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A Piece of Mine: Stories
Back in print after more than five years, this is the extraordinary first short story collection by the author of Family.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
66 people are currently reading
914 people want to read
About the author
J. California Cooper
24 books763 followersJ. 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 6, 2015
I’m slowly but surely working my way through J. California Cooper’s work and enjoying each one. I’m marveled at her mastery to tell a story. Anyone out there who is attempting to write short stories should absolutely read her. Click the link to continue http://browngirlreading.com/2015/07/0...
April 26, 2011
Great read! I am never disappointed by Ms. J. California Cooper. I always seem to enjoy her books and short stories. I would have given this book 5 stars if it were not for a reoccurring theme that didn't sit right with me. In almost every story, there seems to be some form of abuse or domestic violence against women. In “$100 or Nothing,” Charles was off the chain!…he emotionally beat his woman down into the ground (literally). Although she was able to pull a couple of fast ones over on him, I was still so very sadden by the conditions in which Mary left this earth. In all honesty, she went down into the dirt with her heart hurting.
In “Who Are the Fools?” Once again, Mr. Rembo was off the meter!!!! He seemed to mistreat everybody! So it was with avail that he beat up on his wife. “Loved to Death” kinda echoed the same story line as the stories before and after. A misguided woman in search of self through men, sin and gin, but never to find exactly what she set out to discover. “Say What You Willowmay,” was clever, because I enjoyed watching him come back to a love he once felt was blemished. Good stuff.
“He was a Man! (but he did himself wrong),” was super dope! Here we have the same frame with a slightly different picture. We start off with the description of a big ‘ole gal and her itty bitty husband, who of course…physically and emotionally abuses her. However, when he decides to leave her…she becomes self-reliant and decides to embrace her independence. In the midst of her husband leaving, she lost weight (through stress) and began working. Thus, she catches the eye of many men’s (I love the phrase men’s, it tickles me). As a result she becomes aware of what is right and wrong for her, but as soon as she realizes who she is and what she has become…here comes itty bitty mean ‘ol husband. I will let you read the book for the rest of the story line.
Then enters, "Color Me Real." What an interesting tell of race and love. Here we are introduced to biracial Era who is really in search of identity and self. Unfortunately, Era did not find love with either one of her husbands (both of whom were of different nationalities), and upon discovering Era's race, they both physically abuse her. She eventually finds love...which was well overdue. Last but not least, I want to discuss , "The Free and the Caged." Vilma is tired of the same 'ol life, and decides to hit the road. She comes across a stranger who falls in love with her. Upon her wanting to leave this man and continue her travels, he beats her up out of "love." He really wanted her to stay with him and all of his loneliness. But guess what? Vilma leaves him, but comes back because...she loves him...ummm...I don't know about this "fairytale." I get it, but I don't...
The point I'm trying to make is…I love this writer, but is domestic violence necessary for every tale?…maybe so…I dunno…just an observation.
In “Who Are the Fools?” Once again, Mr. Rembo was off the meter!!!! He seemed to mistreat everybody! So it was with avail that he beat up on his wife. “Loved to Death” kinda echoed the same story line as the stories before and after. A misguided woman in search of self through men, sin and gin, but never to find exactly what she set out to discover. “Say What You Willowmay,” was clever, because I enjoyed watching him come back to a love he once felt was blemished. Good stuff.
“He was a Man! (but he did himself wrong),” was super dope! Here we have the same frame with a slightly different picture. We start off with the description of a big ‘ole gal and her itty bitty husband, who of course…physically and emotionally abuses her. However, when he decides to leave her…she becomes self-reliant and decides to embrace her independence. In the midst of her husband leaving, she lost weight (through stress) and began working. Thus, she catches the eye of many men’s (I love the phrase men’s, it tickles me). As a result she becomes aware of what is right and wrong for her, but as soon as she realizes who she is and what she has become…here comes itty bitty mean ‘ol husband. I will let you read the book for the rest of the story line.
