ALL THE TROUBLE YOU NEED

A young black college instructor finds himself enmeshed in an over-the-top romantic triangle in Tervalon's latest, a fast-moving but shallow look at the California dating scene from an African-American perspective. Randy 28-year-old English teacher Jordan Davis opens the novel with a visit to his libidinous friend Mary to satisfy his carnal appetites. But Mary is merely an appetizer for the two main romantic courses—Trisha Bell, a sexy but chaste African-American woman, and Daphne Daniels, a lovely but troubled multiracial student in Jordan's course on Japanese literature. Trisha's demand for marriage and commitment cools Jordan's libido considerably, but he finds a willing partner in the exotic Daphne, until her violent, abusive husband suddenly surfaces. The situation turns bizarre when Trisha arranges to meet Daphne; later, she tries to shelter Daphne from her sadistic spouse. A pregnancy adds further complications as Jordan tries to choose between two beguiling women. Unfortunately, Tervalon doesn't adequately explore Jordan's moral and emotional quandary and lets events glide to easy conclusions. Tervalon (Dead Above Ground) is at his best when he's documenting Jordan's struggles to make the transition from the L.A. ghetto to the rich, elitist college culture of Santa Barbara, and the scenes in which Jordan has to steer clear of the local police as he arranges his dating and academic life are particularly effective. The dating chapters are entertaining, but Tervalon's inability to develop his characters and get beneath the surface of their desire for an idealized, fairy-tale relationship makes his novel feel slick and superficial. Agent, Joy Harris. (May 7)

Forecast:Tervalon will satisfy a genre audience, but readers who have been following his career may be disappointed at the turn his writing has taken—earlier, more ambitious novels like Understand This and Living for the City promised more, and depressed sales may ensue.