The Future Has a Past: Stories

I am a solid J. California Cooper fan for life. And it goes without saying that I was not disappointed when it came to reading The Future Has A Past.I loved all four stories. However, A Filet of Soul and The Lost and the Found were my favorites. Ms. Cooper has a way of holding your hand as she introduces you to the people in her stories. She has the ability to pinch just the right nerve at just the right time to let you know that you could have lived the life that the character is living.I just hope that we don't have to wait very long for the next book. But then again...stories by J. California Cooper are like fine wine. Nothing before it's time.

I have to almost shyly say that I've never read a book by Ms. Cooper before, but when her newest work was sent to me, the title alone drew me in, and the book refused to let me go until I finished the last page.The Future Has A Past is a collection of four stories that centered around a topic that women of all shades hold dear: LOVE. In these stories, Cooper introduces us to ordinary women who discover that love sometimes comes when you least expect it to.In the collection, you'll find:1. Maisha, the narrator of "A Shooting Star," chronicles the much-gossiped-about affairs of her friend Lorene and laments her inability to differentiate between sex and love,2. In "The Eagle Flies," Vinnie, a single mother, devotes herself to her selfish children, letting opportunities for her own happiness slip by until it is almost too late,3. In "A Filet of Soul," Louella, raised to believe she is ugly and undesirable, falls for a fast-talking con man and loses her small inheritance and her dignity; but his betrayal turns out to mark the beginning of a love affair -- and a life -- Louella had never imagined she would find, and4. "The Lost and the Found," Lorene waits and waits for the philanderer she loves to marry her, almost letting the love of a good man pass her byFirst and foremost, I have to say that Cooper's style is one that evokes emotions, that pulls you into the women's lives and pains, making you tap into your very own. There is no way I could pick just one story as my favorite, for as a woman, I found truth in each and every story, and so often found myself saying, "So and so NEEDS to read this story, and open their eyes."Not only does Cooper spin a wonderful story, but she intricately weaves truth and wisdom into her words, making these stories almost a testament to various aspects of this thing called love.The Future Has A Past is a book that should be a must-read to not only African American women, but to ALL women of the sisterhood, because I believe not one woman could read this collection and not find herself in at least one of the stories.Let Cooper's down home narrators invite you into the excellent read that is The Future Has A Past...you'll definitely leave with new perspectives on love, and realizing that although we look to our futures, our pasts will help to construct those futures...make your NOW important and full of love, for yourself.Shonell Bacon....

It seems to me that when this lady writes something, it is so good that you feel that possibly, she can't top it, and then she does. J.California Cooper must be one of the most underrated African American writers there is because outside of her fans, you don't hear much about her. But in my opinion, she is one of the best writers out here. Anyone that could take a story and just make you enjoy it as though you enjoy a good meal or a good movie, that is Ms.Cooper. I enjoyed especially "A Filet of Soul". Luella may have had a self-esteem problem, but she sure wasn't a total fool. And in the end, she triumphed. The story about Vinnie and her self-centered children will come next. These stories are about ordinary folks whose life become a bit sweeter or in some instances, worse (like Cool in "The Lost and The Found" though I tend to feel he was set up for his own undoing).And in them, you find a lesson, and feel better for it. I only hope that more would recognize the talent that Ms.Cooper has and read her works. You won't come away disappointed.

I didn't expect anything less than what this book held - a wonderful collection of stories that are more than just "stories!" This book like all the others [that she's written] are so full of life and wisdom. Mrs. Cooper is my favorite author beyond any doubt. I read her books and I get stories about this journey called life - and in her stories - I get wisdom on how to handle this journey called life.A masterful author - she delivers again with "The Future Has A Past." I encourage you to get her works and experience a true story-teller who leaves you with more "fight" to go through life knowing that each of us have the ability to come out of the fight victorious! My only regret is, I wish she could write a book a month!

I have read everything Ms Cooper has written and everytime I think she has done her best work she has proven me wrong.I learned a long time ago that reading can take you to new places and sometimes make you understand where you have been. In The Future has a Past I find myself wondering how she knows me so well when we have never met. The stories are real no matter what time or place they are centered around. As in the Matter is Life I related to the stories because I had lived the stories or knew someone who has.From her first novel Family to Wake of the Wind, Ms Cooper has again brought reality to real situations by telling a fiction story. The future has a Past will take you inside yourself and make you think about what life and love means to you. The women have all been friends of mine. Louella in the Filet of Soul makes you look at yourself and wonder how many times have someone told us something about ourselves and we believed it. How many time have you thought of yourself as worthless or unloveable. This book is a great read and the stories are fictional but the characters are so very real. Again I must wait for something even more amazing then The Future has a Past. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Ms. Cooper.