Then enters, "Color Me Real." What an interesting tell of race and love. Here we are introduced to biracial Era who is really in search of identity and self. Unfortunately, Era did not find love with either one of her husbands (both of whom were of different nationalities), and upon discovering Era's race, they both physically abuse her. She eventually finds love...which was well overdue. Last but not least, I want to discuss , "The Free and the Caged." Vilma is tired of the same 'ol life, and decides to hit the road. She comes across a stranger who falls in love with her. Upon her wanting to leave this man and continue her travels, he beats her up out of "love." He really wanted her to stay with him and all of his loneliness. But guess what? Vilma leaves him, but comes back because...she loves him...ummm...I don't know about this "fairytale." I get it, but I don't...
The point I'm trying to make is…I love this writer, but is domestic violence necessary for every tale?…maybe so…I dunno…just an observation.
May 4, 2011
What a book... what a book....
This book was one word... AWESOME. Having been through so much in my life, I need this book right now. Longing for peace of mind, I finally have it. This book though provides you with not only a compilation of stories, but it provides you with morals and life lessons. Even though you are not sure if the stories are fact or fiction, this book is not about that. J. California Cooper entertains you, while giving you life lessons. Each story you can take something from it. Each story somehow relates to your own life. Each story possesses the energy of a wise mother, grandmother, friend, sister, and relative. Each story shows you motivation and reality. I am planning on purchasing this book just to highlight and "sticky note" it. Within a few pages, J. California Cooper has embedded words of wisdom that women need to hear, women want to hear, and women should hear.
Life lessons like the following:
God gives you something every time something is taken away.
I don't just want a man; I want something different and special.
The heart has its own way of picking a partner and never asks for measurements.
Being fresh out of a marriage and knowing that perhaps one day I MAY (that is a BIG MAY) date again, this book put relationships, dating, marriage, friendships, and etc... in a whole new light. J. California is the perfect storyteller. She tells you want you want to hear, what you need to hear, and what you should hear without ever forcing you to accept it. She gives you a choice. Will you take heed?
I started reading today "Some Love Some Pain Sometime."I am confident that J. California Cooper will not disappoint me.
This book was one word... AWESOME. Having been through so much in my life, I need this book right now. Longing for peace of mind, I finally have it. This book though provides you with not only a compilation of stories, but it provides you with morals and life lessons. Even though you are not sure if the stories are fact or fiction, this book is not about that. J. California Cooper entertains you, while giving you life lessons. Each story you can take something from it. Each story somehow relates to your own life. Each story possesses the energy of a wise mother, grandmother, friend, sister, and relative. Each story shows you motivation and reality. I am planning on purchasing this book just to highlight and "sticky note" it. Within a few pages, J. California Cooper has embedded words of wisdom that women need to hear, women want to hear, and women should hear.
Life lessons like the following:
God gives you something every time something is taken away.
I don't just want a man; I want something different and special.
The heart has its own way of picking a partner and never asks for measurements.
Being fresh out of a marriage and knowing that perhaps one day I MAY (that is a BIG MAY) date again, this book put relationships, dating, marriage, friendships, and etc... in a whole new light. J. California is the perfect storyteller. She tells you want you want to hear, what you need to hear, and what you should hear without ever forcing you to accept it. She gives you a choice. Will you take heed?
I started reading today "Some Love Some Pain Sometime."I am confident that J. California Cooper will not disappoint me.
June 22, 2016
If you love short stories in reflection mode, you will love the writing style of J. California Cooper. Each story is full of wisdom and sheer conviction.
March 11, 2014
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories.
August 17, 2015
What I liked most about this book were the bite-sized stories - it was great to read one a day during my break times at work. It was exciting to me that I would not have to wait to know how the story ended in each case
:-]. I want to read more from J California Cooper.
:-]. I want to read more from J California Cooper.
March 21, 2021
J California cooper is an autobuy and must read... This collection has a lot of pain but a lot of laughter! Can't nobody do it like her! The stories are quick and thought provoking! Their is a running theme of domestic abuse that often have light at the end of the tunnel.
February 7, 2017
Really excellent. Deceptively straightforward stories that grab you with compelling narration. The restraint shown by author in the almost trivial description of awful racist violence committed against these characters make the acts resonate more strongly. The lushly portrayed characters and level of self awareness they possess resonate consistently throughout the book.
