Broken Mirrors NYC

"A Gathering of Broken Mirrors: Memories of New York Survivors is a work of collected fiction stories by author Anthony E. Shaw. The work is better suited to the mature adult reading audience due to references to violence and death and its complex subject matter. As the subtitle suggests, each of the stories revolves around a different time and place in New York City, featuring a wide variety of characters who undergo many trials. As they learn and grow, philosophical discussions emerge about the nature of fulfillment in life, the balance between good and evil, and the meaning of life, to name but a few. Author Anthony E. Shaw delivers high-quality fiction in this wonderful collection of stories and showcases famous and anonymous faces with equal validity in the hubbub of one of the greatest cities in the world. I especially enjoyed the way that New York stayed at the heart of every tale: a consistent character in itself with a warm beating heart and all its jagged, shadowy edges at the same time. The dialogue was a big highlight for me, perfectly characterizing different time periods and people and keeping a consistent sense of tone for the city that never sleeps. If I had to pick a favorite from this plethora of remarkable stories, I’d say that Joey Alessandra in ‘Under The Arch’ really stayed with me, and I kept thinking about his decisions and actions long after that story was over. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend A Gathering of Broken Mirrors to readers seeking acutely human-centered fiction with great literary merit and deep philosophical thinking attached."

"...an ambitious, varied collection with a number of standout stories...Shaw shows flashes of brilliance and is able to move readers...This meticulous volume is a courageous attempt to reflect the multifaceted nature of New York life, and the final offering, which portrays the empty metropolis as 'drained of its blood', is both timely and chilling...intelligently conceived."

"The stories are so striking; I can taste the meals described and hear the characters speaking. They are intense! The memories jump off the page! I've lived in the Big Apple and written about it for so many years, yet these stories paint vivid images of the city that are new to me. Particularly for me, the stories of the yin and the yang of the Chinese immigration experience in New York ring personal and true. The craftsmanship is superior."

"Stories of the varieties and vagaries of human life, some based in fact and all in enduring truth, are shared by New York City writer and thinker Anthony E. Shaw in his newest offering, A GATHERING of BROKEN MIRRORS . . . Shaw has a background in law enforcement, so readers can imagine that some of these 24 well-crafted portraits spring from his knowledge . . . ameliorated by his ability to step back from issues of simple right and wrong to pose meaningful questions from a more nuanced, at times religious, standpoint . . . All of Shaw's offerings are drenched in NYC lore and presence and will be appreciated by the city's denizens - and by many others . . ."

"Like many a holocaust survivor's story, A Gathering of Broken Mirrors: Memories of New York Survivors should be featured in any definitive collection about New York City's places, peoples, and times. Their stories capture the city's atmosphere through various types of survivor memories, gathered here lest their immediacy and eyewitness perspectives be forgotten or diminished by third-party studies as time goes by. The first thing to note about this collection is that it moves back and forth in time, capturing different nuances of New York City lives. Anthony E. Shaw focuses on the process of daily survival. Each profile selects a different individual whose unique place in time in that city reflects a different milieu and survival tactic. Think 'survivor' and 'New York City' and the specter of 9/11 automatically comes to mind; but as Shaw demonstrates, the resistance and determination of New Yorkers extends far before and after this event, and is reflected in these stories . . . Shaw adopts no singular perspective in compiling this collection. Its purpose is to gather atmospheric vignettes that center on individual experiences, yet reflect the City's diversity and scope over the decades . . . Any collection interested in New York culture and experience must include A Gathering of Broken Mirrors, while individuals seeking a personal set of life-changing encounters that resonate beyond a singular memoir alone will find it compelling, thought-provoking reading . . . Together, these 24 stories are portraits not just of individual courage and conviction, but represent the heartbeat that is New York City."

"A charming story collection about belonging, family, and fate in New York City"

"Each memory explores humanity, identity, belonging, family, and most importantly, what it means to be a New Yorker. . . This book is filled with the joys and tragedies of real life. Anyone could find a favorite in these authentic New York stories, and maybe even learn a life lesson or two along the way."

"Shaw paints a lively series of New York City character portraits over a 60-year timespan, each from an entirely different point of view...Shaw's portraits are overwhelmingly sympathetic, no matter his subjects’ sins or crimes, though he also never sugarcoats them...The tales all share a pattern of storytelling cadence despite their frequently disparate subject matter as Shaw celebrates the rhythms of the city itself—and those who find ways to survive in it."