everlastng frienship. What a wonderful thing to experience! As they grow old together their lives change in many ways but these women have what it takes to make them happy, themselves. They know that the responsibility of living a full and happy life lies soley on them yet the admirable thing about this is that they seem to have always known this just as they know that friendship is a commitment which they do not take lightly.

May Sandra Dallas write 1,000 more just as enjoyable !

The last book I read this fast was "The Persian Pickle Club," also by Sandra Dallas. I cried, I laughed, I didn't want the story to end. The adventures of "The Unholy Three" would also make an excellent mini-series or a movie (provided that the author had total control). Sandra Dallas has written a brilliant and very emotionally touching book. Perhaps I'm just a very sensitive person, but to me, reading her books are an EXPERIENCE, not just something to pass the time with. By the end I felt like I had grown up with May Anna, Whippy Bird, and Effa Commander. If Butte is even half as interesting as it is in this book, I want to visit!

An excellent book, well paced, easy reading

Sandra Dallas does a wonderful job of engaging the reader in this work, keeps the pace lively yet does not invite you to jump ahead. Set in Butte, MT, the story is about three girls (The Unholy Three) growing up in the hell-roaring days of mining in Montana. The relationships forged become life long friendships, strained and estranged by hard life, war, and death. One of the three becomes a teen prostitute and goes on to movie stardom. The touching account of the lives and relationships between these girls will make you laugh and make you cry. Anyone from Montana or familiar with Butte should enjoy this book. An excellent use of the language from Butte and accurate depictions of the characters. Native to Montana and married to a daughter of the Anaconda company, I gotta say both my wife and I loved this book!