J. California Cooper should be in the catagory of classic literature. I was entertained along with given a bit to think about. She wrote about love, strength, courage and a whole list of qualities that most authors don't address. I liked how she would introduce the character in the present and then go back in time showing you why that person is the way he or she is. The descriptions and plots with various neighbors made the book move and made me eager to know how things were going to turn out. Cooper also provides insightful commentary on the human condition within the socio-political context of a Depression-era America. I thought the way the story was told from the unborn child was very clever. The signature author's characters' names and how they came to be is always as engaging as the story itself like "Eula Too" "Earle Mae" and "Lamont Heavy". If you are a J. California Cooper fan, you have to add this to your collection. ( )