Customer Reviews

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns: Stories

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns by J. California Cooper is a series of short stories. In Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns, Cooper weaves ten tales, wrapped in wisdom, offering the reader food for thought. From the caterpillar that turns into a butterfly, to the woman that thinks she's a butterfly only to find out good looks does not necessarily guarantee a life without loneliness, Cooper delivers.

As I read each story I savored each page. I was reminded of times when I used to sit on my grandmother's porch listening to aunts and uncles tell tales of wisdom and adventures long gone. I have always been a Cooper fan and have anxiously awaited this novel. True to form, Cooper did not disappoint.

If you enjoy short stories offering a little bit of insight to life's dilemmas, Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns will not disappoint.

T. RHYTHM KNIGHT

APOOO BookClub

WILD STARS SEEKING MIDNIGHT SUNS is a collection of short stories by J. California Cooper. The stories are diverse, but each feature female main characters and highlight issues they encounter in everyday life. In "As Time Goes By" two very different sisters, Futila and Willa Ways, are introduced. Futilla's big goal in life is to find a good man and marry well; she isn't interested in education or bettering herself. Her sister Willa on the other hand is hardworking and aspires to attend college no matter what it takes. As the story develops we see how the two sisters change over time and how their lives evolve. Along the way, the author demonstrates lessons on perserverance, and the true meaning of happiness. "The Eye of the Beholder" tells the story of Lily Bea Kneeds, the youngest and least attractive daughter in a large family. Lily Bea grows up being constantly reminded that she is "less than" her siblings, and she carries the emotional scars from that well into adulthood. Cooper uses this character to teach important lessons about self-respect and love. In "Oysters and Pearls" Latesha is a woman who figures she can use her sexuality to get whatever she wants in life, but does she want the right things? Eventually it becomes clear that Latesha will get a lot more than she bargained for. There are too many other stories to list in detail, but they cover a wide variety of topics including sexually transmitted diseases, alcoholism, religion, and politics, but most importantly they all address personal growth.

J. California Cooper has established a legacy for herself as a literary force who has a reputation for creating timeless stories that carry powerful messages. WILD STARS SEEKING MIDNIGHT SUNS is another fine example of this legacy. Each of the stories in this collection have a poignant simplicity that lingers with you while addressing social issues and such themes as womanhood, self-respect, love, freedom, and the meaning of life. Cooper's use of symbolism and metaphor showcase not only her wit and humor, but also her mastery of the writing craft; attentive readers will soon realize that even the names of some of the characters are important. WILD STARS SEEKING MIDNIGHT SUNS is a book that can be analyzed, debated, and even explicated, but at the end of the day, it is the down-home conversational style that stays with you.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I am a huge fan of Ms. Cooper and have read all of her books. This one I found unique because she gets into the stories and does not always draw a straight conclusion for you. I found that it left you with food for thought, deep penetrating thought. My experience from reading her books is she lays out the story line and you form relationship with the characters. This book does not allow to much time for that. Sometimes everything can't be laid out for us and we have to sit back and ponder on life, choices and the future. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy going beneath the surface and looking within yourself for some answers about life and maybe questioning some choices you made. Some of the reviews have stated where is the rest? I believe the rest is up to you.

I've read all of Cooper's previous books, and have noticed that in the last few years (and volumes), the author has gotten really preachy. Her earlier work is more nuanced and occasionally contains the element of surprise, but now even her characters' names hit you like a mallet: the Bsurds are absurd--we get it, Ms. Cooper.

We get it all. We get it that education and hard work are important, love and God are what life is all about, and sleeping around leads to pregnancy and AIDS. Some people who go to church get drunk and high and engage in orgies when under the influence of alcohol and drugs. We even get it that conservative politicians who claim to embrace Jesus sure hope he's a liberal when it comes to their sins.

We get it. Perhaps there are too many people in the real world who don't, but don't take that out on your readers, who love you for your wit and your wisdom and your understanding of the human condition. Surprise us, don't spell it out for us and then hit us over the head with the letters.

J. California Cooper has written a collection of stories that carry the theme of love and success with a strong dose of morality. All the protagonists are women who are seeking lives of prosperity and passion but in all the wrong places.

The book opens with "As Time Goes By," told in third person (I assume Ms. Cooper is the narrator) which is a story about a girl named Futila Ways. Yes, the name suggests a hardheaded young lady whose mentality is that of a sloth. Her sister, Willa Ways, finds an interest in botany as a child and pursues her interest as adult by earning a Ph.D. suggesting a willingness to learn new things and to apply her intellect that resulted in a successful career and marriage. Unlike the irony in The Wake of the Wind there are no surprising outcomes.

"The Eye of the Beholder," is a more substantial effort and the longest story in the book. This story has more depth as a homely little girl (Lily Bea) matures into a poised and desirable business woman; respected and successful despite a lifetime of rejection and humiliation she endured from her mother and siblings. She does pay a hefty price but I get the impression that Ms. Cooper considers this paid price as a stroke of good fortune.

