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Blackgammon
A sweeping, unforgettable debut novel that traces remarkable parallel voyages of self-discovery, Blackgammon reveals the intertwined lives of two African-American women--soul sisters whose vow to stay true to one another will carry them through love, loss, and triumph on the way to finding out who they really are . . . and who they were meant to be.
After twenty-five years of self-imposed exile in Paris, legendary African American artist Chloe Emmanuel faces a daunting the chance of a triumphant return to the United States. She came to the City of Light in search of freedom . . . the freedom to paint, freedom from a love that nearly destroyed her, freedom from the racial strife in the country she once called home. Swept into the seductive world of high fashion and art gallery intrigues, Chloe finds that Paris posed its own set of challenges--the pressures of living up to her acclaimed reputation, the difficulty of expressing her feelings without a brush, the vow always to remain strong and directed, and the hope of never again allowing a man to turn her away from her dreams.
While Chloe reflects on her life, her relationships, and the meaning of her art, she begins to Is her artistic success linked to her "inability to love," as an enigmatic lover once suggested? If that is true, Chloe must somehow help her younger "sister" and closest friend, Michael Davies Northcross, who is confronting a devastating personal crisis of her own.
A distinguished African-American professor in England, married to a brilliant British scholar, Michael has modeled her life on the lies that Chloe has lived. When a visiting professor challenges not only her marriage but her reasons for staying devoted to a white man, Michael must sort through the half-truths and deceptions-- and find her way back to that fragile place where real love exists.
Unwilling to sacrifice the dreams they dared to make real, Chloe and Michael are forced to the limits of their strength and independence. They must gamble everything to recapture what they have lost . . . in a dazzling game called Blackgammon.
After twenty-five years of self-imposed exile in Paris, legendary African American artist Chloe Emmanuel faces a daunting the chance of a triumphant return to the United States. She came to the City of Light in search of freedom . . . the freedom to paint, freedom from a love that nearly destroyed her, freedom from the racial strife in the country she once called home. Swept into the seductive world of high fashion and art gallery intrigues, Chloe finds that Paris posed its own set of challenges--the pressures of living up to her acclaimed reputation, the difficulty of expressing her feelings without a brush, the vow always to remain strong and directed, and the hope of never again allowing a man to turn her away from her dreams.
While Chloe reflects on her life, her relationships, and the meaning of her art, she begins to Is her artistic success linked to her "inability to love," as an enigmatic lover once suggested? If that is true, Chloe must somehow help her younger "sister" and closest friend, Michael Davies Northcross, who is confronting a devastating personal crisis of her own.
A distinguished African-American professor in England, married to a brilliant British scholar, Michael has modeled her life on the lies that Chloe has lived. When a visiting professor challenges not only her marriage but her reasons for staying devoted to a white man, Michael must sort through the half-truths and deceptions-- and find her way back to that fragile place where real love exists.
Unwilling to sacrifice the dreams they dared to make real, Chloe and Michael are forced to the limits of their strength and independence. They must gamble everything to recapture what they have lost . . . in a dazzling game called Blackgammon.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2000
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 9, 2011
Two women vow to stay true to each other and to never allow a man to interfere with their dreams. The story tells of their struggles, joys and pain as they grow and learn some surprising things about themselves.
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May 1, 2008Another one that I simply loved. An African-American artist goes to Paris to explore her art and find herself.
June 18, 2019
One can only wonder, how well the author knows, Chloe, as Dr. Heather Neff writes her, so passionately.
September 29, 2024
Gorgeous! It’s amazing how many narratives are present in this heartfelt book. I felt very attached to Chloe’s journey and wish it hadn’t come to an end.
January 13, 2020
In the book, Chloe Emmanuel sought out to explore her Art in Paris and to find herself in the process. She met many lovers along the way, some were parasites and some inspired her to greatness. She was only able to accept herself after accepting her past hurts of rape by her brother and the secret that followed the pains behind her painting. After abandoning her true love (Emil), she was able to release the pain that haunted her since childhood (age 5) and allow her to love again. Emil was her true love and realized that by letting her go, he could allow her to understand her need for his uncondtionaling love. He understood her passion for the Arts, Love and Self-worthy as an African Black Woman in Paris. He waited 25 years to marry her and seven (7) of those years were in the shadow as she search to reclaim her self as an African Black Woman from the men in her life, pulling her off course from her dream to be a successful Artist in Paris. Genevieve
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews