Product Description

One man. Two women.
Consider the possibilities.

"Lust and confusion collide in this supple novel about a woman who wants it all." (People)

"A provocative, realistic love story with real characters that we root for." (Cincinnati Enquirer)

"A witty, sexy romp." (Sunday Denver Post)

"[Dickey's] at the top of his game." (Detroit News and Free Press)

"Provocative and complex." (Ebony)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #861471 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-01
• Released on: 2002-05-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780451204677
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Dickey (Liar's Game) shows a skillful hand once again with sensational relationships and heady sensuality in his lively fourth novel, another winner. Exploring the dynamics of a complex and emotive love triangle, he injects some autobiographical detail into the mix by making his unnamed protagonist and first-person narrator a popular L.A.-based African-American author. This author is riding the wave of a book-signing tour in Oakland, Calif., but is still reeling from the repercussions of being stood up at the altar by seven-year lover and secretly budding lesbian Nicole. The runaway bride abandons the ceremony for some much-needed self-exploration, and though she's still in love with her ex-fianc‚, she quickly moves in with female lover Ayanna, a fiery, cynical attorney. A year later, Nicole gets busy alternating dates with both partners; this proves complicated and emotionally draining for all three. When they all finally come together, there is a dialogue-heavy, war of the roses-style battle for Nicole's heart (sandwiched between some particularly vigorous erotic play, Dickey-style). A tragic turn of events forces both Ayanna and the novelist to reexamine their narcissistic motivations and reconsider their capacity to love without limitations. The pace of this character-driven novel is unhurried, highlighting Dickey's celebrated contemporary vernacular, thinly veiled social commentary and comedic sarcasm. While his somewhat shallow emotional portrait of Nicole might not fully convince readers that she's worth all the trouble she causes, at the same time he manages to demonstrate just how blind and blissfully numbing true love can be. This is another spicy slice of African-American dramatic fiction from an author who seems only to get better. (July)Forecast: Jacketed in the familiar, brightly colored Dickey style, this quality crowd-pleaser will leap off display tables. Chances are it'll hit bestseller lists early, given an extra boost by a 20-city author tour.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The author of best sellers like Liar's Game sets up an unusual triangle. After seven happy years, Nicole has dumped her boyfriend (who narrates) and fallen in love with a woman. But she can't help trying to entice her former love back into her life.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The narrator, a successful writer on a book-signing stop in Oakland, renews his relationship with longtime lover Nicole. Seven years ago, Nicole left him at the altar, uncertain of her commitment and sexually confused. He's spent the past seven years writing novels, thinly veiled rehashings of their relationship, and nursing guilt that a sexually adventurous trip to Paris with Nicole may have sparked her sexual confusion. He's determined to win her back, as determined as Nicole's lover, Ayanna, a beautiful and intense lawyer, is to keep her. Nicole has grown into a self-assured woman, successful in her own right and determined to advance her own agenda. Unwilling to give up either lover, she wants a shared arrangement and sets in motion an incredible few days of emotional and sexual challenge. When either partner mentions closing the circle, Nicole is understandably reluctant, not wanting to shift the center of control. The tension between the three heightens as each is confronted with deceptions, jealousy, self-delusions, and a subtle shifting of control in their destructive competition. As a subtext, the narrator struggles with his father's and other people's expectations of black writers, an obligation to write something of substance versus frivolity. His hero is James Baldwin, viewed by his preacher-activist father as a talented but self-indulgent man standing on the sidelines in the struggle for racial justice. Dickey captures the ambience of Oakland and the angst of three fascinating characters in a torturous bisexual love triangle. Dickey fans will be delighted. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

What Happened to the EJD I Knew???
I am a huge fan of Eric Jerome Dickey, so I rushed to the store and bought this book the first day it came out. I was extremely disappointed with the book. The book is out of character for EJD. Dickey is a talented writer and I believe he was trying to display his diversity as an author with this book; unfortunately the book is a flop. The book felt like a rushed product. It lacked character development and the plot went nowhere. The story is told first person by a narrator who is never given a name. This makes the book an extremely difficult read because at times you are unable to determine who is speaking. I oftentimes had to back up several times to determine who was speaking.

Another concern I had with the novel is that I felt it was unrealistic. The three characters are caught in a love triangle. Nicole is in love with both the narrator and her lover Ayanna. They are both determined to have her for themselves, thus they submit themselves to acts neither one of them is comfortable performing. Dickey himself makes the clearest point to contradict the character's silly actions. At one point in the book it is stated that if the love triangle were between a woman and two men the man surly would not accept this type of behavior and allow his woman to see another man. Why should we believe then that the situation should be any different because the narrator's woman is in love with another woman?

I was not drawn to any of the characters. As a reader I never developed a sense of empathy or connection with any of them. Although I did feel bad for Nicole because of her struggle with her sexuality, that empathy was diminished because she was extremely selfish. No woman can have two people, regardless of whether it is two men or a man and a woman. This is just a selfish expectation. Nicole did not think of how her actions affected the lives of those she loved. She was a selfish lover.

This was a very disappointing novel from and extremely talented author. EJD should stick with what he does best.

Between Lovers is an Enigma...
I have now read all of Eric Jerome Dickey's books and this one is the most racy. I commend Dickey for taking an artistic chance to explore a topic that not too many African Americans address.

There are several themes Dickey addresses in his latest novel, Between Lovers: Family Relationships in particular, father and son, mother and daughter, homesexuality, man and woman relationships, spirituality vs. religion, identity, addiction to a person, forgiveness, and civic duty. It seems like alot, but Dickey develops his characters and delivers messages with incomparable delicacy and openness.

There are many times in the book where you want to strangle the narrator or shout at him because you can't understand why he would chase this woman around and basically sacrifice his personal dignity in the name of love. But I couldn't help comparing it to the behavior of many women who relentlessly chase a man when it is clear that he is not emotionall available to them. In this book it is clearly from the inside of a man! It made me think twice about how I see men and their emotional capabilites. "Is he for real?" was a constant question I would ask myself while reading.

Dickey explored the underground and above ground world of sexuality between women. The relationship that his former fiance, Nicole has with a high powered attorney, Ayanna, is not based on sex. It is a relationship based on trust, honesty and intimacy. Any steretypes or opinions that people may have developed about gay women will be altered after reading this novel. It also challenges your beliefs about how love is shown and how it can be expressed in human relationships.

Another issue Dickey addressed is the issue of religion vs. sprituality. The ability to believe in God, but also to have other belief systems and question your own. For instance the women use reflexology to cure their hormonal issues. He also mentions many books on a variety of religions that Nicole and Ayanna read. The women as well as the narrator have questioned authorative figures in their own lives, much to their belligerent chagrin, who helped shape their belief system.

Family relationships was an extremely important theme in this novel. If you are like me than you have had issues with at least one of your parents in your lifetime. Dickey explores this and shows us that reconciliation can be achieved with acceptance. There is nothing harder than emotionally detaching from your parents, but Dickey tackles it. At the end there is a particularly moving scene in which the character is given acceptance by a father who for awhile disapproves of his "life force," writing.

As I bring this to a close, I will mention what I consider to be "negatives." The ending is dragged out and is almost too dramatic. You want to tell him, "to get over it" much quicker than he actually does. There are times you just want to get rid of Nicole yourself because you just don't get how she can so openly manipulate two people and they still adore her. His best-friend, Andre, I would have liked to see a plot unravel that involves him. Unlike his other books that intertwine many characters and their plots this book concentrates solely on his desire to break free from Nicole's "spell." But Dickey keeps the novel moving so quickly that you forgive him for omitting more "down to earth" charcters and for so blatantly adding in the probation cariacture of the accident witness, which was completely unncessary and degrading. Let's not forget the unhelpful references to the novel, "lolita." That book is about a child molester who obviously has mental problems. yet Dickey felt the need to keep referring to it throughout the novel as if it would help people to understand his obsession. As a woman and a survivor of abuse, I was highly offended.Unless you have read the book in a lit class somewhere it just takes up space.

But it is definetely a novel you want to carry with you in your purse until you finish!

Obsessive Love
The narrator is left at the altar and discovers that his would be bride has another partner. Surprise-the partner is a woman.

This book is not a typical romance or contemporary fiction where you have a lover's triangle. This triangle involves a man and two women; One of the main character's wants both lovers. One of those lovers wants to complete the triangle thus making a circle. Another surprise, it is not who you would assume. What is so intriguing about this novel is that it is a deep, psychological look into sexuality and how some may question their own identity. With this novel you have betrayal, jealousy, deceit and self-discovery. Also, material wealth comes into play in the form of self-promotion.

You want to dislike one of the main characters, Nicole, because at first glance she is spoiled, hypocritical and selfish. But for some reason you cannot dislike her. I found myself cheering on the narrator wishing that he would come out the winner. In the end he was a winner. The feelings are also explored of the secondary characters such as the parents and friends of the main characters. Those secondary characters provide some insight into the behavior of your major players.

I've only read Sister, Sister, Cheaters and Friends and Lovers and was surprised at the level this book took on. It was not what I expected.

This reader is in awe! KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!