Super Short Summary

This Side of Brightness by Colum McCann interweaves two parallel narratives: Nathan Walker, an African-American man working on New York subway tunnels in 1915, and Treefrog, a homeless man living in those tunnels in the 1980s. Themes include race, labor, and the evolving cityscape, with Walker's story depicting a struggle for respect and family unity, while Treefrog grapples with past traumas and guilt. Sensitive topics include domestic abuse and racial discrimination.