Customer Reviews

Intimate Chaos

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Almost everyone has experienced an unhappy or bad relationship at one point or another in their lives; it just happens. But in how many cases does the unsatisfied person continue to fight for the relationship, hoping that one day their love will be reciprocated? This is what happens in INTIMATE CHAOS by Cheril N. Clarke. One spends all her time giving and showing love, the other spends her time taking and running from love. Knowing it's best to move on, but failing to take action, Sadira Cooper continues the up again, down again romance with Jessie, ignoring the obvious signs Jessie gives her and feedback from those around her.

Eventually Jessie commits to the relationship and the lesbian couple move to another city and buy a condo together, making their relationship official. Unfortunately, being a couple is not much better than the times they spent dating. Jessie is incapable of showing her love to Sadira and Sadira is unwilling to just let it go, for good. When her eyes begin wandering towards a new woman in the neighborhood, Sadira scolds herself and tries to stay the course with her relationship. Jessie doesn't really know how to show her love. Though she has strong feelings, she holds them back, afraid Sadira will eventually hurt her. When she opens up a bit more and shares her feelings, will it be what the two need or will it be too little, too late?

INTIMATE CHAOS was a slowly paced exploration of love and the journey taken through the various pit stops on its course. Sadira's emotions made this novel speak to me in many ways, but specifically her hunger for Jessie. I felt her pain, her happiness, her desires, and her love. Clarke has done a remarkable job of sharing the story of love, that deep down feeling which causes its host to do anything, say anything, and put up with anything for the possibility of having that loved returned to them. It shows the emotional and physical levels of intimacy in which relationships are built upon, and the hurt, heartaches, and chaos that can come about, especially when one hasn't let go of past hurts. As an extra bonus, though this is the story of a lesbian relationship, the message transcends gender. Anyone who has ever loved someone, lost them, or been the recipient of unconditional love will be able to relate to this story.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

It almost pains me to write this review, as I am about supporting my sistahs' creative efforts - so long as they really are creative. This book has a great popularity among Black Lesbians simply because it tells a story that graces too few texts. For this, Black Lesbians feel compelled to go out and buy it; finally, some voice given to the complexities of our lives. Well, maybe. While I commend the author's courage in telling the story, it is not a well-told story. The plot is thin and repetitive. The characters lack depth, and well.. Character! The author DOES have talent as a writer, but it is not used well as this short novel would have worked better as a short story. There simply is not enough here to carry a lengthy work. The book reads like a Lesbian chat relationship on the rocks. There is sudden intense attraction that is spurred on by anonymity and fantasy of what one hopes a person should be. There is even the proverbial pick-up and move to another state without any true relationship foundation storyline here. In fact, in the foreword, the author says that the story was born out of chat conversations. The dialogues read like such. As a short story, Clarke might have done a superb job. I am reading this book with a group of Black Lesbians and across the board we agree that there is not enough of a plot her to make a good, strong novel, even though it does tell a common tale amongst Black Lesbian circles. Hopefully, Clarke will continue to write and develop her craft. She does make good use of humor and perhaps is just touching the surface of portraying human emotion, but if you want to read a very well-written novel about Black Lesbian/Women relationship and our emotional, socio-psyche complexities read Odessa Rose's Water in a Broken Glass. Otherwise, you can go to a Black Lesbian chat room and watch this type of story play out!

"Intimate Chaos" is one of those books that takes you on a journey from bliss to turmoil and back again with its dramatic twists and turns. That to me keeps me interested in a book all the way down to the very end. In this book we have Sadira, who's desperately searching for love and intimacy, finds Jessie, who displays a desire to be loved but runs from it when it is given to her. These two women struggle to learn lessons from past mistakes and apply them to future attempts at making things right. Waves of sabotage and temptation crash against their already unstable foundation which ends up testing the strength of their relationship.

After reading this book I felt a lot of resentment and sympathy for Jessie, as for Sadira she got under my skin quite a bit because she seem too needy to me. My initial thoughts were of 'lots of physical action between the main characters'. However the book takes you on a journey of character insight, the love, pain, heartache, fun and happiness. Your eyes are opened to the fact that even though its a same sex relationship, they go through everything that heteros do.

Cheril N. Clarke done a great job with "Intimate Chaos"! She tells the story from the heart through pain, erotica, and the unknown. I think any woman could find herself in these predicaments but most of all through this book.

Many years ago, I was (and still am) a member of LS. The place where the story of Jesse and Sadria got its start. I remember reading the small bits and pieces, and even getting a personalized email from Cheril herself with a few chapters. I was hooked. I wanted the book when it came out. But having been down for long financially, I wasn't able to buy it until I was honestly reminded of the books existance by rejoining LS.