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns is a collection of Cinderella stories that results in either unhappy and/or unresolved endings. In the stories I mentioned previously, I took exception to the fact that the success of the two heroines was dependent upon white people. Granted, white people are no more or no less members of the human family, but the supernatural occurrence of white people changing the course of the lives of the women in these two stories is exasperating. One woman pursues her education with the assistance her white friend and classmate, but I did not find this to be as insulting as the heroine in "Eye of the Beholder" who became no more than a "concubine" for a wealthy white man to find her success.

I think the Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns would be very dynamic presented as oral stories to young women with guided discussion. In these current times, many women find themselves setting superficial requirements as prerequisites for entering relationships that turn out to be dysfunctional. This collection of stories addresses issues of self-esteem illustrating the consequences of unprotected sex, the perception of inner versus outer beauty, the importance of education, narcissism and promiscuity, and last but not least, the insignificance of wealth and education without love and spirituality.

I recommend this book to young adult women (14 - 21) but if you are looking for the adventures found in some of Ms. Cooper's previous works, you may be disappointed.

J. California Cooper has a lot to say, and knows how to say it very well. Those of us who followed her career know this well, seeing her as a very talented writer. This time though her messages come across, just with the skill of a high school or novice writer, afraid to let their characters speak for themselves. Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns, is a collection of stories that fails not so much on poor content but on flawed execution. Characters are half developed, dialogues, especially in SUCCESS is stitled and unbelievable, the narrative voice needs editing for flow and readability, and the heavy handed, didactic tone of the stories left this reader slogging to finish the stories. The tacked on feeling of the endings, didnt really bother me, but I had to get through to them and this was hard.

This feels to this reader like a book put out to satisfy a contractual obligation to a publisher.

Not at all bad, but not at all good either-If I could give it 2 and a half stars I would.

I have read ALL of Ms. Coopers books however, this book for some reason I could not get into....I have to agree with some of the other review as to her ending stories abruptly. I will continue to read Ms.Coopers books because I know she is an excellent author and she will always have my support. My overview of this book is "something was missing"

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories

As a biblophile, I've been longing for a novel, novella or book of short stories that was so good, engaging and enlightening that I'd want to carry it around with me. A fiction book I would long for so much that I couldn't wait until lunch breaks (when I should really be power napping!) and reach for when I put both of my feet in my sleepers in the morning so I could steal a few pages while my raspberry tea steeped.

Oh my. Yes! Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories is that kinda book of short stories.

I've always been a J. California Cooper fan -- mostly because I buy her books for my Mom who enjoys her work even more than me (if that's possible!). Because of the nature of my business, I was going to pass on Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories in lieu of reading required books, when it was insisted (and I do mean insisted!) that I stop, drop and roll onto my nearest chaise lounge and get to reading. My oh my am I glad I heeded that advice. It took me two days to finish a BOOK of short stories. Go figure! It was so engrossing, all time was suspended (and so was my work flow).

I loved Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories -- what some readers may have found preachy, I found refreshing and thought-provoking. It's not a drama, shock value novel. If that's what you are used to, be prepared for something special and different and wonderful. (Thanks, Jill Scott!)

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories is filled with wisdom and moral dilemmas for every possible situation. I can understand what J. Calfornia means about the state of the world, and further when she implores readers through the stories to THINK! Stop and think is what cries from the heart of each stories narrator and main character. Every decision really does change our life--for the better or worse. Think! cries the stories of this book.

I won't go deeply into each short story because I want you to have something to look forward to when you read Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories. This is a book you truly want to own and enjoy--and in doing so, it will make you think and inspire you to make decisions in love, romance, career, etc that aligns with what you deserve. Don't settle; in life and in your reading choices. Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns : Stories is one to own. Don't miss it!

Happy reading!

Reviewed by Marina Woods for GoodGirlBookClubOnline & The Good Girl Book Club Worldwide

This book is HORRIBLE as someone previously mention the stories do in fact end abruptly!!! And by the way there are only 3 short stories in this book, that's right 3. I didn't know that when I brought the book and if I would have read the jacket cover I guess I could have figured it out, but I look in the book and did notice that one side of the page has her name and the other side of the page has the title of the book. I've been waiting and waiting for her to come out with another books with short stories and this is what I got? I feel like a kid whom all they wanted for Christmas was a new bike and they got socks!!! This book is so far removed from any of her other short stories I have to wonder if someone is pulling a V.C Andrews on me. (V.C Andrews is an author who has since died but someone is still cranking out her books-there not as good as when she was alive) There are no happy ending because guess what, there are no endings. Huhh you say how can you write a short story and have no ending well I have to tell you some how she managed. Keep in mind this review is coming from a very disappointed fan!! Maybe after writing so many novels she forgot how to write a short story. Where's the life lesson most of her characters experience? Where's the man did me wrong but in the end he got done wrong? Wheres the -I was blind but now I see moments in this book? Where's J. California Cooper?

Let me clarify one thing this book does have a couple of short stories BUT only 3 seem almost complete and even thoose 3 are not worth reading, because as I said no real character development and the stories do end abruptly. If your a fan and think well I just want to have all her books anyways, wait until it comes out in paper back!! Go to the library and read it, but please be smarter than me and don't buy this hard cover.

I have read almost all of Ms. Cooper's books, however this book left me longing for more. This is not her best work. Don't let this book deceive you . . . she is a excellent writer. Try

"In Search of Satisfaction" instead of this one.