January 7, 2012
This book was such a great read. The short stories always give food for thought along with a little comedy. All of her stories would make great novels. I look forward to exploring her novels this year.
December 29, 2013
This book was great. I was recommended this book by someone who had read it. I love short stories. This book definitely did not disappoint. The first story just draws you in with the cleverness of it.
July 16, 2017
A Piece of Mine is a collection of short stories. The stories were all about women who had either been done wrong by men and gotten their revenge or women who gave up their dreams for men and finally decided to try and live a few of them.
There are a lot of good nuggets of wisdom in her stories and I love the way her stories just pull you in from the first line and don't let you go until the end. The only reason for the four stars is because I got tired of reading about rape and abuse. The descriptions weren't brutal but I was mentally tired after I read the book.
There are a lot of good nuggets of wisdom in her stories and I love the way her stories just pull you in from the first line and don't let you go until the end. The only reason for the four stars is because I got tired of reading about rape and abuse. The descriptions weren't brutal but I was mentally tired after I read the book.
January 8, 2017
2.5
This was enjoyable, but in all honest it was okay. I thought the POV for the stories was unique and kinda funny, like hearing your homegirl give you some gossip about her neighbors, while y'all sitting on her porch drinking tea.
This was my first J.California Cooper book, and I think I will give her another shot. I have heard such awesome things about her, and I'd like to give a full novel of hers a go.
This was enjoyable, but in all honest it was okay. I thought the POV for the stories was unique and kinda funny, like hearing your homegirl give you some gossip about her neighbors, while y'all sitting on her porch drinking tea.
This was my first J.California Cooper book, and I think I will give her another shot. I have heard such awesome things about her, and I'd like to give a full novel of hers a go.
Read
June 27, 2015I'm not sure how she manages to tell a whole life's story in just a few sentences, but she does.
Almost written in the first person, vernacular, the stories are powerful and sad, but very often the women they are talking about have happyish endings. Or as happy as real life often allows allows.
Putting aside for the next bookbox that comes by.
Almost written in the first person, vernacular, the stories are powerful and sad, but very often the women they are talking about have happyish endings. Or as happy as real life often allows allows.
Putting aside for the next bookbox that comes by.
December 4, 2012
So, I really enjoyed these stories but this is not my favorite book of work by Ms. Cooper. However, I found these stories to be fun and interesting, if not a little predictable. A very quick read.
September 26, 2024
The best book ever
July 28, 2025
I absolutely LOVE to pick up a J California Cooper book. Anytime I want to feel more grounded or just have an environment that makes me see right from wrong in a new perspective I read something of hers. Her stories can have such hard hitting circumstances that make you question life choices. Reading something of hers makes me feel like I’m sitting in a kitchen with the narrator just listening to her life stories and loving every minute of it.
February 13, 2021
"She didn't really know she was gossiping, she thought she was just telling a friend the truth about what she thought. But people can take your truth and stretch it, twist it, tear it apart, turn it inside out and when you get it back, you are making enemies and when you try and straighten it out, you talk a whole lot more and give the people new ammunition to shoot back at you and then you have made more enemies!" ('Sins Leave Scars', 16)
I think I'm going to try and read all of J. California Cooper's fiction this year (the distinction is being made because I do not think I can read 17 plays as well, but wow her talent) so I decided to start in order. These stories are easily digestible in length but heavy in topic matter. Cooper underscores the violence Black women face over and over again. It's a lot and initially I could only read one story a day because the stories were so traumatic. Child sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, unhappy marriages, these issues are present in almost every story with an undercurrent of racism. 'Loved to Death' was particularly heartbreaking, one of the lines that will stay with me comes from young Zalina, "Cause I don't think mama like me to do it either, so I must hafta...if we both don't like it and still she tell me to" (31) as she details sexual abuse. Also present in these stories is a critique of the institution of marriage, Cooper seems to take a dim view of marriage. One of my favorite stories bemoans the institution of marriage but also the ridiculousness of white women, "The woman told her she would never be happy married to a poor black man being used as a baby carrier and slaveworker woman. Ain't that somethin! Middy thought a moment about that and knew that she wasn't really liberated anyway, the only difference between James and the white woman was makin love! Other than the makin babies, everything else was the same. And making babies could be fun!" ('Liberated, 103) but the rest take an equally dismal view of marriage. There's also an emphasis on religion which was somewhat unexpected but it's not moralizing, it adds flavor to the characters or narrator. Or the stories that do have a moral to them are not presented in a wildly specific Christian context, the message is more so about treating women respectfully. Additionally even with religion present in each story sexual innuendo and ribald jokes abound. There's even a friends to lesbian lovers story which shocked me (that's what I get for stereotyping religious Black writers in my mind!) but is nicely done although the conclusion is also sad.
