Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Slivers of Life: A Collection of Short Stories

Rate this book
These twenty short stories are a peek into individual lives caught up in spectacular moments in time. Children, teens, mothers, and the elderly each have stories to share. Readers witness tragedy and fulfillment, love and hate, loss and renewal. Historical events become backdrops in the lives of ordinary people, those souls forgotten with the passage of time. Beem Weeks tackles diverse issues running the gamut from Alzheimer’s disease to civil rights, abandonment to abuse, from young love to the death of a child. Long-hidden secrets and notions of revenge unfold at the promptings of rich and realistic characters; plot lines often lead readers into strange and dark corners. Within Slivers of Life, Weeks proves that everybody has a story to tell—and no two are ever exactly alike.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2014

4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read

About the author

Beem Weeks

16 books150 followers
Beem Weeks is an author of novels, short stories, and essays. He is also an editor, audio/video producer, and audiobook producer.

Blog: https://beemweeks.wordpress.com/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
34 (87%)
4 stars
4 (10%)
3 stars
1 (2%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Shirley.
18 reviews3 followers
January 12, 2015
Beem Weeks is one of my top five favorite authors. Period! As an indie author, this man shines as bright as--if not brighter than--many traditionally published authors. His entire range of skills is on full display in Slivers of Life, a collection of short stories. These stories move through varying genres without missing a beat.

Weeks, known best for his debut novel Jazz Baby, coaxes readers through dark places, touching on Alzheimer's disease, murderous revenge, cutting, abuse, the death of a child, human peculiarities and quirks, among other situations. But this talented author doesn't leave readers in that dark place. Instead, he gently returns us to the light, a little more hopeful and a little more watchful. These stories are a reminder to love those who are in our lives, for we most certainly cannot know when we may be parted from those closest to us.

Beem Weeks is one of those indie writers that everybody who loves a good story should discover. If you're a writer yourself, it would do you well to examine this man's technique, his style, and ability. You cannot help but appreciate talent like that possessed by Beem Weeks.
Profile Image for Winter Sophia Rose.
2,208 reviews10 followers
July 11, 2016
Witty, Intriguing, Moving, Creepy & Imaginative! A Gripping Read! I Loved It!
Profile Image for Sally Cronin.
Author 23 books190 followers
October 28, 2025
This collection is appropriately titled…Slivers of Life delivers just that. A glimpse into the lives of men, women, teenagers and children, at pivotal moments in their lives. Some stories are stark, as they focus on the worst times in a life, and others have an element of humour that leaves you smiling… such as Big Foot was my Father.

As always with this author the characters are distinct and capture the reader’s attention with the details about their lives, character and inner thoughts and ambitions. In some stories we are reminded to be careful what we wish for. In others we are drawn into the dark side of humanity and relationships which haunt those involved for life.

Out of the twenty excellent stories just a few to whet your appetite.

A Match Met…definitely a case of what goes round comes round!
Belief is tested in tragic ways because of racial hatred in When Jesus Left Birmingham
The Distance raises the so far unproven theory of reincarnation.
What is the story behind the discovery of some medals in Medal Detector?
In the Year Book, a man relives a moment of terror in the corridors and classrooms of his school which were life changing.
The true nature of a teenager are exposed during the Rave On.
And for those who read the excellent Jazz Baby….an alternative perspective on the decisions made.

This is an excellent collection to dip in and out of and to appreciate how actions and words can change your life in a moment for better or worse. Recommended.
Profile Image for S. Rose.
Author 8 books9 followers
December 6, 2014
Twenty Short Stories that Snap like a Piranha!

I'll hazard a guess that the title is metaphoric on two levels, the most obvious a reference to the brevity of the short story as a literary form. But as the broken shards of glass on the book cover suggest, this collection of twenty brief tales takes a hard look at some hard-bitten characters, grappling with a variety of events that most of us hope to avoid.

There is no time to lose when crafting a short story. In order to hook the reader, the author must instantly bring the narrator's voice to life and create a compelling drama. In each of the "Slivers", Beem Weeks plunges us into an intimate emotional encounter faster than Alice down the rabbit hole.

