Free (nook/Kindle/iTunes) Only the Strong [1970s US African-American Literary Novel]

[ATDrake]

Only the Strong by multi-talented poet, playwright, and Associate Professor of literature Jabari Asim (Wikipedia, Emerson College faculty profile), is his debut historical literary drama novel following from his acclaimed short story collection, A Taste of Honey, set in an African-American community in the US Midwest in the 1970s, against the backdrop of social and political upheaval in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., as various persons make changes to their lives, themselves affected by the changes in civil rights, free courtesy of publisher Agate's Bolden imprint.

This has favourable reviews from Publishers Weekly and the Library Journal in the editorial section and is apparently set in a fictionalized version of St. Louis, Missouri.

Currently free, probably just until the weekend @ B&N (may also drop in the UK), Amazon (not available to Canadians, but free in the UK), and iTunes (not available to Canadians). May also be free @ Google Play for the US and might drop later directly @ the publisher's webstore (DRM-free ePub available worldwide), where selected Agate freebies have also been showing up lately.

And this has been the selected 3rd (non-repeat) free ebook thread of the day.

It had a bit of competition from that current events economics/politics book, but quite frankly any honest economics person will admit that their field consists of a great deal of guesswork with comparatively little certainty as to how much-promoted predicted models will actually work out in real life (ahahaha… trickle-down economics anyone?), and we don't often get historical fiction, literary or otherwise, set in periods of major change which actually examines the effects of living through said historical period amidst major changes does to people in it, and this one looks promising and it's by someone with a decent amount of writing experience and recognized skill, so it wins out.

Enjoy!

Description
Jabari Asim’s debut novel returns readers to Gateway City, the fictional Midwestern city first explored in his acclaimed short story collection, Taste of Honey. Against a 1970s backdrop of rapid social and political change, Only the Strong portrays the challenges and rewards of love in a quintessential American community where heartbreak and violence are seldom far away.

Moved by the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Lorenzo “Guts” Tolliver decides to abandon his career as a professional leg-breaker and pursue a life of quiet moments and generous helpings of banana pudding in the company of his new, sensuous lover. His erstwhile boss, local kingpin Ananias Goode, is also thinking about slowing down—but his tempestuous affair with Dr. Artinces Noel, a prominent pediatrician, complicates his retirement plans. Meanwhile, Charlotte Divine, the doctor’s headstrong protégée, struggles with trials of her own.

With prose that's sharp, humorous, and poetic, Asim skillfully renders a compelling portrait of urban life in the wake of the last major civil-rights bill. Massive change is afoot in America, and these characters have front-row seats.