J. California Cooper (1930–2014)

Set in rural Oklahoma, this American family saga spanning four generations is touching, inspiring and bursting with wholesomeness punctuated by misery inflicted on good, kind folks by thoughtless and hurtful people (and, spoiler: justice rarely prevails). It is very well-written, and I would definitely read more by Cooper, but there was a bit too much heartbreak and exploitation for reading this to have been an enjoyable experience.

Some Soul to Keep by J. California Cooper reflects life in several long short stories that are realistic enough to feel voyeuristic while simultaneously feeling symbolic of something larger. Cooper captures the essence of life in a way that pulls the reader into the hearts and minds of her characters with unrelenting tenacity and compassion. She never shies away from the pain people can inflict on one another even as she offers a sense of hope that people can survive and grow and overcome show more the obstacles they face. Some Soul to Keep presents multi-dimensional characters who grab hold of one's beliefs, flips them over, and turns them inside out leaving one questioning life yet somehow feeling like one understands the world just a smidgen better than before one started reading. show less

The Matter is Life by J. California Cooper took me by surprise. I felt off-center as I began to read. Cooper uses language and grammar to give her characters voice and individuality. She writes stories that delve into the dirty aspects of life with an intense and uncomfortable honesty. Cooper writes life without dressing it up in frills and lace. Cooper addresses myriad topics from religion to drug use to family dynamics in this book of short stories. She delves into the way humans interact show more with one another as well as with themselves. She lets life's tatters and tears show. She creates raw and gritty characters in stories that feel all too real. The Matter is Life pushes the reader to think about why life matters and how to better embrace the what matters in life. show less

J. California Cooper should be in the catagory of classic literature. I was entertained along with given a bit to think about. She wrote about love, strength, courage and a whole list of qualities that most authors don't address. I liked how she would introduce the character in the present and then go back in time showing you why that person is the way he or she is. The descriptions and plots with various neighbors made the book move and made me eager to know how things were going to turn show more out. Cooper also provides insightful commentary on the human condition within the socio-political context of a Depression-era America. I thought the way the story was told from the unborn child was very clever. The signature author's characters' names and how they came to be is always as engaging as the story itself like "Eula Too" "Earle Mae" and "Lamont Heavy". If you are a J. California Cooper fan, you have to add this to your collection. show less