While all of the stories are depressing, some do involve men receiving their comeuppance. '$100 and Nothing?' started off miserable but did become funny, though I wish a tragedy hadn't been needed for the humorous ending. And while the stories are not preachy, those with good morals do ultimately come out on top in some way shape or form. Occasionally the narrators are unnamed but what they all have in common seems to be that they're women and they share a gossip-y tone. II've seen others say it but this collection reads as though being told by a well meaning neighbor who urges you to pull up a chair so she can share some tough truths with the occasional levity thrown in. It's interesting and tough to pull off for stories that are so dark but Cooper handles her characters carefully and writes well. Her writing style is uncomplicated and effortless and she tells the story in a Black vernacular. The stories almost all take place in the South as well so it's really a Southern Black vernacular that peppers the dialogue and narration in the stories. It was also hard to believe Cooper wrote this in the '80s and some of the dialogue felt like conversations I still have today. 'Color Me Real' in particular, although passing seems less prevalent today (I guess we'll never really know though), when Era tells off her Black husband for preferring white women I stood up and cheered, "Black women don't care if you like white women. What we really resent, and what makes us so disgusted with you, is that you have to stand on our shoulders, tear us down, make us look like nothing to make yourself big enough to do what you want to do! Just go on and like em if you want to, only stop tearing us down to do it!" ('Color Me Real', 72). It also echos every single argument I've had with Black male friends and see on Twitter, a testament to how universal and relevant (unfortunately) these stories still are in the 21st century.
A PIECE OF MINE is a quiet but powerful collection of short stories about Black women written in an austere, folksy style with a very distinctive voice. The stories aren't too different from each other, covering similar themes of right and wrong, domestic troubles, violence against women, racism and poverty but each story stands on its own. It was almost impossible for me to pick a favorite but I would say 'Liberated' and 'Funeral Plans' made me laugh the most which was no small task given how disheartening these stories were initially (and sometimes until the end, only death bringing relief). I didn't dislike any which is rare for me to say about a collection and they're all the perfect length, neatly wrapped up or running their natural course. I look forward to reading my next Cooper short story collection, HOMEMADE LOVE is next and that seems to be a favorite. I hope it's a little more uplifting or at least cheerful but we'll see!
