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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 girl’s search for love and her own brand of freedom. Wise, earthy and intimate, these stories are moving parables of the human need to seek some sort of satisfaction, just as a wild star seeks a midnight sun.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2006
45 people are currently reading
702 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 67 reviews
April 11, 2024
Cooper can write no wrong! Beautiful 🤩
October 28, 2014
I mean....it's JCC! What you gone do? Love it, that's what! I will say it's a bit of a walk on the dark side for one of my favorite authors. I picked it up with hopes of having a good old pick me up as I am attempting to adjust to a new city, in a new state, in a new region of the U.S. When I read the forward explaining her intention with this book, I thought to myself, "Really?" Even though I didn't as often get the "warm and fuzzies" I often associate with Cooper's books, it didn't disappoint. At all.
February 10, 2016
I'm a big fan of J. California Cooper, so I feel strangely guilty for not loving this book. Some of the stories are okay, but most were disappointing at best. The stories seem more like rough drafts- careless, rushed, unrefined. Some of them ended abruptly and left me scratching my head, wondering if I skipped a page or fell asleep while reading. Unacceptable! This is not the high quality writing I expect from such an accomplished author. It's a collection of short stories that shouldn't have been published. At least not without a great deal more editing.
February 26, 2018
3.5 (some 3 star stories, some 4 star)
Up until a month ago, I had never heard of J California Cooper but having been introduced to her by an online friend, I was eager to read this for Black History month.
This is a collection of nine stories, one of which is almost half the book so more of a novella with central themes running through them all and all focusing on young female characters who often want more from life.
J California Cooper, writes in a very simple way, almost like she’s telling a bedtime story to children, a fable perhaps with phrases like, ‘Now it happened that..’ She clearly values storytelling and both watching and listening to what goes on around her. In this collection the narrator often introduces the stories as if she is telling us about her own life or as though she personally knows these people, ending the stories with asides and commentary about what she has just told and speaking directly to the reader.
Ms Cooper says that she often writes about ‘people’s problems, their choices. The quality of life we make for ourselves’, and this rings true in every story, many of which take members of the same family and look at how the different life choices they make lead their lives down two completely different pathways. She clearly values education, reading and faith in God, the latter of which is difficult to read for someone who verges on atheism.
I had difficulty pinning down when the stories were set which is certainly not a negative point. Many seemed as though they were set in the fifties or sixties while others talked of the AIDS crises and other more modern elements. All of her characters are poor, some remain so, some rise above their beginnings, and love and loneliness play a large part. In her authors note she writes ‘I know we all stand alone in this life. Ultimately alone. We have to depend on ourselves, and knowledge is our armor.’ Her female main characters are often women who have been told how to live but have a yearning ambition to change their lives, Harriet in Catch a falling heart and Lily in The Eye of the beholder both feel this way and both end their stories happy but differently. These two women are also unattractive or physically handicapped in some way so that the outside world initially ignores and devalues them but in this book, inner beauty wins out over the external.
Despite the simple style, these stories tackle significant issues of poverty, love, family, class, race, religion and education. My favorite ones were the longer ones, possibly as they felt more like short stories than a morality tale or fable as Just-life Politics, Success and Rushing Nowhere which were some of the weakest in the collection. Sometimes the God and religious writing gets too much and feels like preaching but the simplicity of the style and the poignancy of some of the stories has stayed with me since I finished the book.
Examples;
“I wanted to do something with my life, but you took that flame, burned me with it until I burned down to ashes. Now you want me to stay where you put me, for your advantage, until I’m only a little pile of ashes. I’m trying to get that flame back. I don’t want to be just ashes.”
‘We’ve had plenty government, plenty more taxes, and they ain’t fixed but a very few things for the people, and every time they get, or might get, a good government they lie him off the map. And the people let the liars keep lying.’
‘It’s sad for people to be without anybody in this crowded world. If there just wasn’t so many fools in it, things would be way better for everybody; the fools too!’
Up until a month ago, I had never heard of J California Cooper but having been introduced to her by an online friend, I was eager to read this for Black History month.
This is a collection of nine stories, one of which is almost half the book so more of a novella with central themes running through them all and all focusing on young female characters who often want more from life.
J California Cooper, writes in a very simple way, almost like she’s telling a bedtime story to children, a fable perhaps with phrases like, ‘Now it happened that..’ She clearly values storytelling and both watching and listening to what goes on around her. In this collection the narrator often introduces the stories as if she is telling us about her own life or as though she personally knows these people, ending the stories with asides and commentary about what she has just told and speaking directly to the reader.
Ms Cooper says that she often writes about ‘people’s problems, their choices. The quality of life we make for ourselves’, and this rings true in every story, many of which take members of the same family and look at how the different life choices they make lead their lives down two completely different pathways. She clearly values education, reading and faith in God, the latter of which is difficult to read for someone who verges on atheism.
