In Search of Satisfaction

by J. California Cooper

With In  Search Of Satisfaction , Cooper gracefully portrays men and women, some good and others wickedly twisted, caught in their individual thickets of want and need on a once-grand plantation.

In Yoville, "a legal town-ship founded by the very rich for their own personal use," a freed slave named Josephus fathers two daughters,  Ruth and Yinyang, by two different women. His desire to give Yinyang and himself money and opportunities oozes through the family like an elixir. In seeking the legacy left by their father, Ruth and Yinyang pull each other, their families, and their Yoville neighbors into a vortex of ever-powerful emotion.

Genres: Fiction, African American, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Black Historical Fiction, Black Literature, Race

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

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 1984. Called "rich in wisdom and insight" and "a book that's worth reading," A Piece of Mine introduced Cooper's trademark style: her intimate and energetic narration, sympathetic yet sometimes troubled characters, and the profound moral messages that underlie seemingly simple stories. Two more story collections followed on the heels of A Piece of Mine. In 1986 came Homemade Love, winner of an American Book Award, and, in 1987, Some Soul to Keep.

Reviews

[Demetria · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 of rich characters with little stories that you can just fall into and lose yourself.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 10 years ago, it sparked something in me then. The idea of constantly searching for satisfaction led me to seeking happiness for myself. As I read it now, I'm grateful for new understanding - that our family is more than blood as we are connected to each other through Jesus.

The story takes you through all emotions. The drama builds and the mystery of the tale will take you by surprise. Definitely one of the best books I've ever read. Thank you OOSA for suggesting we read a classic as part of our reading challenge. Every reader should get to know this classic.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 prevalent all through this book, and seemed to be ever present whenever someone wanted something, or tried to get over on another person. The devil showed how easy it was to get people to do anything for a little bit of money, and it was just disgusting to see how much people relied on having money for security. Money is truly the root of all evil.

However, a few people actually found pure satisfaction, and it was a joy to see them be truly happy.

This book kept me engaged, excited, and involved in the lives of all the characters. I was rooting for some, and hoping the worst for others, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story; it made me analyze my own journey of searching for satisfaction.

It is amazing how our own journey of satisfaction can either by influenced or shared by others. Your values and morals should be in a good place when you want true happiness and satisfaction.

I would rate this book a 4. I would recommend this book to everyone, especially to J. California Cooper readers.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by J California Cooper. Wow!! what a storyteller she is. This book weaved together a family born during the slavery era. It told their struggles and their successes. I just loved the way she weaved together the families. By the time the book ended everyone was related to everyone. You really need to read this book. There's just too much going on for me to give you a detailed review.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this book could have been so much more. The basic story was ok, but the preching seemed too forced and of course sexist. For example, true to form, only the virginity of the women warranted any discussion and concern. NEVER, EVER the men. The dialouge did not seem authentic for the time period. Oh well.

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy storytelling at its best, you will love this jewel by J. California Cooper. You will laugh, cry, inhale and exhale and start all over again!

[Nicole Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good on so many levels. Left me with much to think about. In the search for satisfaction what will you do to get it? Who will you step on for it? Who will you cheat, abuse, lie to just for satisfaction? And in the end, will you really end up satisfied (happy)? You think a just God will allow you to go through life being evil and cruel and end up happy? Hmm, not.

I looove this book. Idk what took me so long to read it, but I'm glad I did.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction.. uhmmm.. What a read!!! takes you right into the pages and shakes up your own conscious. you'll never do anything wrong again.

[Beverlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about In Search of Satisfaction. Part of me is glad Hosanna & her family found love and was able to rise out of poverty. The other part of me is disappointed in underlying message- namely that a woman should seek a good man to love in order to be complete. I think a person needs to find what satisfies or makes them and happy & then maybe seek someone to share their life, if so desired.
I must remember this is a morality tale. Ms. Cooper's presentation of the characters clearly illustrate who's good and who's bad. Carlene Befoe- clearly the devil's child, Richard Befoe, her uncle, devil (incestuous relationship) both are also extremely rich. Hosanna, Luke, Lovey, Lettie- children of Ruth & Joel are fundamentally good, though not perfect, which is human (a definite plus). Yinyang is the only character who moves between good and evil (probably because of her name).
I thought the story was unique and the way the characters are connected in Yoville gave the impression of a small community where everyone knows each other, for better or worse. What I didn't like was the preachy, self righteousness sometimes ascribed to the good people though I suppose it's meant to counter the terrible behavior of the bad. The ending found most everyone satisfied except Yin, though there's a brief allusion to more evil coming by way of Carlton and Emily.
This text is definitely important to read, especially from a womanist perspective. I admire the women's ability to not be dependent on men for financial security, but to acknowledge they desire love and not be afraid to pursue it. I may not agree with the prevailing attitude, but I admire their honesty.

[Pattoncox2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[JACQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, J. California Cooper is a phenomenal author, especially in portraying not only the Black experience, but also the human experience in the constant yearning for love, identity, & of course, satisfaction. These characters are fictional, but you've met, hugged & ran to/from these people. I'm still in awe of Cooper's godly gift.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this in so many ways. It's interesting how do many lives can run concurrently but still be a million miles apart. The characters of Yoville are like so many others of small, country towns. So much history and so many secrets.

