How Long Is Always? by Lenora Mattingly Weber

Katie Rose and Stacy Belford #6

by Lenora Mattingly Weber

A Katie Rose and Stacy Belford Story. In an attempt to find a summer job, Stacy responds to an ad requiring an "unusual" girl. She soon finds herself on a ranch many miles outside of town. Her position as chauffeur to the ranch's owner, Mr. McKibben leads to difficulties. Stacy soon becomes aware of the tension between Mr. McKibben and his unfriendly wife. Softcover edition.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Lenora Mattingly, though born in Missouri, lived most of her life in Denver, Colorado. In 1916 she married Albert Herman Weber and was the mother of six children.

Weber's first book, Wind on the Prairie, was published in 1929. From 1930 through 1962 she wrote short stories for magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, McCall's, and Good Housekeeping. Her last book was published posthumously in 1972.

Lenora Mattingly Weber’s favorite topics included the Denver area, horses, and teenage girls. In 1943 the first Beany Malone book, Meet the Malones, was published. Beany Malone became Weber's most well-known creation, featured in 14 books and appearing as a minor character in the Katie Rose Belford and Stacy Belford series.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in the '70s and things have certainly changed since LMW wrote the first Beany book. There is mention in this of the draft, marijuana (Stacy's little brother thinks a plant she brought home might be it), and Ben won't let his sisters go on a first date alone (remember when Beany goes out with Hank when she barely knows him? Very different). The thing with Mr. Novak also seems like an odd and uncomfortable situation. Still, the general tone of the series continues to be very innocent. However, like some of the previous books, there is some swearing in this one (a d***n or two and several instances of using the Lord’s name carelessly).

This is the first book entirely from Stacy's perspective and she's definitely very different than Beany and Katie Rose. She's a bit more carefree and outgoing than the two previous protagonists. I like all of them, though!

I love the concept of Stacy discovering a love of books:

“She had never realized what ‘losing yourself’ in a book meant. She had never realized before how by opening a book you could be transported from one geographic location to another. Or that printed pages could lift you out of your depressed self” (122).

Oh, and I now want to read that book by Rose Wilder Lane that Stacy read in this.

The thing with Fabian was a bit awkward. I kind of saw it coming, but I still felt a little frustrated that Stacy would be so naïve. But…I also did feel like he was sending her mixed signals, and perhaps being a bit *too* brotherly and caring (e.g., rubbing her back on page 38).

I think it's neat how a lot of Weber's books have plots with history tie-ins. In this book it's a big centennial celebration that seems to take way more time and effort than it should. Honestly, though, the storyline in this book is kind of thin. It wasn't my favorite. But I did like some things about it--like Stacy's reflections near the end of the book about growing up (224-225). It's very much like Mary Fred's philosophy of how we become different versions of ourselves (or something like that). On an unrelated note, usually Weber explains the titles to her books, but this one I don't really get.

[Sps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weber's books are good for expanding my vocabulary of midcentury slang. New terms from this book:

Bottle babe
A female lush.

Bird-dogger/bird-dogging
The very gauche practice of girl out on a date with one dude having a different dude take her home. Not classy. This may have come up in another book--at least the concept--but maybe I missed the term itself. Note that you can resist the charge of bird-dogging when you have to go home with someone else because your original date is trying to force you to be a cuddle bunny, aka hot lips.

The outdated and limiting gender practices around dating sure led to some fascinating terms!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: vic Denver, Colorado
Written in the late 1960s, this is definitely a story of the times.

Stacy had out-grown her days of endless childhood play and was looking for something new and different, and she found it. Her life on a cattle ranch 11 miles from the nearest town, surrounded by people she'd never met, was definitely a change. Weber introduces a wide range of characters (none of them 'evil') and portrays their sometimes thorny relationships.

[Margaret Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nostalgic read. I read as many of Weber's books as I could get my hands on when I was a tween. My copy is a discard from the library of the school where I used to work. Been meaning to re-read this after fifty years, and finally, I did. The best thing about Weber's narrative is her ability to voice the thoughts of her characters. I much prefer Beany Malone and Katie Rose Belford to the subject of this novel, Stacy Belford. Sadly, the plot was too predictable for me.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the Katie Rose/Stacy Belford books, but I still have great affection for it.

[Lisa Kissee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all.Lenora Mattingly books.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique

You never know what to expect and while they are not happily ever after, they learn family is always there and what is important in life.