'Thoroughly entertaining and serves favorable comparison to the works of Chester Himes and Walter Mosley.' Publishers Weekly, starred review 'An important book to read in the context of Ferguson, Baltimore, and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.' Melissa Harris-Perry May he continue to give us more work of ever greater ambition and quality.' Chicago Tribune 'Asim has given us a book that is at once entertaining and evocative of a moment that truly was a turning point in black and American history. An intelligent, superbly executed and gripping masterpiece.' The Root Here are rich, detailed characters, a vivid setting and a historical epoch made personal and intimate through details of experience. 'The voices of the characters intertwine, building a narrative that bursts full of life. ' heartfelt, polyphonic ode to 1970s black America.Asim manages the highbrow without it ever feeling forced or pedantic no small feat given the hard-boiled narrative framework, but one made possible by his infectious love for his subject matter and characters.' The Wall Street Journal Praise for Jabari Asim's ONLY THE STRONG: 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title. Massive change is afoot in America, and these characters have front-row seats. 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. Meanwhile, Charlotte Divine, the doctor’s headstrong protégée, struggles with trials of her own. Artinces Noel, a prominent pediatrician, complicates his retirement plans. His erstwhile boss, local kingpin Ananias Goode, is also thinking about slowing down but his tempestuous affair with Dr. 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.

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. 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. 'Lean, mean, and moving.' Kirkus Reviews, Kirkus Prize nominee

'Incomparable charisma and verve.' The Root, Best Fiction of 2015 'Captivating.' Jane Ciabattari, NPR Book Concierge: Best Books of 2015

Wall of Respect by Jabari Asim