Thought provoking and often scathingly witty. Sometimes devastating but never dull. A successful short story has to pack a punch, or otherwise have some tooth to it. Beem Weeks' Slivers of Life snap like a piranha.
Profile Image for Traci Sanders.
Author 10 books100 followers
January 6, 2015
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Slivers of Life: A Collection of Short Stories(Kindle Edition)

The great thing about a collection of short stories is that, typically one is able to find at least ONE that he/she likes or can relate to, no matter how good or bad the writing is. But in this case, this book was penned by an extremely well-versed author. His stories come alive and make you feel as if YOU are experiencing the events right along with his characters. Some stories found in this collection are a bit creepy, some funny, and others--intriguing, which makes it the perfect choice for a wide variety of book enthusiasts. It was definitely a quick, easy, enjoyable read for me!
Author 5 books11 followers
March 19, 2015
This collection is so well written you can touch the characters, smell the places they visit, hear their voices. Some events are fun, some are sad, some you might never have experienced and some you have. It's a collection of short stories about you, me, the guy next door, the family you used to know. Without giving anything away, I was particularly touched by the man who misses the noise of the trampoline. I could picture the hole in his heart, it was both beautiful and heartbreaking. This is the second book I read from Beem Weeks and once again, I was swept away.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
Author 1 book134 followers
November 3, 2014
Slivers of Life is written in true Beem Weeks fashion. Mr. Weeks has a wonderful way of telling a story. The voice he gives his characters will have you truly connected with the stories. I highly recommend this collection of stories as well as his novel "Jazz Baby".
Author 7 books15 followers
September 21, 2015
Slivers of Life is a gripping and thought provoking collection of short stories. The author immediately draws the reader in with such creativity, wit, and humour that one instantly feels connected with the characters. These are gripping, yet relatable stories. The author remarkably captures the diversity of human emotions and one can’t help but reflect on the intricate complexities of life’s journey. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories and highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Rebecca Reilly.
Author 7 books48 followers
October 15, 2015
Beem Weeks delivers a variety of enjoyable, thought-provoking, emotionally moving stories. "Variety" is the key word! These are Slivers of Life--some bizarre, some so real it hurts to read, and some that hit close to home. I highly recommend this well-written, well-edited collection!
Profile Image for Fiza Pathan.
Author 42 books379 followers
February 28, 2019
'Slivers Of Life' by Beem Weeks is an awesome short story collection which I highly recommend. I loved all the 20 shorts in this book especially 'Yearbook', 'Bodies Terrestrial', 'Mr. Woodlick' & ' A Life Lived'. These short stories are character themed with amazing plots which just takes your breath away. Dialogues are meaningful & descriptions minimal, making 'Slivers Of Life' a really light & easy book to read. The prose is clean, smooth & beautiful, I especially loved the narrative prose of 'Mr. Woodlick' who is a man with a heart of gold, 'Bodies Terrestrial' about three youngsters about to undergo something strange & 'A Little Child Shall Lead Them' which touched my heart & got me choked up a bit. I recommend this book to all adults wanting a light read, maybe while travelling short distance in a plane or as a quick read during the busy week. If you like books with strong characters, plot twists but written without the drapery of symbolism but just tells you the story right on then this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book to students studying the short story form of writing & teachers looking out for some good stories in comprehension passages. Crispe, to the point & with an easy style, Weeks has managed to touch the basic reason why we love short stories written by great writers like him, because they pack a punch to your heart & mind. Well done & hoping to read more books by Beem Weeks in 2019. Kudos to the accomplished short story writer!
Profile Image for Eichin Chang-Lim.
Author 10 books241 followers
April 23, 2019
If you look at Mr. Beem Weeks' author page, you will see:
"…A pop-culture trivia buff, Beem's passions include indie films, loud music, and a well-told story." You will find his personality shines through in each short story in this book, SLIVERS OF LIFE.
Reading the collection of short stories is like peeking into a kaleidoscope of life! Each story reflects a unique color and manifests a different perspective of our days. I did not read this book in one sitting. I paused after each tale to muse the essence of the story and contemplate the meaning the author intends to convey. Some of them are profound!
I recommend SLIVERS OF LIFE to whoever enjoys a vast diversity of genre with good writing in one book.

