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This wide-ranging book of short short stories, or “flash fiction” as it is sometimes referred to, covers topics from children battling cancer to shelter dogs and Johnny Cash speaking with Peter at the gates of heaven. What unites these stories is that each is a little glimpse into the often mundane but personally meaningful events in the lives of its characters. “Tricks of the Trade” is a particularly poignant look at how the passing of a renowned magician brings contentment to a funeral home director. Readers looking for a witty story that leaves them with a smile will find it in the unlikely tale of a retired firefighter volunteering during the Paradise wildfire in California. Finally, “Honkers” subtly addresses the question of whether a single person can make a difference in the world.
Nieman’s collection offers more than fifty stories, and each story is accompanied by interesting, original artwork. The brevity of the narratives means several can be read at once. Some of the stories offer a poignant turn at their close or a grin-inducing turn of phrase, while others simply illustrate the everyday existence of someone any reader might encounter during their daily routine, possibly with a curve ball tossed in. There are several engaging pieces, and a new experience is always just a couple of pages away. The variety and volume of the stories allow readers to find their own favorites to relish, and many readers will enjoy the familiarity of the simple, everyday existence illuminated in these stories, connecting all of us as part of the tribe of humanity.