One Stop West of Hinsdale: Love Derailed in a Sixties Suburb

by Valerie Kuhn Reid

"Was mom crazy like you claimed? Or did your drinking drive her mad? For fifty years I've wondered. Who wrecked our happy home?"

So begins one daughter's search for truth as she turns back time and grills her beloved, but long-dead father.

The time is 1960. The place is Clarendon Hills, Illinois, the idyllic Chicago suburb just one train stop west of Hinsdale. Fairy tale families are beginning to crumble in staggering numbers and most of us still want to know why.Armed with the pure eyes of childhood and the clear eyes of age, Reid braves the past, insisting on answers.

In this intimate examination of the demise of a family, rage, adultery, mental illness, alcohol abuse, divorce, and anorexia all play roles, but don't look for shock value or a sob story. It's all too familiar. It might be your story, too.

The deeper themes of love and loss, betrayal and loyalty, despair and hope, understanding and redemption emerge and entwine as Reid examines the consequences of our choices-those we make and those made for us-and how we manage to live with them.

Memoir, mystery, family saga and coming-of-age tale, One Stop West of Hinsdale is also a period piece. Reid tells her story with some flashbacks and fast-forwards, but it is mostly linear in chronology, all the better to illustrate how the turbulent sixties bled into the peaceful fifties, and how people-like it or not- do change over hearts harden, dreams dissolve, minds crack, love leaves. And while Reid's tale speaks with resounding clarity to a certain generation, it will touch the hearts of all who believe that even if love does leave, what we once had is indelible.

309 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2025

Reviews

[Anne Marie Bodrozic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a tough journey of self discovery and reflection form a former Clarendon Hills resident. It was fun to read about what is was like to grow up in CH in the 60s. It was interesting to follow along with the authors journey. It was sad and depressing at times but it ends well!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Clarendon Hills in the 60’s this amazing book brought back many memories. Written so that you don’t want to put it down.

[Audrey Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delight in every way!! A page turner that gave a beautifully crafted account of what a real young woman’s life could be and often was in this era!
So many of us experienced things that were never spoken of, that were never brought to light and often changed us or formed who we became.
I implore every woman over 50 to read these pages and see if you finally don’t feel alone.
Thank you Valerie for your story.
Just beautiful 🩷

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir brings to life a family in crisis. But during this time period, it was frowned upon to talk about this. Divorce was kept a secret and definitely not talked about. Val went through so much during this process and shares it all in this book. She is trying to find answers about her parents history and all the things they went through in the process. With the blessing of her brother and sister she shares all the details of her rocky road to adulthood.

[Bill Grabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Such a vivid account of her wonderful then traumatic childhood, continuing into adulthood. The revelatory way in which she weaves her tale is stunning. So many strands interwoven and tangled between herself, her mother, her dad, her boyfriends, her friends.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting true story of a family in the 60's who lived in the suburbs of Illinois and fell apart. Non-Fiction

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of an ordinary lady from an ordinarily dysfunctional family. But not. -coming back to finish this review later.