Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime: Stories [Paperback]

J. California Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Whether through her stories or her legendary readings, J. California Cooper has an uncanny ability to reach out to readers like an old and dear friend.  Her characters are plain-spoken and direct: simple people for whom life, despite its ever-present struggles, is always worth the journey.

In Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime, Cooper's characteristic themes of romance, heartbreak, struggle and faith resonate.  We meet Darlin, a self-proclaimed femme fatale who uses her wiles to try to find a husband; MLee, whose life seems to be coming to an end at the age of forty until she decides to set out and see if she can make a new life for herself; Kissy and Buddy, both trying and failing to find them until they finally meet each other; and Aberdeen, whose daughter Uniqua shows her how to educate herself and move up in the world.

These characters and others offer inspiration, laughter, instruction and pure enjoyment in what is one of J. California Cooper's finest story collections.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cooper's latest collection of life-affirming stories focuses on women who are attempting to balance their lives.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Strongly, deliberately reminiscent of conversations over backyard fences, Cooper's genial, heartful new stories feature poor to middle-class black women reflecting on friends and neighbors much like themselves. The signature first-person monologs tell of women's perseverance in the face of economic and emotional hardship, both usually caused by fickle, selfish men, and of the recurrent?and sometimes fruitful?search for real love. A consistently natural vernacular enlivens these tales; readers familiar with black talk or with Cooper's other works, e.g., In Search of Satisfaction (LJ 9/1/94), will enjoy the engaging, comfortable rhythms and speech patterns. That most of these stories are little differentiated from one another in either form or content may frustrate nonfans, but most public libraries should acquire this winning if repetitive collection by a well-regarded author.?Janet Ingraham, Worthington P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 1st Anchor Pbk. Ed edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385467885
• ISBN-13: 978-0385467889
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J. California Cooper was honored as Black Playwright of the Year, and has received the American Book Award, the James Baldwin Writing Award, and the Literary Lion Award from the American Library Association. She lives in California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL, February 16, 2000

By 

Jackie Giddens (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime: Stories (Paperback)

I cannot express the feeling of satisfaction I got after having read this book. It was recommended in my Book Club and we all throughly enjoyed it. J. California Cooper is truely an inspirational writer that tells her stories with words like no othe writer of this time. I thank you J. California Cooper.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Compilation of Life/Love Stories, March 28, 1998

By 

Debra P. Johnson "digital diva" (Albany, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime: Stories (Paperback)

I read J. California Cooper's In Search of Satisfaction. I enjoyed it so I now read everything that she writes. This book helps those who have become disillusioned with life and love. She shows examples of what can happen in the name of love and because of love. She colors the reality of love by showing human weakness and strengths. Sometimes we need a reality check and Copper has contributed this to all who are interested.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the brokenhearted, May 13, 2003

By 

"amorel7" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Some Love, Some Pain, Sometime: Stories (Paperback)

I recently went through a traumatic breakup and was wading between feeling sorry for myself, and viewing it as a way to improve upon myself. I've taken a positive outlook but once that familiar demon of loneliness sets in it often leads to trouble. Cooper's book not only helped me to maintain my positive perspective, but the stories of these woman, in the language of my family and my ancestors, helped me to heal and forgive myself. There is a theme that runs through each gem of a story that says "No matter how bad things get you have to keep moving, keep trying, keep loving." These stories give me hope and keep me company, and they teach lessons of love that only experience and wisdom can tell. This is the first book of Cooper's that I have read and anyone that is revered by Alice Walker and Ntozake Shange was worth a look. I am officially a fan.