Buster Midnight's Cafe

First off, where does Ms. Dallas come up with the names for her characters?? Very fun! This book was a curious mixture of tears and laughter and hard living and love. Beginning during the Prohibition and ending sometime after World War II, this novel follows the lives of three friends. But don't think this is some sappy friendship novel. This story is all about loyalty and choices and there isn't anything all 'warm and fuzzy' about this story - it is too real and gritty, but without being gratuitous just to make you want to read. Ms. Dallas has a real gift for telling stories that have a twist, that are populated with people you really want to know, and that deal with real emotion. Great book.

WHY do my friends like sappy books? (Or why do I have such a low tolerance for sentiment?) This is Norman Rockwell writ large: a hooker with a heart of gold, a vet with one leg, a sad infant death, a lace of anti-Catholicism to add some edge and lots of getting drunk for fun. The language is cutesy. Sigh. I read it because (a)my friend gave it to me and (b) it was set in Butte but I kept going because (a) the author had an intriguing style of plot uncovering. A surprise sentence always preceded the action. So, for example, "Whippy Bird claimed that she was the one who turned Buster McNight into a fighter."(p.17) One doesn't hear about Buster becoming a fighter for several more chapters. Almost every detail is teased this way. (b) I kept show more going to figure out what really happened, "the truth." So: if you read the book: what do you think the truth was? I'd be interested in hearing. The core of this story was not sap. It is that question, and that's why I finished the book. show less

Buster’s Midnight Cafe is the fictional reminiscences about three girls who grew up together in Butte Montana. The book opens in the years between the wars as the girls, Whippy Bird, Effa Commander and May Anna Kovicks are sharing their childhood adventures with each other. Alongside the girls, some young boys, such as Toney, Buster, Pink and Chick, join in the friendship and fun. This group grows up together and remains close. Two of the girls, Effa and Whippy Bird remain in Butte but May Anna, after a spell as a prostitute goes to Hollywood and becomes a famous actress.

Buster is totally devoted to May Anna Kovicks who changes her name to Marion Street. He in turn becomes a boxing champion but is always ready to drop everything and show more rush to May Anna’s side. The story covers war, fame, love, marriage and heartbreak throughout the years, but the Hollywood scandal, murder and betrayal that occurs changes everything.

Buster’s Midnight Cafe is Sandra Dallas first novel and through it we can see the stylist that she will become. Her characters are original and she draws her readers into this story of enduring friendships and small town flavour effortlessly. I am a fan of this author and enjoyed this trip back to see where it all started. show less

This is my second Sandra Dallas novel, this first being Prayers for Sale, and I have to say I’m really loving her. It took my a chapter or two to get the hang of the voice of each book but once I did, I was hooked.

Set in a place and time I really don’t know much about I really got a feel of the hard scrabble life these girls lead and how it bonded them to one and other and the men in their lives. I love what this story had to say about friendship and loving your friends not matter how unlovable, at times, they may be. About being there to answer a call for help no matter how much time a slipped away from you.

Effie Commander and Whippy Bird are two women you want to have as your friend because you know they have your back. And Effie show more tells May Anna’s story the way a no brass tacks, true friend would, warts and all. There are people who saw the hard side of life but still lived a good life filled with love and caring.

I love when an author can tell a wonderful story filled with great characters, depth of feeling, and all the adventures of ordinary and extraordinary lives without a lot of bells and whistles, without a ton of fanfare but when your done you really feel like you’ve experienced something rather grand.

I was very lucky in 2011 to discover a whole slew of authors new to me who have a whole, big, back catalog for me to discover. Sandra Dallas is high on that list. Right now I have The Bride’s House and Whiter than Snow waiting for me to read and I honestly can’t wait to dive in. show less

This leisurely novel takes a look at a childhood friendship that ends up spanning decades and reaching halfway across the continent as a group of youngsters from Butte, Montana grow up in the 1930s and maintain that friendship for the rest of their lives.

Dallas, as usual, finds the magic in the everyday lives of her characters as she follows them through childhood squabbles, growing up too fast, finding love and heartbreak, and always being able to depend on their interwoven relationships for comfort and support. Ultimately, the story is about love and loyalty and betrayal as unexpected fame and the sacrifices of World War II change their lives forever.

This is Dallas's first novel, and already I see her gift for creating characters that leap off the page and into your heart. Effa Commander, Whippy Bird and May Anna (a/k/a/ Marion Strut) are vividly drawn. And, of course, there is a murder, and conflicting confessions for the reader to sort through.

BUSTER MIDNIGHT’S CAFÉ by Sandra Dallas
I just finished reading this very early book written by a very good author. If Dallas were writing it today, it would be a better book. This one drags in places, gives us information we don’t need and glosses over information we do need. The ending is a bit ambiguous also.
On the other hand this is a good book with interesting, believable characters. The story is true to the time setting, including some of the brands and slang words used. She uses humor to enliven what could be a very dreary story. There are enough twists and turns to keep you reading through the “draggy” parts. As she does in THE PERSIAN PICKLE CLUB, the “plot” doesn’t become obvious until near the end of the book. show more That device works better five years later in PERSIAN PICKLE. It is interesting to see her try it out here.
3 of 5 stars show less