The US Review of Books – Art with a Story 2
In one of this excellent collection’s stories, two siblings cool off during a family vacation to Montreal by frolicking through spouting water fountains while their parents tour the basilica, only to be surprised when Mom and Dad join them in the wet, carefree fun. In another, the speaker talks a would-be jumper out of ending his life in the icy-cold depths of the Hudson River atop the Tappan Zee Bridge, which bears a sign reading: “Life is worth living.” Another tells the humorous story of Carolina Bateau, the “most attractive fortyish woman in Greenwich, Connecticut,” who propositions a fellow parent to skinny-dip with her in the deep end of the pool during a high school party.
These are but a sampling of nearly sixty stories of flash fiction, all approximately three pages in length, including a single accompanying piece of art from author and artist Nieman. Each micro-story wrestles with universal themes, such as prepubescent puppy love, the desire to break free from the adult daily grind, nostalgia, and more. Included are endearing stories of newfound romance, decades-long marriages, tales of sports, politics, and more.
Nieman’s writing exemplifies excellent character development and engaging, unique, well-developed plotlines—even within such an extremely short word count. The characters who populate these pieces of flash fiction, even down to the names Nieman assigns each character, are, in themselves, a wonder to behold. This author’s enthusiasm translates into quite a pleasurable literary experience for the reader. Nieman’s paintings—all pastel and/or watercolors—encapsulate the core essence of each story. Aesthetically, his artwork makes fantastic use of contrast. Another hallmark characteristic of Nieman’s art is the inclusion, in most cases, of lines of text woven within the paintings themselves. Multiple layers of meaning emerge. Delightfully appealing, Nieman’s work is decidedly recommended reading for practically anyone of any age.
Book review by Jonah Meyer