Other favorite lines:
"She loved learning but she couldn't do any reading cause everybody loved her wouldn't let books stay in her hands! I did all the reading cause nobody loved me enough to bother me!" ('Loved to Death', 28)
"Seemed like I was always just between life and death. Scared of life and scared of death. Call me Ms. Scared, cause that's the way I was runnin then." ('Funeral Plans', 47)
"I love my children....but to hell with them kids! They still gonna have plenty when I die! And the most important thing they will have is BREATH! To fill their own dreams and plans" ('Liberated', 111)
I think I'm going to try and read all of J. California Cooper's fiction this year (the distinction is being made because I do not think I can read 17 plays as well, but wow her talent) so I decided to start in order. These stories are easily digestible in length but heavy in topic matter. Cooper underscores the violence Black women face over and over again. It's a lot and initially I could only read one story a day because the stories were so traumatic. Child sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, unhappy marriages, these issues are present in almost every story with an undercurrent of racism. 'Loved to Death' was particularly heartbreaking, one of the lines that will stay with me comes from young Zalina, "Cause I don't think mama like me to do it either, so I must hafta...if we both don't like it and still she tell me to" (31) as she details sexual abuse. Also present in these stories is a critique of the institution of marriage, Cooper seems to take a dim view of marriage. One of my favorite stories bemoans the institution of marriage but also the ridiculousness of white women, "The woman told her she would never be happy married to a poor black man being used as a baby carrier and slaveworker woman. Ain't that somethin! Middy thought a moment about that and knew that she wasn't really liberated anyway, the only difference between James and the white woman was makin love! Other than the makin babies, everything else was the same. And making babies could be fun!" ('Liberated, 103) but the rest take an equally dismal view of marriage. There's also an emphasis on religion which was somewhat unexpected but it's not moralizing, it adds flavor to the characters or narrator. Or the stories that do have a moral to them are not presented in a wildly specific Christian context, the message is more so about treating women respectfully. Additionally even with religion present in each story sexual innuendo and ribald jokes abound. There's even a friends to lesbian lovers story which shocked me (that's what I get for stereotyping religious Black writers in my mind!) but is nicely done although the conclusion is also sad.
While all of the stories are depressing, some do involve men receiving their comeuppance. '$100 and Nothing?' started off miserable but did become funny, though I wish a tragedy hadn't been needed for the humorous ending. And while the stories are not preachy, those with good morals do ultimately come out on top in some way shape or form. Occasionally the narrators are unnamed but what they all have in common seems to be that they're women and they share a gossip-y tone. II've seen others say it but this collection reads as though being told by a well meaning neighbor who urges you to pull up a chair so she can share some tough truths with the occasional levity thrown in. It's interesting and tough to pull off for stories that are so dark but Cooper handles her characters carefully and writes well. Her writing style is uncomplicated and effortless and she tells the story in a Black vernacular. The stories almost all take place in the South as well so it's really a Southern Black vernacular that peppers the dialogue and narration in the stories. It was also hard to believe Cooper wrote this in the '80s and some of the dialogue felt like conversations I still have today. 'Color Me Real' in particular, although passing seems less prevalent today (I guess we'll never really know though), when Era tells off her Black husband for preferring white women I stood up and cheered, "Black women don't care if you like white women. What we really resent, and what makes us so disgusted with you, is that you have to stand on our shoulders, tear us down, make us look like nothing to make yourself big enough to do what you want to do! Just go on and like em if you want to, only stop tearing us down to do it!" ('Color Me Real', 72). It also echos every single argument I've had with Black male friends and see on Twitter, a testament to how universal and relevant (unfortunately) these stories still are in the 21st century.
A PIECE OF MINE is a quiet but powerful collection of short stories about Black women written in an austere, folksy style with a very distinctive voice. The stories aren't too different from each other, covering similar themes of right and wrong, domestic troubles, violence against women, racism and poverty but each story stands on its own. It was almost impossible for me to pick a favorite but I would say 'Liberated' and 'Funeral Plans' made me laugh the most which was no small task given how disheartening these stories were initially (and sometimes until the end, only death bringing relief). I didn't dislike any which is rare for me to say about a collection and they're all the perfect length, neatly wrapped up or running their natural course. I look forward to reading my next Cooper short story collection, HOMEMADE LOVE is next and that seems to be a favorite. I hope it's a little more uplifting or at least cheerful but we'll see!
Other favorite lines:
"She loved learning but she couldn't do any reading cause everybody loved her wouldn't let books stay in her hands! I did all the reading cause nobody loved me enough to bother me!" ('Loved to Death', 28)
"Seemed like I was always just between life and death. Scared of life and scared of death. Call me Ms. Scared, cause that's the way I was runnin then." ('Funeral Plans', 47)
"I love my children....but to hell with them kids! They still gonna have plenty when I die! And the most important thing they will have is BREATH! To fill their own dreams and plans" ('Liberated', 111)
September 14, 2012
This is my favoite of all the books I've read by this author. Her manner of storytelling and her voice sound like down home. They remind of what it was like to have an older family member who kept and recited all the family's stories. Each one contained a small grain of truth and sage advice.
