Eastside Westside — Thomas Fitzsimmons

Whether set in the ghettos of New York City, or the exclusive social and intellectual milieus of the rich and famous, whether recounting a priest's struggle with his faith, a firefighter coming to terms with his own mortality, the comical affairs of the heart, serial killers, or bungling members of organized crime, Thomas Fitzsimmons' stories strike with profound ferocity and impact. Told with an uncensored, darkly humorous style, Fitzsimmons' vision of the human condition is both amusing and brutal. For each of his stories are infused with an ennobling grace of the spirit. To be great, short stories have to echo the reader's minds. In this book, Fitzsimmons has created a collection that is indeed truly memorable.