Between Brothers: A Novel (Strivers Row) - Softcover

Robinson, Chet Kelly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0375757724 ISBN 13: 9780375757723

Publisher: Villard, 2001

Synopsis

A suspenseful coming-of-age story that moves from the halls of a historically black university to the streets of Washington, D.C., with great insight into the joys and perils of discovering what really matters in life

As the Ellis Community Center, a rare bright spot in a low-income Washington, D.C., neighborhood, struggles to keep its doors open, its last hope for survival lies with four Highland University housemates:
Terence Bootstrapper Davidson. Clawing his way out of poverty, he refuses to give in to the streets--while struggling to save Biggie, his defiant little brother, from that very fate.

Larry Smooth Operator Whitaker. Driven and ambitious, he has everything: the Lexus, the superfly girlfriend, and a future edged in gold.

Brandon Choirboy Bailey. A bright premed major who has been dateless for four years, he struggles to maintain his religious faith despite his longing for Monica, a classmate he's loved from afar.

O. J. Sinister Minister Peters. Unsuccessfully juggling his budding career as a Baptist preacher with a string of empty affairs, he sees his carefully constructed double life threatened when a member of his congregation becomes pregnant.

Their mission to save Ellis Center quickly puts them in harm's way when Nico Lane, a sophisticated local drug dealer who wants the center shut down, becomes aware of their efforts. When Larry's campaign for student body president is sabotaged, O.J.'s women suddenly catch on to his act, and Terence is forced to choose between the center and Biggie's life, the men suspect there is more to the center's problems than just bad finances.

About this title

From the Author:

Not All Dogs is dedicated to hundreds of positive men who have touched my life, starting with my father, grandfathers, uncles, and continuing through to my professional and spiritual mentors. Even though the market for Black male authors is booming, I believe there is still a need for more stories that trumpet the number of hard-working, responsible, committed men out here. We all enjoy laughing at the "game-playing" antics in our contemporary literature, but I hope Not All Dogs will remind the brothers and the sisters that there are a lot of us out here trying to grow into the responsible husbands and fathers our community needs. I believe the journeys that Brandon, Terence, Larry, and O.J. make in this book contain pieces of everyone's story. I hope you are uplifted and entertained by Not All Dogs.

From the Back Cover:

"Robinson has skillfully painted three-dimensional characters that reflect our rich, often misunderstood diversity. Rarely have I read such real, true-to-life portrayals of middle-class black men."
--William July, author of Brothers, Lust, and Love

"C. Kelly Robinson has written an insightful, well-written novel that guides the reader through the twists and turns of the hearts of men. I highly recommend it."
--Timmothy McCann, author of Forever

About this edition

• Publisher: Villard
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0375757724
• ISBN 13: 9780375757723
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384