Like the small towns J. California Cooper has so deftly portrayed in herprevious novels and story collections Wideland Oklahoma is home to ordinaryAmericans str... » 

Like the small towns J. California Cooper has so deftly portrayed in herprevious novels and story collections Wideland Oklahoma is home to ordinaryAmericans struggling to raise families eke out a living and fulfill theirdreams. 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 andJoseph to build a house and live on their land. The next generation brings twogirls for Irene and Val and a daughter for Bertha and Joseph. As the familiescope with changing times and fortunes and people are born and pass away thecharacters learn the importance of living ones life boldly and squeezing outevery possible moment of joy while being held up by a strong foundation oflove and the ultimate realization that whoever you are and whatever you dolife is short but it is also wide. «