Sadira meets Jessie
Sadira first sees Jessie on the subway she "sees her future." Little does she know where that future will take her. I tried to be discreet, but I could not stop myself from staring at her bosom classily encased in a tan corset top. Her leather pants hugged her in places I had no business thinking about...Soon Jessie and Sadira are together, sharing long emails and phone conversations. Jessie has some hang-ups about intimacy, but Sadira, dealing with some demons from her own past, is willing to wait her out.
Finally Jessie makes a commitment, but in order to stay with her, Sadira must move to Miami, a place with too many bad memories for her to count. Over and over Sandira gives of herself, will Jessie ever open up and give back?
Reads like a Personal Journal
Whether Cheril N. Clarke had a partner like Jessie is not known, but much of the book reads like it could be straight from her diary. And this is the main downfall of the novel. We spend too much time in Sadira's head as she analyzes the relationship and not enough time as observers of Jessie and Sadira's lives.Certain passages, like the death of Jessie's brother, which have the potential to show some real depth of the characters are not dealt with adequately. It seems Clarke only brings up the death to make a point about Jessie and Sadira's relationship. This is an intense thing that should be dealt with with feeling and emotion, but unfortunately, there is none here.
Good Writing, Great Sex Scenes
Clarke can write. Sadira is a poet and some of the poetry she shares is excellent. The book also has some great lesbian sex scenes. She gives just enough detail to bring you there, but not so much it reads like a technical description. Overall, Intimate Chaos is an interesting read, with lots of lesbian drama and a story line that keeps you engaged. A great summer read!
