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92nd out of 409 books
—
477 voters
Family
In this wise, beguiling, beautiful novel set in the era of the Civil War, an award-winning playwright and author paints a haunting portrait of a woman named Always, born a slave, and four generations of her African-American family.
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
December 1st 1991
by Anchor
(first published 1990)
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25th out of 112 books
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50 voters
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Always More
Clora, the granddaughter of a slave and a slaveholder, can no long accept her life as a slave. And, as her mother did, she chooses to escape slavery by committing suicide. Unfortunately, her plan to poison her children failed. They survived and Clora's spirit narrates their story.
Always, Clora's oldest daughter, was darker than her siblings. Sun, her brother, and Peach, her sister, were able to pass for white to escape to a better life. Always endured the misery of slavery.
Despite b...more
Clora, the granddaughter of a slave and a slaveholder, can no long accept her life as a slave. And, as her mother did, she chooses to escape slavery by committing suicide. Unfortunately, her plan to poison her children failed. They survived and Clora's spirit narrates their story.
Always, Clora's oldest daughter, was darker than her siblings. Sun, her brother, and Peach, her sister, were able to pass for white to escape to a better life. Always endured the misery of slavery.
Despite b...more
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Published in 1991, Family is the first novel written by the exceptional short story writer, J. California Cooper. This historical novel begins during the antebellum period when the narrator Clara, who is a slave woman, suffers a tragedy and dies. Her spirit is left on earth to look upon her children, as she follows them throughout their life while they experience cruelty, mistreatment, love, and prosperity. The spiritual being of Clara follows a span of four generations of her family lineage, sp...more
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The story begins with Clora who was born directly into slavery. Her mother commits suicide leaving Clora to fend for herself, who is forced to birth and raise her own children under the same circumstances. She opts to take the same route as her mother, though tries to take her children with her. [Un:]Fortunately the children live, though Clora dies. The story is narrated through Clora and she tells the lives of her children and her children's children through her eyes, her wishes, her desires, h...more
This is the story of my family, and that of every African American family that had to endure such trying times. As I pass though the pages of this brilliantly written book, I thought to myself, how did she know this was me. Time after time we as African American living now forget what they people who struggle before us had to press on in order for us to be here. J California Cooper bring us t the front line, and she doesn't just take there , she walks with you, because what you are about to witn...more
I read this book many years ago. I actually did my final AP English presentation on Family. It is such a rich story. J. California Cooper is at her best a great story teller and this is an example of that. The language is lush and rich and immediately draws you in. Cooper tells the story of slavery through the eyes of a mother watching from above. I think that using this as the point of view was really clever. I think that this book is a great read and a quick read that I would especially recomm...more
I would say the book answered my questions.I always believed Black people were originally BLACK... Black people are so mixed, that's why we come in so many shades of colors... I also believe that some white people with thick curly hair had someone black in their ancestors. I'm not trying to affend anyone, but when you read it, you'llprobably understand why I wrote this. I've been thinking about this so long and reading this book made me put some pieces 2gther... Other than that this book is very...more
I was unaware of this author until it was recommended by local author for Humanities reading. The effects of slavery through multiple generations and those it touched were told throough the eyes of a young slave woman who successfully commited suicide but failed to kill her children in a failed attempt to provide them an escape from abuse and forced servitude. The author provides moments of amusement while dealing with this harsh subject but the darkness penetrates into the readers being.
I had some friends who read the book that had trouble with the dialect, but this book is AMAZING. I think it should be required reading as nothing speaks to slavery like this book. The surprises and twists at the end of the book will not soon be forgotten; I remember them today as clearly as I did when I read the book which was quite a few years ago. I would recommend this book to everyone; it certainly will make you think of race relations in an entirely new way.
A great quick read. A story of triumph and tragedy told from the viewpoint of a ghost. A woman tries to save her children from sharing the same fate as hers, the dehumanizing and cruel life of a slave, and tries to poison her children. Unfortunately, she dies but is stuck in limbo and watches as her children try their best to serve the hardships of slavery and the years following the Civil War.