[Angela D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books as I get closer to the end I slow down, not wanting it to end....
Detail is everything to me in a book and this book doesn’t disappoint!
A sequel to this story would be so much to look forward to, there is so much more to learn about the future of Yoville !

[kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

it took me a while to finish this book because i was in a slump, but it is genuinely such a beautiful book just like all of cooper’s books. the imagery is beautiful, the storytelling is beautiful, just everything about it is beautiful

[Fleshia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I have read In Search of Satisfaction at least 4x. I feel a different way after each reading.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much life wisdom in this book!

[Shollis hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessential short story supremacy.... A silent star

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before I started this book, I saw that it had a Goodreads grade of 4.46 based on 3,281 reviews. Sorry, but I just couldn't get into this book. I quit after 108 pages and just gave up. At first, I thought the author's approach to the story was interesting but after a while I just lost track of the characters or any interest in them. I finally realized life is too short to wade through books you don't enjoy. Hopefully, others will enjoy it more than I did.

[Nardsbaby Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abeyance

Yoville is a small, legal township founded by the rich for their own personal use. When slavery ended, some of the rich who lived in Yoville moved farther east while most returned seasonally, making Yoville a dying town.


Josephus Josephus, a former slave, had nowhere else to go so he stayed on with the Krupt family. Josephus fathered two daughters with two different women. His daughter Ruth was being raised by her mother Bessel and another man. Yinyang was born to the mistress of the plantation he lived on.


Josephus’ desire is to have opportunities like others. Willing to do what he can to insure that he will live well will not just affect him, but future generations to come.


IN SEARCH OF SATISFACTION by J. California Cooper is a substantial story about lineage, money, love, hate, support, and family. This is my second book by Cooper, and just like with FAMILY, I’m impressed with the way she weaves lively characters, storylines and plots. This is definitely recommended reading!

[Arzikia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a remarkable piece of literature.

Where do I begin in summarizing what I've read? I'll start with saying that for a period of time, it was a frustrating read ..totally had me experiencing a "lean". The character names ran together so tightly and there were many to follow. But, from past experience I knew that the author would not leave it's readers empty-handed.

One of the most beautiful things about reading is the depth it brings and adds to your life. I don't know if spiders truly eat their own young, but I do know that some animals and creatures do so. The decision to add in an aside story about a spider initially through me, but I slowly came to honor and embrace it.

Again, I knew the author would not leave me empty-handed and the greatest satisfaction came in the last pages of this novel. This was powerful and I truly just want to savor the experience and journal my thoughts.

What a remarkable piece of literature.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 black and white thinking going on here. i was grateful to be an onlooker into their lives instead of a participant. almost written parable style. i will read another of her books just to see if they are all written in the same vein.

[Darcy Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I initially thought I would. The flow of the story varied and I didn't like that. I think a woman throwing herself into prostition is no small step, yet it all happened in one page and the next page she was digging herself out of the mess. She also got married, had a baby divorced in the space of half a page. I loved the characters and how the message of color doesn't really matter, also how some female characters were really clever and not only helped themselves to better their lives but also helped others. I didn't like the devil commentary, I just don't think good and evil work that way. Overall a good book to read if you want to try something about African Americans, Their eyes were watching God, is a better book.

[W. D. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written. Every element of the story was woven like a master. Yep character development = A+ the plot = A++! It was a bit preachy. And it has some strong messages that Cooper does apologize for but I love it.

I can tell she a playwright. Without using hardly any first person narrative, she gives us intimacy across a wide generation of people. A family from the day slavery ended on up to 1916.

It was fascinating. At times it was revolting. Other times it was hilarious. My skin crawled, I laughed, I loved. And after it was done and I was holding my daughter before bed, I cried a little. And begged the world go just a little more God and little more love on my search for satisfaction.

A masterpiece novel from a master playwright. Do read.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some good moments in this one, but for the most part, it is too forcefully preachy. Some of the characters sound exactly the same, especially when preaching. I really don't like the emphasis on virginity being some precious thing (for women only, apparently), not to mention that the one lesbian character is portrayed as evil/perverse. I've liked several of her other books a lot, so I was surprised at my negative reaction here. Oh well. Everyone has a dud.

[⭐️MidnightSun⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars without a doubt❤ J. California Cooper never disappoints. In Search of Satisfaction these characters you will forever remember. With every character there was a lesson to be learned about people and life. What makes you happy? Everybody got to ask themselves that question and when you have an answer you got to go out there and get it. When I came to the end of this book I said Iam going to miss these characters.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book that read this way - it feels like the author is speaking straight into my head, in a similar way that my own brain would think. Kind of? That’s not really what i mean, just read the book yourself and you’ll see what I’m trying to get at. Cooper encapsulated the yearnings of the characters so well and i look forward to reading their other work!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the appearances and musings of Satan throughout the book (the rampant incest, though, not so much)

[Passion Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some did what was right, and some did whatever they had to do to get to where they desired to be. In the end, some were satisfied and some weren’t.

I liked the story because it showed how different classes and races, some with privilege, handled others and made decisions. And of course Karma made its way around - allowing them to see their mistakes and for some the good choices they made.

What would you do in search of satisfaction? Is there a limit?!

[Roslyn Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as if the Universe was speaking to me thru this book. Everyone in search of saatisfaction, but very few people realizing that the "thing" - money, power, sex - would not satisfy. It takes self knowledge and an awareness of others to realize what satisfaction looks like and feels like, and what is dross, not gold.