Slight discoloration - Title: friends and lovers - Author: ERIC JEROME DICKEY - Publisher: Signet - ISBN: 0451188039 - Price: $5.99 A representative work of African American literature published in 1997 by Eric Jerome Dickey, depicting the love, friendship, betrayal, and rebirth of four young men and women. Set in Los Angeles, the story unfolds as the love lives of two couples intersect, a story that blends warmth and pain. The two couples: Deborah × Leonard Deborah is a serious obstetrician who has decided "no sex before marriage." Leonard is an entertainer with a complex past, and he is drawn to her strength and intelligence. They gradually get closer while respecting each other's values, and eventually marry. Shelby × Tyrell Both carrying the wounds of heartbreak, they are drawn to each other and begin living together in a passionate relationship. However, an unexpected pregnancy and shadows from the past shake their relationship. The characteristics and appeal of the work are the realistic portrayal of the "sweetness" and "pain" of love, and the relationships of the four people are filled with alternating moments of happiness and misunderstanding. In particular, the realistic aspects of love, such as differences in values, past wounds, and the wavering of trust, are carefully depicted. The breath of the African American community, Los Angeles city life, culture, family values, and friendship are firmly depicted as a backdrop, and while it is a romance novel, it also has a sense of social reality. Also, as is typical of Dickey's work, with humor and warmth, the pace of the conversations is good, and even amidst heavy themes, laughter and kindness are interspersed, giving the reader a sense of depth. Recommended for those who want to read about the complexities of love and the reality of human relationships, those who like to follow the characters' inner feelings and growth, and those who are interested in African American literature. Also recommended for those who like stories that blend warmth and sadness. Thank you for viewing.