The Sages of West 47th Street: and Other Tales of Becoming - Softcover

Cooper, J L

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1732663106 ISBN 13: 9781732663107

Publisher: Five Warblers Press, 2018

Synopsis

These memoirs and creative nonfiction stories tell mostly of my youth and early twenties, the psychologist in the boy, childhood in a suburban town during the Cold War followed by a willful outward push into the world, taking to the road. Memories are ephemeral, with shadows and streaks of light breaking through. I've found great richness in relationships, as well as in private thought. In the stillness of remembering, important people from my past return with surprising ease. The later pieces are reflective vignettes, following a muse who refuses any interest in linear time. Regardless of the age of characters, everyone is in the making. Many of the characters in these stories are disguised in name and identifying details.

About this title

About the Author

J.L. Cooper is an author and psychologist in Sacramento, California. His writing highlights the lyricism in everyday life, relational mysteries, and the elevation of subjective experience. He has received five literary awards in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and essay, including the Tupelo Quarterly Prose Open Prize, TQ9, judged by Pulitzer winner Adam Johnson, and the Grand Prize in Poetry, Crosswinds Poetry Journal, 2018, judged by Pulitzer winner in criticism Lloyd Schwartz. His full-length book of poetry, An Ocean Large Enough (David Robert Books) is available on Amazon Books. His short stories, poetry and a craft piece have appeared or are forthcoming in numerous journals including The Manhattan Review, The Comstock Review, New Millennium Writings, Oberon Poetry Magazine, StoryQuarterly, Cutthroat, Hippocampus, Leveler, The Tishman Review, 3Elements Review, Structo, and several other journals and anthologies. His website is: jlcooper.net.

Review

"Cooper writes as the psychologist he was born to be. A delicious blend, these stories--from his coming of age, to the mystical voices of nature, to edgy characters that embody the grace and kindness to be found amidst the profound messiness of life. Threads of wisdom, comfort and gentle challenge run through each. Enjoy - these tales will stick to your bones."

--Debra Moore, Ph.D., author of The Loving Push

Regarding Wood Swivel Chairs: "The opening paragraph transfixed me. I found myself wishing I knew Cooper's father but as I kept reading I felt that I did know him, and knew the father he knew. The 'Firefighters' [vignette] is one of the most moving things I have ever read. Anywhere. By anyone. And I am so grateful that I can't clarify what I mean."

-- Philip Bromberg, Ph.D.

Regarding Wood Swivel Chairs: "J.L. Cooper's writing speaks directly and eloquently to the mystery of the various approaches we humans take to tell our stories, each of us working in our own way as best we can with tools 'as dull as the edge of night' to discover for ourselves what Robert Boswell calls 'the half - known world."

--Laura Geringer Bass, author of The Girl with More Than One Heart

"Reading J.L Cooper's profoundly evocative snapshots, of what seem to be ordinary vignettes, I'm inspired to wonder whether memories are dream-like because of the passage of time - or whether, even now, experiences are just as ephemeral. Cooper's writing touches reflective, contemplative nerves."

--David Rand, Founder, Director, The Art of Wisdom

Regarding A Summoning of Gifts to Wet Ankles "J.L. Cooper's series of vignettes and lyrical language capture truths as universal as our urge to return to the sea."

--Alexis Williams Carr, editor and publisher, New Millennium Writings

About this edition

• Publisher: Five Warblers Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1732663106
• ISBN 13: 9781732663107
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128
• Illustrator: Cooper Cameron