I had difficulty pinning down when the stories were set which is certainly not a negative point. Many seemed as though they were set in the fifties or sixties while others talked of the AIDS crises and other more modern elements. All of her characters are poor, some remain so, some rise above their beginnings, and love and loneliness play a large part. In her authors note she writes ‘I know we all stand alone in this life. Ultimately alone. We have to depend on ourselves, and knowledge is our armor.’ Her female main characters are often women who have been told how to live but have a yearning ambition to change their lives, Harriet in Catch a falling heart and Lily in The Eye of the beholder both feel this way and both end their stories happy but differently. These two women are also unattractive or physically handicapped in some way so that the outside world initially ignores and devalues them but in this book, inner beauty wins out over the external.
Despite the simple style, these stories tackle significant issues of poverty, love, family, class, race, religion and education. My favorite ones were the longer ones, possibly as they felt more like short stories than a morality tale or fable as Just-life Politics, Success and Rushing Nowhere which were some of the weakest in the collection. Sometimes the God and religious writing gets too much and feels like preaching but the simplicity of the style and the poignancy of some of the stories has stayed with me since I finished the book.
Examples;
“I wanted to do something with my life, but you took that flame, burned me with it until I burned down to ashes. Now you want me to stay where you put me, for your advantage, until I’m only a little pile of ashes. I’m trying to get that flame back. I don’t want to be just ashes.”
‘We’ve had plenty government, plenty more taxes, and they ain’t fixed but a very few things for the people, and every time they get, or might get, a good government they lie him off the map. And the people let the liars keep lying.’
‘It’s sad for people to be without anybody in this crowded world. If there just wasn’t so many fools in it, things would be way better for everybody; the fools too!’
April 18, 2011
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 stalking my every move (smile). I needed to hear the wise words of a "community mother" who doesn't mind raising the village if it means the recipient WILL pay forward their wisdom and time. My favorite story was the very last one and it included the tale of Ms. Harriet! I loved the ending...when he purred into her ear, "shake, baby, shake." Oh my goodness! I could have fainted laughing and wondering...about this great moment! To have her hidden flaw exposed and for it now to be their positive "sexual thang," just broke me out in a huge grin! I really enjoyed finishing this book under the hood of my dryer, because it felt fitting. It felt fitting to imagine myself sitting amidst stories that typically float around beauty shops...J. California Cooper is awesome and I am thankful to have been exposed to her literature. ~Ms. Rita
April 20, 2016
This book holds absolutely one of the best love stories you could ever read. It crosses all barriers of race, social class, and taboos of love. Lily Bea and Weldon are a couple to be remembered. Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns is a book of stories that invokes feelings. First it takes you to places in time among people who no longer exist in the world we live in today and offers a signifying monkey look into their lives and troubles.
J. California Cooper in her vivid matter of a fact language makes you glad you don't know these kinds of people and that you don't have their kinds of problems. The stories are an intensively brief look into the lives of the young and old, the rich and poor, different cultures and scopes of time. She enlightens the reader with little tips of wisdom and wit that keeps you smiling.
I enjoyed aspects of each story which kept me turning pages to the end... Read more http://drakuabookreviews.blogspot.com...
J. California Cooper in her vivid matter of a fact language makes you glad you don't know these kinds of people and that you don't have their kinds of problems. The stories are an intensively brief look into the lives of the young and old, the rich and poor, different cultures and scopes of time. She enlightens the reader with little tips of wisdom and wit that keeps you smiling.
I enjoyed aspects of each story which kept me turning pages to the end... Read more http://drakuabookreviews.blogspot.com...
April 27, 2007
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!
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October 9, 2009My, 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.
January 4, 2011
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.
December 11, 2011
This is a "reread". I found this book packed in my garage and decided to read it again. Love California Cooper!
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January 8, 2016This was a different type of read....but i enjoyed it.
May 30, 2021
It has been an honor to have read and graced the pages of the late J. California Cooper writing you have several short stories, and I have enjoyed all of them. All the tales have a balance to them. Her storytelling in this book is just pleasantly sweet, with a common-sense lesson. I am so glad I have more of her books to enjoy. Very well done.
July 22, 2011
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 loving. It is a collection of short stories about people trying to find these midnight suns, the mistakes they make along the way, and the ups and downs of life. I only gave it 3 stars because I felt the stories were inconsistently good, some just didn't stick out to me a couple seemed kind of mediocre, although some were very poignant and hard-hitting. Also at times, it seems like the author was sort of preaching to try to get the reader to learn the moral of the story, what I mean is sometimes it reminded me of my mom or grandma giving me a lecture. In all I think this was a pretty good book, though with minor problems, and I will definitely read more of J California Cooper's work.
July 31, 2016
This is my first book by J. California Cooper. I hrist heard about her from browngirlreading and decided to try this short story collection as an introduction to her writing. Plus I liked the cover with the van Gogh painting.
