books
life is short but wide
p beloved writer j. california cooper has won a legion of loyal fans and much critical acclaim for her powerful storytelling gifts . in language both spare and direct yet wondrously lyrical life is short but wide is an irresistible story of family that proves no matter who you are or what you do you arenever too old to chase your dreams . br like the small towns j. california cooper has so vividly portrayed in her previous novels and story collections wideland oklahoma is home to ordinary americans struggling to raise families eke out a living and fulfill their dreams . in the early twentieth century irene and val fall in love in wideland . while carving out a home for themselves they also allow neighbors bertha and joseph to build a house and live on their land . the next generation brings two girls for irene and val and a daughter for bertha and joseph . as the families cope with the hardships that come with changing times and fortunes and people are born and pass away the characters learn the importance of living ones life boldly and squeezing out every possible moment of joy . br cooper brilliantly captures the cadences of the south and draws a picture of american life at once down to earth and heartwarming in this as her wise narrator will tell you strange sad kinda beautiful life story . it is a story about love that leads to the ultimate realization that whoever you are and whatever you do life is short but it is also wide .
hardcover doubleday books 2009 isbn13 9780385511346 isbn10 0385511345
abridged n isbn 13 9780385511346 number in series 1 number of pages 317 publisher random house inc release date 1237852800000