THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS

Narrator Dion Graham's captivating voice is a perfect fit for the epic sweep of McCann's sprawling audiobook. The story captures the complexity of living and working in early-twentieth-century New York City, where Black, Irish, and Italian immigrants labor in perilous conditions, digging tunnels from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Deep under the river, a horrifying accident occurs, impacting the lives of the workers and their families for decades. Throughout the novel, the tunnels under New York are a refuge, a home, and a way of life. Graham handles the details of the story's multiple characters and timelines with ease, rising to meet the emotional impact of its moments of grief, joy, and heartbreak. S.P.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2021]