This was a different experience for me. These short stories were more like a older woman relaying key stories about small town women to a younger female. They are all realistic and some got me thinking which was her goal. So it seems J. California Cooper seems more interested in making you thnk. And I can understand the ratings. There are many unlikeable characters who make crazy decisions. And it takes a while to get into the writing style. But she delas with great themes. This will not be everyone cup of tea, but for those who are not looking for escapism but a small doses of reality- try this story collection.
This was a different experience for me. These short stories were more like a older woman relaying key stories about small town women to a younger female. They are all realistic and some got me thinking which was her goal. So it seems J. California Cooper seems more interested in making you thnk. And I can understand the ratings. There are many unlikeable characters who make crazy decisions. And it takes a while to get into the writing style. But she delas with great themes. This will not be everyone cup of tea, but for those who are not looking for escapism but a small doses of reality- try this story collection.
May 3, 2010
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. And what did she mean by "There are billions of stars; there is only one sun." in the authors's notes? Did she mean in the entire universe? This solar system? Again, nit-picking.
I am disappointed and seriously gunshy about reading any of her other work.
'Some Love, Some Pain, Some Time' was so awesome! I am dumbstruck by this book. And what did she mean by "There are billions of stars; there is only one sun." in the authors's notes? Did she mean in the entire universe? This solar system? Again, nit-picking.
I am disappointed and seriously gunshy about reading any of her other work.
December 14, 2011
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. HOWEVER, I would buy this book for younger girls....mostly teenagers. I think the issue for me was that these were lessons I've already learned through trial and error....or by watching the mistakes of others. For a young person, this could make a difference. Good book, just not for me.
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. HOWEVER, I would buy this book for younger girls....mostly teenagers. I think the issue for me was that these were lessons I've already learned through trial and error....or by watching the mistakes of others. For a young person, this could make a difference. Good book, just not for me.
April 24, 2015
This book was my first introduction to J. California Cooper and while at first i was having trouble adjusting to her writing style, i was intrigued by the story that was being told. I actually came to appreciate her non-traditional/non-formal writing style. I felt that the stories were about regular old common folks like myself or someone that i may pass on the street. She takes the reader into the depths of their lives showing that we all are whole beings and what we see is really only a tiny particle of who we are. I also liked how the stories are open-ended and how they prompted me to reflect on my own life and make some adjustments before it's too late. I look forward to reading more books by J. California Cooper, I just wish i had known about her sooner.
April 21, 2011
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-minded, but it felt stilted, preachy, and heavy-handed (characters with names like Futilla Ways, Robert Earner, the Bsurd family...seriously?).
August 9, 2007
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 novel 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 while I couldn't get through the novel, I will complete this someday soon.
July 15, 2013
These "short" stories take their time developing themselves. I have to admit that I was wanting the speed to pick up and the stories to get moving along. Yet on the other hand, after letting some of the stories sit with me a while, I realized that you can't rush the blooming of a flower just because you are impatient and want to see the flower.
I am stuck between 2* and 3* (i.e. "just ok" and "liking") so I leaned towards 3* because the stories have a heart and sincerity to them that I really appreciated. This was a good summer find in the library.
I am stuck between 2* and 3* (i.e. "just ok" and "liking") so I leaned towards 3* because the stories have a heart and sincerity to them that I really appreciated. This was a good summer find in the library.
December 31, 2015
This was my first time reading J. California Cooper, but definitely won't be my last. She has a different type of writing style, but one that I love! The short stories were beautifully well written with enjoyable characters. My favorites were The Eye of the Beholder and Catch a Falling Heart. I found myself wanting to read more about these characters, but that just isn't how Ms. Cooper wanted it! I can't wait to read some other anthologies and novels from her.
July 7, 2007
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.
Currently reading
January 29, 2008If 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.
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July 25, 2008One 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
November 11, 2010
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.
July 23, 2013
In college, I read almost everything J. California Cooper wrote. Her novel, Family, remains one of my top 10 favorite books ever. It had been a number of years since I've read anything by her...no reason...just life. This book reminds me of why I first fell in love with her writing. It is good old storytelling of heartbreak and loss and happiness all mixed up together.
July 27, 2007
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."
July 11, 2014
I adore J. California Cooper's writing style. But, I must admit this book of short stories was agonizingly difficult for me to finish. Perhaps only 2 of the stories kept me interested. I found myself speed reading just to get through. Not a fav. At all. Disappointed.
March 31, 2015
I really miss the old J. California Cooper. Her more recent work is far too preachy. I found this book to be tedious at times and some of the stories seemed incomplete to me. The last one was good but the others left me feeling disappointed.
March 21, 2011
The stories were mediocre at best and many read the same way. My least favorite book by author, J. California Cooper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews