Between Lovers

When I first heard about Between Lovers, I was taken aback by the subject matter, but decided to read the book anyway for its story-telling worthiness. Personally, I thought he did a fine job in telling a complex story, especially since he isn't taking it from his own life, but is actually making it up, becoming the characters, and trying to imagine what it would feel like to be in their shoes. It is bothersome to see how people are dissing this book. If you were to take EJD's name off the cover, would it still be considered so horrible (as a few other readers have indicated)? Why is it that people think just because Eric alters his style a little bit, and writes about something controversial with unlikable characters that his writing is getting worse? I thought his writing was fine. As a matter of fact, Eric's "worst" could be considered another writer's "best", but that's another matter. Think about it! This is his sixth book. If he keeps redoing Cheaters & Friends and Lovers, people will complain that he's formulaic. Yet if he takes a risk, which all serious writers have to do at some point, some of the readers don't like it and wish he'd go back to the style that he's already mastered. If you want the true formulaic type writer, go read a Danielle Steele novel, but if you are willing to hang with someone who seems to enjoy stretching artistically and challenging himself, than stick with Eric Jerome Dickey and allow him the space to create unusual stories and at the same time cultivate his craft.

Broadway actor Richard Allen gives an emotionally accurate reading to this sometimes comic, often erotic contemporary love triangle by Eric Jerome Dickey, author of the best selling "Liar's Game." Believing himself to be at the top of his game both professionally and personally, a Los Angeles based African-American author is stunned when he's left cooling it at the altar by Nicole, his steady and stalwart lover of seven years. The copout bride makes a beeline for her second lover, Ayanna, a beautiful, hot tempered attorney. Before long Nicole is alternating evenings between the writer and Ayanna. Three's more than a crowd when this trio gets together - sparks fly and crash land as the dialogue reaches fever pitch. It's author Dickey at his best; he's cutting edge, on target, and thought provoking. A tragic twist compels all to reevaluate their lives. Reader Richard Allen carries the day with this fast paced read, and Eric Jerome Dickey again proves his authorial prowess.

Once again, Eric Jerome Dickey has rocked the literary scene with a novel that is in-your-face blunt! And hard to put down! This is the story of a man in love - so much so, he's willing to wait for his ex-fiance, Nicole, to "find herself" by stringing him and her girlfriend Ayanna along. Yep, she's in love with a man and a woman. The narrator, who's name is unknown, is a writer who stays in a hotel in Oakland whenever he wants to visit with Nicole, because Nicole and Ayanna live together. It gets to the point where Nicole wants the two to meet in an intimate setting, but she wants them to follow the "rules". How far will one go for love? Would you sacrifice your morals, what you believe in, be it homosexuality or fidelity, to please the one you love? Would you still love a person that DEEP, when that person stood you up at the alter, in front of God, your family and friends? This novel makes you answer those questions and more! A must read.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Between Lovers is the story of one man and two women who agree to an unusual love triangle. A man and woman openly and willingly divvy up the lips, bed, mind, and soul of another woman and they believe that this arrangement is doable, acceptable, and something that they're willing to endure because of their love for that one woman and her love for them. The center of this emotionally fascinating, yet disturbing relationship is Nicole, a woman who loves deep, loves hard, and if she has things her way, the two people to whom she wants to give all her love are a nameless male writer from Los Angeles, and an aggressive woman named Ayanna. The man is actually Nicole's former fiancé and Ayanna is the individual whose existence caused Nicole to change her mind about marrying him. I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. For one, the story was written from one person's point-of-view, which is a different read for me from Eric Dickey. However, the writing wa!s detailed and thorough enough so that you're given a complete picture regarding the characters: the writer, Nicole, Ayanna, and especially Nicole's deeply religious mother, and the writer's father, a civil rights activist.I also really liked the fact that the main characters have living parents. Sometimes their presence helps the reader to understand the main characters a little better. The novel is structurally sound: no noticeable gaps, great intensity, everything was done very well. I enjoyed the setting (Oakland) and the vivid writing makes you feel as if you're walking alongside the characters.One other thing I was happy about is the word orchestration/combination of long and short sentences (as opposed to a lot of short sentences). To me this gives the novel more of a lyrical or poetic feel and I loved that aspect.I truly believe the readers will enjoy Between Lovers once they settle down and begin to read...it is the type of story that takes you! to another place and that's what novels are supposed to do. On the constructive side: the writer might want to watch those spellings of celebrity names...(Atlantic Starr). Sometimes those misspelled words stand out like a cop car sitting in front of your house. :)In summary, I love that Eric's writing is evolving & going to an even higher level, and Between Lovers is wonderful evidence of that growth.