October 18, 2010
i read this book for the Introduction to African-American Literature at Gallaudet University. This author writes all about black people's lives between freedom from slavery and civil rights in 1960s. I think it's a good book and helps people to understand black people's cultures in these times.
June 3, 2010
J. California Cooper does an excellent job of relating various aspects of the American Black experience. What a pleasure to read her books!!
January 2, 2015
Fabulous writing as always with J California Cooper. Really down-home writing great collections of short stories.
February 14, 2013
I'm usually not a big fan of short stories, but as soon as I read a sample, I knew I had to read these stories! Luckily, my local library had her books and I will gladly read more books by her!
March 17, 2015
Fantastic! Engaging!
Captivating and engaging she tells a story of people of yester year and yesterday. This is a fantastic read. Check it out.
Captivating and engaging she tells a story of people of yester year and yesterday. This is a fantastic read. Check it out.
June 29, 2015
Karen, Shenandoah patron, June 2015, 5 stars:
Cooper never disappoints. A great combination of wit and wisdom.
Cooper never disappoints. A great combination of wit and wisdom.
January 15, 2016
Terrific!!!
This book is so down to earth. I can "see" the characters and I wasn't ready to depart in some stories.
This book is so down to earth. I can "see" the characters and I wasn't ready to depart in some stories.
May 6, 2021
Ahhh....this is probably what Chicken Soup for the Soul was shooting for when the concept was developed. This collection of short stories by this beloved author packs such a powerful punch in a handful of pages. J. California Cooper is known for her masterful storytelling, but these stories that evoke such emotion and reflection with so few words is perhaps one of the finest examples of her genius. They read as if the story is told by an elder and leave you with a reminiscent familiarity as if you knew the characters. Not by the same names obviously, but odds are you know someone who shares a similar story. Some stories make you laugh while others make you feel a level of sadness for the protagonist that you weren't quite ready for....both of which are equally satisfying. This is a perfect book to keep on the nightstand and enjoy one story before going to bed or sit under a blanket and read in an afternoon. It's cozy and comforting storytelling orchestrated by a master of her craft. Highly recommend.
January 4, 2021
This is a short in length, long in emotion collection of short stories that my book group read recently. We had read some lengthy and weighty books of late, including Isabel Wilkerson's Caste, and this was chosen for the sparseness of it's pages. I found that it was a lengthy read after all though. The ten stories cover a range of black women's experiences in a world where they are the bottom of the American caste system. Black men in these stories see themselves as more powerful than black women. There is a thread of poverty that runs through this as well, with women making choices because they lack funds as well as other means, but the lowest caste always has to deal with poverty unless that has been taken off the table and no longer exists. There are children being sexually abused, there are children having children, and everything else you can imagine in these short powerful impactful stories. This is not a short read, nor is it an easy read, but it is a very good read.
September 16, 2025
Really enjoyed reading this collection of stories. Cooper has a way with words, and I caught myself laughing and sighing and reacting the way I would if someone was telling me the story. Nearly every story discussed the abuse and mistreatment of Black women as the before, then Cooper wrote an after where the tides changed. I'm sitting with how I feel about that, but can say honestly that it was an enjoyable, distinct read from an author I just met. Top stories were $100 and Nothing!, He Was a Man (But He Did Himself Wrong), Color Me Real, and A Jewel for a Friend (which was my FAVORITE because it's a lil fruity).
February 2, 2018
I loved this book of stories, and loved the strength of all the women in these stories, which are otherwise heart wrenching for the misogynistic, racist, agist, classist life experiences captured in so many different female voices. The brisk, compact, often cheerful, hopeful and impactful prose was powerful. I shall not forget this book or these women or these stories. Also, this is a great read on a very long plane ride, as novelty arises with each new story.
August 3, 2018
Ms. Cooper does it again. She always does a great job of transporting you back into the lives of everyday folk with ease. She makes you feel like you are sitting on the porch with the neighborhood matriarch after a hiatus from home. It always feel so natural and familiar. However, every story gives lessons about life and the experiences we live. She illustrates in this story continuously the plight of women in relation to men at all ages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews