I loved this book the first time I read it, only to fall head over hills again.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Special thanks to the author, @stmartinpress, & @netgalley for my gifted copy!!!

When I say this was by far one of the best historical short story collections I’ve come across recently I MEAN IT!!! Some Soul to Keep was the perfect title because she only left me with a little bit the way she snatched mine with this book. I was wondering why I never saw anyone really talk about it and now realize it’s because it’s a gem from the past. A MUST READ ONE TOO.

✨Sisters of The Rain - Superior was a strong character the amount of betrayal she endured from her husband and so called friends was unimaginable.

✨The Life You Live (May Not Be Your Own)- Neither Molly nor Belle had a good man. Gravy thought he did some getting a younger woman and got treated the same way he did his wife.

✨Red-Winged Blackbirds- This one moves quickly and I felt bad the way Birdie lost her parents. Spent her whole life wanting to be loved and to love someone almost died a virgin. When she found Reva she knew she was meant to be her daughter. Reva’s situation started out just as bad.

✨About Love and MoneyLove’s Lore and Money’s Myths- This one was so crazy siblings left to fend for themselves cause dad’s in prison and mother passed away. Oh but the twists in this one will get you. The way they talked about sex was funny too and knowing the reason Doctor’s wife was cheating on him.

✨Feeling for Life- this one might get to you our MC was born blind, mother passed away, abandoned by her siblings at the church, and had a baby by the pastor. This story was the icing on the cake.

I love that everything was so fleshed out, well-written, and detailed with southern dialect making each story sound so authentic. The unforgettable characters, the suffering of Black women and their trauma, heartbreak, struggle, and pain felt so real. I wasn’t left with unanswered questions but definitely wanted more. If you’re a fan of Alice Walker, Mary Monroe, or Latoya Watkins definitely think you’d enjoy this collection.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Some Soul to Keep”.  is a treasure trove of exuberant storytelling by the incomparable J. California Cooper. In this collection, she weaves five incredible short stories that explore love’s impact on family relations, friendships, and romantic entanglements.

“Layla”: A tale of forbidden love, secrets, and redemption. Cooper’s warm narration brings Layla’s spirit to life, making her leap off the page.

“The Last of the Great Love Letters”: A poignant exploration of love’s enduring power. Through letters exchanged over decades, Cooper captures the essence of longing and connection.

“The Other Woman”: A complex web of relationships unfolds as a woman grapples with her husband’s infidelity. Cooper’s characters are flawed, real, and utterly relatable.

“The Eye of the Beholder”: A story of self-discovery and acceptance. When a young woman confronts societal expectations, she finds her own path to happiness.

“Some Soul to Keep”: The title story delves into the heartache of lost love and the resilience required to move forward. Cooper’s prose is both lyrical and grounded.

With each story, Cooper invites us to sit and to be part of these lives, their struggles, and their triumphs. Her writing is a celebration of Black family life, rich in spirit and unforgettable. 🌟📖

**A Masterpiece of Love and Humanity**

"Some Soul to Keep" is a stunning collection that showcases J. California Cooper’s exceptional talent for storytelling. Each of the short stories delves deep into the complexities of love and its profound impact on family, friendship, and romance. Cooper's characters, rich in spirit and voice, bring to life the vibrant tapestry of Black family life in rural and small-town America. The warmth of her narration and her keen understanding of the human condition are reminiscent of the literary folk traditions of Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, making each story deeply moving and unforgettable.

What sets this collection apart is Cooper’s ability to capture the essence of her characters with such authenticity and empathy. Whether exploring the bonds of family, the trials of friendship, or the highs and lows of romantic relationships, she paints a vivid and heartfelt picture that resonates deeply. The stories are not just a reflection of the Black experience but a universal exploration of love in all its forms. "Some Soul to Keep" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates powerful, evocative storytelling that touches the soul and leaves a lasting impression.

For years, one of my dearest friends, who is not much of a reader, had begged me to read J. California Cooper whenever I was in search of a heartfelt story about family and friends, or when I was especially world-weary. I never got around to it but I should have known by how loud her voice was on the subject was a treat I was in for. Some Soul to Keep is a collection of short stories, a format I don't usually enjoy, but it is so beautifully written. With a powerful message about the agency in your life, Some Soul to Keep changed my perspective. I can't wait to pick up the next title I can find by this author.

J. California Cooper has a way of writing that’s reminiscent of writers like Zora Neale Hurston, but distinctly her own at the same time!

These short stories took me through a roller coaster of emotions! So, I encourage everyone to give these stories a try!

Four incredible short stories about women going through the same trials and tribulations in life that we go through. The central message is always that you are in charge of taking back the power of your own life.

This is great read. The characters were engaging and I couldn't put the book down. I would recommend this book for a book club or a friend.

Some Soul to Keep by J. California Cooper is four amazing short stories.
These stories were simply amazing. The characters are engaging and the writing was absolutely incredible. I was hanging onto every single word.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

J. California Cooper's Some Soul to Keep earns a well-deserved four stars for its exuberant and heartwarming depiction of black family life in rural and small-town America. Cooper, known for her transparent clarity and high-spirited energy, has crafted a collection of stories that resonate with the simple yet profound truths of human existence. Drawing comparisons to literary giants like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, Cooper's work embodies the rich folk tradition in black writing.

In Some Soul to Keep, Cooper's storytelling prowess shines through as she brings her characters to life with remarkable vividness. Each story is a testament to her ability to capture the essence of ordinary people navigating the complexities of love, marriage, family, and fate. Her characters are not just names on a page; they leap out, filled with the vibrancy and authenticity of real, lived experiences.

One of the most striking aspects of Cooper's writing is her ability to weave the triumph of the human spirit into her narratives. Whether dealing with themes of death, hardship, or the simple joys of life, Cooper infuses her stories with a sense of resilience and hope. This collection is a celebration of life's enduring energies and the indomitable spirit of her characters.

The stories in Some Soul to Keep are imbued with a sense of intimacy and immediacy, making readers feel as though they are sitting around a hearth, listening to tales passed down through generations. Cooper's language is both lyrical and accessible, making her stories approachable while still retaining a depth of meaning and emotion.

However, while Cooper's stories are rich in character and theme, some readers might find the simplicity of the plotlines less engaging compared to more complex narratives. Yet, it is precisely this simplicity that allows the emotional and cultural richness of her stories to shine.

In conclusion, Some Soul to Keep is a beautiful and enduring work that captures the heart and soul of black family life. J. California Cooper has created a vivid tapestry of stories that celebrate the resilience, love, and unyielding spirit of her characters. This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling and the profound beauty found in the lives of ordinary people.

Beautiful and stunning collection of short stories I love Cooper so much. One of the best African American storytellers of all time these stories will stick with you for a lifetime and you will want to read from this collection for years to come.

It has been such a joy to read both Homemade Love as well as Some Soul to Keep by J. California Cooper. I was able to listen to the audio as well for Homemade Love and cannot wait to do the same with Some Soul to Keep.

As a Black American who also lives in a small town, there were so many little nods to the Black American experience in this long short story collection that I could relate to. In the author's note, J. California Cooper says "On this journey through my imagination these long-short stories came to me. They, now, come to you with pieces of my soul. So...I named this book what I offer you.... Some soul to keep." And I cannot stress just how fitting that title is. This book feels like sitting on the front porch listening to your grandma tell stories that have been passed down for generations as you watch steam build up from the gravel driveway after a quick summer storm. Literal perfection!

I am so grateful to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the chance to be an early reader. This is one of those books that will stick with you long after reading and that I will cherish forever.

I don't know why this is being reissued - but I'm happy that it is. That's because it gave me a chance to reread these carefully crafted stories of women but more importantly because it should be discovered and read by a new generation. Cooper has a way with words and characters. Yes these women struggle but they are relatable, believable, and heading for better things. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great collection.

As always I enjoy this author’s work. This was my first time reading a collection of her short stories.Not as engaging as her novels, but I still enjoyed it.
Some of the stories were very interesting but it was at times hard to follow since it was written in southern drawl. The book focused on Black women, some love,a lot of pain,some highs, & some lows. The author does a great job capturing the lives & issues that the black women during that time period endured. The stories kind of slightly sounded the same. My favorite was the last story, the story of the Blind woman, Christine.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reprint of a collection of four short stories from the late J. California Cooper. The stories are filled with characters overcoming great adversities and triumphing over great odds. Some of the heroines are quite inspiring. My favorite story was the last, centered on a blind woman named Christine who rises from being abandoned by her sister at the local church to being a loved wife and mother. The story was so vivid I even heard the Southern drawl as I was reading. The only drawback is that the stories are so similar in protagonist, location and tone they become too predictable.

Some Soul to Keep is a collection of long short stories exploring the presence and absence of love. With her narration and vivid description of Black characters, J. California Cooper brings moving stories of Black family life.

First published in 1987, Some Soul to Keep features five (5) short stories that are long in length and meaning. In true JCC style, there are troubled characters telling their story in such an intimate way that they garner sympathy and readers' attention. Although I found only two of the five stories extremely interesting, there is one character that will stick in my head long after I've closed this advance copy and a central theme of Black love.

If you are new to J. California Cooper's work, do not read Some Soul to Keep first. While it is written in her signature style, it is not a good enough representation of her fine talent. She earned Black Playwright of the Year in 1978 and the American Book Award so I suggest reading some of her other works first. Return to Some Soul to Keep when you have a better sense of her moral message.

Happy Early Re-Pub Day to the late great J. California Cooper! Some Soul to Keep will be available Tuesday, June 11.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

I have been a fan of J California Cooper for 40 years. This book does not disappoint. Each story is a testament to her absolutely exquisite ability to paint a picture with words. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting her work. I will recommend this to anyone I know who enjoys good literature.

A radiant collection of short stories that resonates with timeless wisdom and heartfelt emotion.
Many thanks to St.. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you have never tried a short story, it's time you tried one. This is a power punch of female energy and voices of color. Each story brings more love and passion of life through the pages.

I rarely read collections of short stories but this was a very good read. The stories held my attention and the characters are very relatable. A lot go women can see themselves in the stories. Very moving, heartfelt stories.