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Homemade Love cover art

Homemade Love

By: J. California Cooper
Narrated by: Peter Fernandez,Donna Bailey,Kim Staunton,Susan Spain,Starla Benford
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Summary

Critics have compared her work to that of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, but J. California Cooper has a warm, witty style that’s definitely her own. Each of her short stories is a gem of downhome wisdom, polished with a bit of gossip, some heartbreak, and lots of humor.

In "Funny Valentines" a "simple" woman draws one heart on Valentine’s Day and divides it among the people she loves, until all but one of them lies in the cemetery. "Living" portrays a man in midlife crisis who leaves his loving wife and pleasant country home for a taste of high city living and returns with a new perspective on life. "Spooks" is the tongue-in-cheek tale of a man who masquerades as a ghost in order to outsmart an unscrupulous suitor and win the heart of a vulnerable widow.

Sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and always touching, J. California Cooper’s characters enlighten us and enrich us as they find love in unlikely places. The warm narrations will give listeners a sense of chatting with nosy but well-meaning neighbors over the back fence.

©1986 J. California Cooper (P)2000 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Told in first-person, in a lively, unobtrusive black dialect, these tales, set in both country and city, are lit with wisdom and high-spirited humor." ( Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about Homemade Love

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Simply wonderful, more please

J. California Cooper is one of my favourite authors and I have read this book many times, but having the stories read to me - I just fell in love again. I wish there were more audio books available :-(

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  • Alva Hines
  • 28-09-15

This was great

This was an excellent performance. 😊 I truly enjoyed the readings from each voice.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Joy
  • 12-04-11

Almost Embarrassed to say...I was dissapointed

First, J. California Cooper is one of my favorites but somehow these stories, half of them were not that interesting. I almost felt like I was reading about the same people. Dont get me wrong, I had my favorites, and it could have been that one particuliar narrator whose shouting voice grated my nerves! It could be that the stories I was least fond of were the ones with this particuliar narrator. If you listen to the book, you will know who I am referring too!

3 people found this helpful

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  • Kimberly Simmons
  • 18-03-16

comforting.. .

i read this book as a child, ironically while home with a broken leg. 24 yrs later, i get to enjoy this again while recovering from knee surgery. a bit of my childhood to enjoy again. the stories are great symbols of love and devotion to loving the person, the kind of love we long for but rarely find.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Teylo T
  • 17-08-15

Very Enjoyable!

great collection of short stories. couldn't put it down - can't wait to read again!

2 people found this helpful

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  • us
  • 23-01-15

Great read and Great performance

If you could sum up Homemade Love in three words, what would they be?

Warms the Soul

Who was your favorite character and why?

All. Each character comes with their own story. The read should take each story as it's own lesson and not try to make it more.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to other performances by this narrator, however, the narrator was perfect for this book. It almost felt like I was sitting with my grandmother as she told me these stories.

If you could take any character from Homemade Love out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Not sure about dinner, but I would love to talk with each of them.

Any additional comments?

This is a great book for a reader that likes to hear about unabridged life. There are ups and downs. The stories do not always happy endings. However, there are typically lessons learned and /or peace found; which makes the stories more real.

2 people found this helpful

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  • BJ
  • 04-06-12

Real Life Stories

Would you listen to Homemade Love again? Why?

Yes,It's very funny I laughed a lot while listening to different chapters.

What other book might you compare Homemade Love to and why?

I would compare this book to In search of satisfaction also by J California Cooper.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrator is alright on a scale of 1-10. I would give them an 7 being 10 is the nighest

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes the chapter about the watchers.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed listening to Home made love through Audible books I wish there were more books by J California Cooper in Audible book form .

2 people found this helpful

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  • Margo Myles
  • 30-04-12

Wonderful Storyteller

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to friend. The author is a masterful Storyteller.

2 people found this helpful

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  • sabrina
  • 30-01-12

I loved it! excellent story teller

What did you love best about Homemade Love?

it was like listening to an aunt or grandmother tell you lessons about life. lessons that are relvelant today. love all her books.

2 people found this helpful

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  • LTCDORTCH
  • 06-02-13

Classic American Stories

If you could sum up Homemade Love in three words, what would they be?

This book captures all of the best about life and the stories are moving, funny, and insightful. Need to have more of her work in Audio form

What other book might you compare Homemade Love to and why?

Most Alice Walker books

1 person found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 22-02-23

Great book

I loved the book how the stories were told in 1st person from the story tellers point of view, it also has that home grown feel