I have had Cheril on my friends list on several sites, but me being a privy type person, disliking advertisements, and the mear fact of just having people on my list to have them there, started deleting people whom I didn't actually know personnally.

Now having bought the book, i braced myself for the upbeat energy, I once had between 6-8 years ago when the story first was breached to me. I settled in for a long night, even after working a 13 hour day, I wanted to finish. I struggled. I could hardly tell who was who from reading the words, having to go back a few pages multiple times to make sure that who ever was speaking was who I thought it was, then if it wasn't then why did it not sound like it.

Now while Cheril does have great writing skills, this book I am sad to say, does not stimulate me in any way. Now I have the second book (only cause I bought them together and both had been shipped within a day of each other). I will read it, and hope it fairs better than "Intimate Chaos" did with me. So as soon as I finish the lot of other books order at the same time (cause really all I have to do in the desert is read), I'll jump on the other one, and pray to not be disappointed.

And the reason I gave it two stars is only because I support black fiction writers, and because we are both in the same group.

I was pulled in from the start. I felt like I was there in the middle of all the drama. Believe me Sadira & Jesse will stay with you long after you've finished reading this book. The ups and many downs of their relationship had me on the edge. Thanks Cheril, for the wonderful experience. I can't wait for the sequel!

This is a great book and must read for anyone thats ever been in love.
I felt as though id lived the life Sadira was living being with Jessie,Ive met sooo many Jessies,and this was book so real and deep,felt like i knew all the characters.
A great book and a true love story!
I cant wait for the sequel,Thanks Cheril!!

We've all been in Sadira Cooper's shoes - loving someone we know, deep in our hearts, is all wrong for us. But we believe beyond hope that she will become the perfect woman for us. Sadira faced this dilemma and more in Cheril N. Clarke's INTIMATE CHAOS.

The novel opens with a letter from Sadira's ex, Jessie, apologizing for the mistakes made in their tumultuous relationship. Sadira's reading of the letter takes her three years back, when she first met Jessie. Traveling on the subway, Sadira spots the dreadlocked beauty and is instantly attracted to her. She oddly asks for Jessie's email address, and they exchange messages, getting to know each other and eventually dating.

Yet the more Sadira becomes acquainted with Jessie, the more Jessie runs away because of issues from her past. Meeting a thoughtful and romantic woman like Sadira scares her; it's something Jessie's never had. When things are good between them, Jessie pulls disappearing acts, going in and out of Sadira's life without notice, hurting her in the process. She breaks dates, holds back her feelings, and doesn't appear to genuinely care as much as Sadira does about their relationship. And every time Sadira tries to break loose from Jessie's hold, she finds some way to come back into Sadira's life.

Sadira knows that Jessie's revolving door behavior and standoffish attitude is not how she wants to be treated. Even after friends and her twin sister, Khedara, all warn that Jessie is not the one, she still moves their relationship forward, and the two relocate to Miami to begin a new life.

With the move, things are good at first, and then their relationship spirals into its old patterns. Jessie still hasn't opened up completely with Sadira and spends far too much time at work instead of being home. Things get so bad that Sadira is contemplating sleeping with her neighbor Kenya. It all comes to a head in the most dramatic fashion.

Intimate Chaos was simply that indeed. In Clarke's novel, you'll be exposed to Sadira's innermost thoughts as she falls in love with a self-absorbed woman. Throughout the book, you get caught up in Sadira's grief, almost to the point where you want to yell at her, "Wake up!" But you don't; you simply feel her pain, as we've all been there before.

Clarke's writing was enjoyable, and I look forward to other books by her. I just hope in the sequel, Sadira finds love with someone who's emotionally available to love her in return.

Wow! I'll be honest, initially, I didn't know if I'd be much interested in reading a book abt a relationship between two women but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed this book. Cheril did a wonderful job telling the story of LOVE. And midway through the book, for a slight moment, I forgot that this was a lesbian relationship. Intimate Chaos was an easy read that flowed exceptionally well. I, along with my book discussion members, thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely a book that you'll be hard pressed to put down! And after reading it, I truly understand that love, and the loss of love, reaches all boundaries, not just the traditional ones we're accustomed to. Great Job Cheril and continued success sister!

This book is awesome. The characters are so real and familiar. You easily find yourself entangled in the midst of their "Intimate Chaos" right along with them. It doesn't matter if your gay, bi, or straight this is a must read!

Ms. Clarke has definitely become one of my favorite novelist.

Finally! Ms Clarke has reached into all of our souls with this emotionally charged novel of love-lost. Even though it is a work of lesbian fiction, everyone can identify with the struggles of the characters. We all have had unequal balances of power, temptation, fear, mistrust, and chaos. This is a wonderful piece and I cannot wait for a sequel. THANK YOU, Cheril!!!