The folk flavor of her storytelling has earned her constant comparison to Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, but through...
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reviews
Oct 08, 2008
Demetria
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I think J. California Cooper is the kind of writer who you have to love or hate. I happen to love her. Her style of writing is really unique. There's this over-arching spiritual quality to all of her work that is both explicit and implicit. She also has a lot of little nuggets of wisdom and clever literary devices sprinkled throughout her work. Like all great books, you can get something different from her writing every time you read it. "In Search of Satisfaction" has a wonderful cast
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Apr 12, 2011
Christina
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This was the first full novel I read by J. California Cooper. Initially I was disappointed to find that this was not a collection of short stories, but I soon became enthralled with the drama of the Krupt and Befoe families.
These families and the people surrounding them were all in search of some type of satisfaction, and they did not care how they got the satisfaction. These people went out of their way to be devious, sneaky, conniving, mean, and downright hateful. The devil was pr More...
These families and the people surrounding them were all in search of some type of satisfaction, and they did not care how they got the satisfaction. These people went out of their way to be devious, sneaky, conniving, mean, and downright hateful. The devil was pr More...
Mar 18, 2009
Jhunter
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This is the first book I have read by J. California Cooper. Though I found the overall storylines to be compelling and the characters interesting, I found there to be way to many characters, many of which who were only partly developed then quickly discarded. After reading the book I myself was unsatisfied. I find Cooper to be a very eclectic writer in her own right but I'm not sure if I would recommend this book.
Jul 06, 2011
Pattoncox2
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This book is a ten one of my all time favorite books. I read it over twenty years ago and still remember each character. I love the way Ms Cooper weaves a story like a spider making a web intricate and beautiful traps you and you can't get out or let you until she finally releases her grip. It is like she is sitting on your sofa reading to you and you are her only audience. One of the best of her many books.
Sep 05, 2010
Shayla
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All of these characters are looking for satisfaction, which I interpreted as love and independence. But each character seeks this satisfaction through different means, stealing, lying, killing, etc. to get these things.
At times I tired of Satan's role in the novel, and Cooper's attention to small things, like the spider living in the windowsill or the bug in the shack. I suppose she was trying to demonstrate that all living things, including the smallest insect are looking for sati More...
At times I tired of Satan's role in the novel, and Cooper's attention to small things, like the spider living in the windowsill or the bug in the shack. I suppose she was trying to demonstrate that all living things, including the smallest insect are looking for sati More...
Sep 13, 2009
Andi
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Still reading, but the story line is catchy. I really want to see what will happen next to each character. Unfortunately, the downside of J. California Cooper is that she preaches so much...More characers less preaching. Maybe I'll like it more as get further into the book.
Aug 22, 2007
Linda
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i like to come up with my own verbage to review the books i have read but one of the reviews on the book cover said that this book was "unabashedly preachy" and that phrase captures the essence of the book for me. it was an interesting read--lots of death that starts right away to characters that i was immediately fond of. darn, i hate it when that happens but it does capture my attention. lots of satan, satan, satan. overtones of southern baptist swarm my thoughts. some very blac
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Sep 07, 2010
Kamilah
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I just don't think I can take a morality tale so preachy that the typesetting seems to beg for words in all caps and exclamation points. Besides, who knew that the Lord doesn't work in mysterious ways but in ironic ones?
Aug 02, 2009
Latavia
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This book was weird and great all at the same time...lots of incest, love,greed, envy, and lots of sex. The characters were plentiful. I loved the underlying Satan/GOD theme. This book was really good and I would recommend it to others.
Aug 19, 2011
Fleshia
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J. California Cooper is one of the best African American writers that I know of her work is wonderful and all of her books are definitely worth readng.
Aug 02, 2011
Desiree'
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This is my absolute favorite book of all time! This book for me is about getting what you REALLY want out of life. I read this book bi-annually. Cooper rocks!!
Jan 26, 2011
Andrea
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What a sad thing it would've been to miss out on reading this book. I loved it and recommend it to all to read. Everyone can get something from it.
Sep 14, 2011
Elaine
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Fiction.. uhmmm.. What a read!!! takes you right into the pages and shakes up your own conscious. you'll never do anything wrong again.
Dec 20, 2008
Kay
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Clear your schedule for the day because you won't be able to put this one down. A delightfully twisted and wicked little book!
May 07, 2010
Sherry
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Htis book kept you wanting more of the story. I like all of this authors work
Jun 19, 2008
Tori
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THIS BOOK gave me chills. It's one of those books that you cannot put down even though you want to...you feel like you need to ... but you can't. It is disturbing, engaging, infuriating and enticing. I love J. California Cooper because her writing style leaves you haunted -- her stories live on long after you complete her books.
Dec 17, 2009
Scott
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Another great read by Ms. Cooper. It is hard to compare this novel to her Family, but it is just as good!
The characters in this novel are very alive and rich... one becomes vested easily in the story and its path. The two sisters, daughters of a freed slave, have very different backgrounds and are unforgettable.
The characters in this novel are very alive and rich... one becomes vested easily in the story and its path. The two sisters, daughters of a freed slave, have very different backgrounds and are unforgettable.
May 06, 2008
Nkanyezi
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I really love this book, it is one of my favorites. It deals with life from a unique perspective, but as we all know life has universal concepts that everyone must abide by and live by. It is a great read for everyone, but children (of course).
Jan 07, 2008
Lindsey
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Because of my love for the Southern antebellum fiction and non-fiction, I love the writings of J. California Cooper. Not quite as heavy or explicit as Alice Walker, she has a similar more mild writing style.
Oct 04, 2010
Christine
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I've read it 5 times. I wait a few years between each read and each time I learn something new about the characters. Well written; feels like you are actually watching a movie because it is very detailed.
Dec 04, 2011
Kamilah
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I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!
It starts off slow but once it picks up it picks up. I read this book back in the 1990's but the story is great I absolutely recommend it to everyone.
It starts off slow but once it picks up it picks up. I read this book back in the 1990's but the story is great I absolutely recommend it to everyone.
Dec 17, 2009
Arletta
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One of my favorite reads of all times. The first book I read of J. California Coopers and my debut of falling in love with her work. She never disappoints...
