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Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns
J. California Cooper’s irresistible collection of new stories explores the universal themes of romance, family, and the hopes that propel people’s dreams. In “As Time Goes By” a young woman singlemindedly pursues material wealth, only to suffer from an empty heart. “Catch a Falling Heart” tells of a slyly arranged marriage, and “The Eye of the Beholder” portrays a plain gi...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
April 10th 2007
by Anchor
(first published April 4th 2006)
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This book was one of my many Border's closing finds. J. California Cooper is one of my favorite short story writers and the best storyteller. Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns is my second J.C.C. book and it is another wisdom filled masterpiece. J.C.C. stories just make you feel like you are sitting down with an old friend catching up over a good cup of coffee.
Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns is a collection of nine short stories. I actually started reading the second story, The Eye of...more
Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns is a collection of nine short stories. I actually started reading the second story, The Eye of...more
What a lovely read!!! This was my first time experiencing J. California Cooper, and I must admit...I am impressed! (Sidenote: the only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because there were a couple of sections that moved rather slowly in pace, but other than the previously mentioned...excellent!) I think I needed this read, I take that back...I know I needed this read, because I am transitioning into the mature stage of "adulthood," where there is no momma lurking about and sta...more
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This was my first time reading a book by J California Cooper and overall it was pretty solid. It was written in a very simple way, though some of the stories were very powerful, moving and relatable. As is the title,"Wild Stars seeking Midnight Suns" which I think means people (who are the wild stars trying to find their way in this complicated labyrinth we call life) trying to find the midnight suns which symbolize dreams, fulfillment, just the stuff that makes life worth living and l...more
I am a fan of Ms. Cooper. I made it through the first two stories, skimmed the next two and finally decided I'd had enough. The the second story had the most potential, but it went on too long and for no good reason. What annoyed me most (well, maybe not most because a lot of things annoyed me about these stories) was the names of the characters. I know, I know nit-picking but Futila Ways? Sorty Kneeds? Arrgghhh!!!
'Some Love, Some Pain, Some Time' was so awesome! I am dumbstruck by this book. A...more
'Some Love, Some Pain, Some Time' was so awesome! I am dumbstruck by this book. A...more
I started reading this book because it showed up on the Goodreads list of a lot of my followers. I was excited because I have never read anything from J. California Cooper before. I'm always eager to try out new authors.
I didn't really care for this book a lot. It was depressing and for a collection of short stories, it took too long for me to finish. The style of writing was a bit too preachy for my tastes. As a Christian, even I don't like to get beat upside the head with religion...more
I didn't really care for this book a lot. It was depressing and for a collection of short stories, it took too long for me to finish. The style of writing was a bit too preachy for my tastes. As a Christian, even I don't like to get beat upside the head with religion...more
In all fairness, I am probably not the target audience for this book. Still, I was hoping to enjoy it and get a sample of Cooper's writing and was pretty disappointed. Though marketed as short stories, they read more like a series of cautionary and morality tales, not-so-subtle nudges for young black women who need to get out of a bad relationship / go to church / have confidence in themselves / not be superficial / etc. Maybe if the message wasn't so blatant I would have been a little more open...more
I am a huge JCC fan but this book wasn't as good as some of her other short stories.
Even so the situations she comes up win are amazing. I agree with he over reader that she is getting a bit preachy these days.
Even so the situations she comes up win are amazing. I agree with he over reader that she is getting a bit preachy these days.
The Black Pearl
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The stories were mediocre at best and many read the same way. My least favorite book by author, J. California Cooper.
I couldn't really get through all of this, but the writing is exceptional. It's just that in a book of short stories, the stories should really be short. The second story while interesting is just way too long and stopped me from completing, but I will go back. Her nove Some People, Some Other Place, started off terribly. I couldn't get through the first few pages. I don't know why the writing had to be so dense and the pace was slow. But she's a major African American literary talent, so ...more
I did not enjoy it as much as her other short stories.
Excellent love story! I've read all Ms. Coopers books!
Too preachy for me. Maybe I should try her earlier work.
My, my, what a truthful book. J. California Cooper is displaying her talent in this book. She has a broad imagination mixed with some eternal truths about this here world we are living in. I invite all to read this book as areminder of some of the things momma taught us.
Read 2 of the short stories. Wasn't feeling it.
As usual, I greta collection.
ClaRity Speaks
added it
One can’t help but to love J. California Cooper and her heavy-handed narrator self in her latest offering of short stories, Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns (2006), told the way your tough but sweet, God-fearin’ auntie would: sometimes graceful, sometimes verbose, often preachy, forever feigning ignorance, but wisdom-wise in true southern doublespeak...Read more at 60secondreview.blogspot.com
It took me a while to read this book. I took a break and read about 9 books in between. It's a collection of short stories each with a life/moral lesson. However, most of the stories were boring. There were a couple of interesting ones, but overall I drudged through reading it. Cooper's writing style was interesting, but I'm not in a rush to pick up another J. California Cooper book.
This is a "reread". I found this book packed in my garage and decided to read it again. Love California Cooper!
If you have read a Cooper book, you will know that you should expect to be entertained and educated. She takes snapshots of lives lived and draw the reader in. Then she helps the read see how the character grows and learns from their life choices. Isn't that what life is all about - living, learning and growing.
I kept waiting for this book to get better, but it never did. Its a collection of short stories meant to talk about love, life, and lost dreams. The writing was choppy, it was difficult to connect with the characters, and the morals were not embedded well enough within the stories. Don't waste your time.
J. California Cooper's Wild Stars & Seeking Midnight Suns is an excellent book to read. If you are hungry for some literary food for the mind and soul, I recommend reading these wonderful collection of short stories. Ms. Cooper will have you laughing and crying while all at the same time. Enjoy!
This is the first time I can say I didn't love, love, love, a book by J California Cooper. I feel irreverent to say it, but the book was just okay, the stories were not too original. As one of her characters said "ooooh Blaspheme."
I did not get this book at the time I read it. The African American Dialect was strong.
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J. California Cooper first found acclaim as a playwright. The author of seventeen plays, she was named Black Playwright of the Year in 1978. It was through her work in the theater that she caught the attention of acclaimed poet and novelist Alice Walker. Encouraged by Walker to turn her popular storytelling skills to fiction, Cooper wrote her first collection of short stories, A Piece of Mine, in ...more
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