InShakyTown,LouMathewshaswrittenatimelessnovelofworking-classLosAngeles.Aformermechanicandstreetracer,hetellshisstoryincoolandpanoramicstyle,weavingtogetherthetragediesandgloriesofoneofL.A.’seastsideneighborhoods.Fromateenagegirlcaughtinthemiddleofagangwartoapriestwhohaslosthisfaithandhitbottom,thecharactersinShakyTownliveonadangerousfaultlinebutremainunshakableintheirconnectionstooneanother.LikeSherwoodAnderson’sWinesburg,Ohio,JohnSteinbeck’sCanneryRow,KatherineAnnPorter’sShipofFools,GloriaNaylor’sTheWomenofBrewsterPlace,andPatBarker’sUnionStreet,ShakyTownisthestoryofcomplicated,conflicted,anddisparatecharactersboundtogetherbyplace.
