This Side of Brightness (1998) weaves two parallel narratives set in New York City: Nathan Walker, an African-American sandhog working on subway tunnels in 1915, and Treefrog, a homeless man living in those tunnels in the 1980s. Nathan rises amid harsh labor and racial prejudice, marrying the Irish widow of a fallen coworker and building a family despite societal obstacles. Tragedy strikes with the deaths of his wife and son, but his legacy endures through his grandson, Clarence Jr., who also works in construction. Interspersed with this story are glimpses into Treefrog’s troubled life, revealing him as Clarence Jr., now haunted by guilt and homelessness. The novel explores themes of race, family, memory, and resilience beneath the city’s surface, ending on a note of fragile hope.
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