The book is touching and inspiring and what I really took from this story is that we are all family. We...more
The book is touching and inspiring and what I really took from this story is that we are all family. We...more
This book was recommended by a college professor who wasn't my instructor, but we shared a love for reading. Family was such a great book to read that opened all of your emotions, it made me smile and want to cry for the characters. In the end I was sad when the book ended and would love to have had a follow up book to Family to continue to track the lives of the characters.
A wonderful and poignant read. The story is told by a slave woman who is so distraught at the thought of her children enduring the same hardships as she does tries to poison them and herself but tragically she is the only one who ended up dying. She is stuck in limbo and watches her children grow up and experience life without her
This book has had a very profound effect on me. I have introduced it to many people. It is emotional and gritty and tells a story of struggle and perseverance against all odds (and sometimes failing in the most tragic manners). EXCELLENT story!
Also, I've read it umpteen times and I get emotional just thinking about this book!
Also, I've read it umpteen times and I get emotional just thinking about this book!
If there were more stars J. California Cooper's Family would get all of them from me. Cooper just knows how to take the simplest of scenarios and twist and turn and squeeze it into such an awakening that is embarrassing. And I always welcome the embarrassment of the obvious that she brings in all of her stories.
Cooper's narrative voice speaks directly to me. This was my first and from there I was hooked. Each one of hers deserved a re-read. Good weekend reading, good in line reading but you may lose your place. I am always waiting on her next.
So beautifully written. I love the artistry and imagery in the writing. This book was informitive and sad in many, many ways. The plight of the black woman in southern slavery was heart-wrenching. But I still recommend this book.
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
I can't bring myself to finish my books of earlier years, but when the time is write, I pray I touch readers the way Ms. Cooper did in this novel. There should be one on everyone's shelf.
I can't bring myself to finish my books of earlier years, but when the time is write, I pray I touch readers the way Ms. Cooper did in this novel. There should be one on everyone's shelf.
Story of a slave woman and her “family”, Always, Peaches and Plum. Narrated by Clora, a spirit, mother of Always. Historical, somewhat, decent story.
What I learned:
Choose your children's names wisely.
What I learned:
Choose your children's names wisely.
This book made me angry for all that people have suffered under the hands of folks with more power. But it was well written, with some wonderfully fulfilling plot twists! I finished it in a day.
This teacher is my favroite author! There's no lesson untouched in her work! Get up on her, because she's up there with Morrison, Angelou, Hurston and other Phenomenal writers. Classic, She is!!!
This book is a beautiful story of an african american family. This book is so emotional. This book was one of those books that had me in tears after reading it. Great Read!
EPIC BOOK!!! In the league with the BOOK/MOVIE Roots & The Color Purple!!!! Just when you think you heard everything, BAM! Excellent twists & turns.
I just read this book for one of my classes and it is a sad eye opening book about pre civil war african american slave women. Good but sad.
A great read. I must have read this book quite a few times. Copper takes you right into the story. All get books are very moving.
One of the most powerful books I have read in a long time. It's really easy to read (you can probably finish it one day) but it's the content that got me. Especially unique about this novel is the way in which it is narrated - from the perspective of an African-American mother who is looking down from a sort of limbo on her children who she has left as slaves. She watches them grow up and describes the torture they have to go through as they do. Overall a heartbreaking story about the African-Am...more
This is one of my favorite books. This is a real slavery book. Don't take Django and run with it.
I had to read this book for an African American Lit class and loved it. The story is told from the voice of the mother who was a slave. One night, when everyone else was asleep, she took her kids out to the field behind the house and proceeded to poison them and herself. However, in an ill twist of fate, she is the only one who died so she spent the rest of their lives watching over them, telling each of their stories as the grew and experienced life without her.
This book is a tragic story in ma...more
This book is a tragic story in ma...more
How J. California Cooper became one of my favorite authors, and lead me to read every single book.
This book is so inspirational on how we should look back to our ancestors and their lives.
Read for school but loved. Slavery, interesting point of view that's telling the story
Before (long before) there was "The LOvely Bones" there was this. And better.
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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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