THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
WISCONSIN BOOKWATCH/THE FICTION SHELF

The Morning Side of the Hill
Volume 14, Number 7, July 2019

Synopsis: Ezra E. Fitz’ debut as novelist, The Morning Side of the Hill is story of Willie and Mo, the two insecure and incomplete men. It is a novella told in two parallel stories in the format of alternating chapters that subtly illuminate one another. Set in Harlem and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, the twin tales gather like a storm to an exhilarating ferocity, culminating in a violent flood of passions that none of the characters can control, and which threatens to drown them all. Faulkner fans may think they know what the end holds for these characters. The climatic finale of The Morning Side of the Hill exposes an unexpected coincidence and a uniquely reader engaging finish.

Critique: Clearly, The Morning Side of the Hill reveals author Ezra E. Fitz’s genuine flair for originality and impressively imaginative storytelling skills. A thoroughly reader engaging read from first page to last, The Morning Side of the Hill is an especially recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Morning Side of the Hill is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.37).