Profile Image for Stevie Turner.
Author 54 books181 followers
August 13, 2018
Today I sat on the decking and finished ‘Slivers of Life’, by Beem Weeks, a collection of 20 short thought-provoking and imaginative stories. There’s life and death tales, coming-of-age, poignant memories, and even other-worldly stories.
My favourites were ‘When Jesus Left Birmingham’, which focuses on a young boy questioning his faith in God, ‘The Distance’, an imaginative story regarding whether or not reincarnation is possible, and ‘Big Foot was my Father‘, a boy’s fond memory of his father from childhood.
One question I’d love to ask:
Mr Weeks, are any of these stories based on your own experiences?
Well written and edited – I give five stars for this excellent read.
Profile Image for Maureen Twomey.
Author 1 book14 followers
February 25, 2019
Slivers of Life - So many wonderful short stories in this collection! Some of my favorite: Lost Boy, Forget Me (Not Fade Away), Yearbook, Bigfoot Was My Father, Jazz Baby (Alternative) …

Shweek! Shweek! Shwee! (Five stars) ;-)
Profile Image for Joy Lo-Bamijoko.
306 reviews7 followers
February 16, 2017
Been Weeks has done it again! His Slivers of Life, A collection of short stories, is a great entertainment. Watching those variety of characters, showing off slices of their lives, was like sitting on a veranda, and watching people going about, doing their thing. I am marveled at how the author brings that vernacular language alive on paper. It just feels so natural.

The very first story, well chosen to come first, brought a bitter sweet smile on my face. It was indeed A Match Met. As that story ended, I wondered what became of the souls of Charles and Elmira Trickett, whose soul was saved, the one who confessed, or the one who revenged?…

It was just entertainment all through, even when stories about girls showed some girls in the early years of women emancipation, who were exerting there rights, or girls just behaving bad. I wondered what ever happened to Chad in Night Flight. Nether could I make up my mind as to whether Nicole in Rave On was a vampire. These are some of the questions, and many more, whirling around in my head after reading the stories. Very entertaining!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marlena Smith-Burris.
97 reviews7 followers
March 14, 2017
SLIVERS OF LIFE is a collection of short stories. This book is absolutely full of emotions, from humor to heartbreaking to inspiring. You are moved through every story, with every turned page. Each short story takes you on an unforgettable journey, where you can’t deny the multitude of emotions that you feel.

We see stories of neighbors, family, religion, racism. There is this incredible mixture of powerful messages, stories that truly have a clever way of making the reader think. There were moments in this book that I was so gripped by the story that I didn’t realize I had tears in my eyes. It was hard to put the book down. And, if my time had allowed, I would have easily read this book within a day or two. It was that good!

This isn’t the first book that I’ve read authored by Beem Weeks, and it won’t be the last. Much like the first, SLIVERS OF LIFE is well-written, gripping and inspiring. And because of all of this and more, I can easily give SLIVERS OF LIFE 5 stars.
Profile Image for Harmony Kent.
Author 52 books389 followers
May 9, 2015
A Gritty and Gripping Collection of Short Stories.

Slivers of Life is a collection of short stories that offer a brief glimpse of very different lives, and shows that absolutely everyone has a story to tell ... from the old to the young, girl, boy, or vampire ... they each have their tale. Love, hate, revenge, abduction, abuse, confessions, tragedy, and coming of age all find a place in this excellent volume. The characters pull you right in, and stay with you long after the final page has been turned. The writing is incredibly versatile, and each and every character is drawn true to life, and whether this be a young girl, or an old man, the author has no problems offering us a real live person on the page. I feel there is something for everyone in this book, and I can heartily recommend it. A strong five stars from me.
Profile Image for Stephen Geez.
Author 18 books44 followers
July 6, 2015
This is a remarkable journey through the writer's soul of Beem Weeks. The short pieces showcase his range from humorous to quirky to serious, always making a point(s). Weeks is a master of narrative voice and point-of-view, taking us into the worlds and minds of his characters, which is impressive for such short pieces. Just when he has us feeling whimsical, he'll sneak up with a twist, a surprise, something breathtakingly poignant, or hints that make us pause and look into the depths of his ideas to notice he's seeing things many of us look past, both about life and ourselves. I highly recommend that fiction readers of any preference try this anthology. It offers something for everybody, and the best treats are those we might least expect.
Profile Image for Karen Ingalls.
Author 10 books79 followers
December 26, 2015
A wonderful collection of short stories written by Beem Weeks. Each story had an interesting twist and a lesson of life to learn. Very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Roberta Cheadle.
Author 19 books126 followers
January 16, 2025
Slivers of Life is an apt title for this collection of short stories that cover a wide variety of topics and colourful characters of different ages, occupations, and intentions. Despite the short length of the stories, the author has created compelling characters whose behaviours, although not always exemplary, are very relatable.

I find the best way I can review a short story collection is by sharing insights into a few of the stories that have stayed with me the longest. My most memorable stories are as follows;

A Match Met - an intriguing peep into betrayal and revenge that will have your wondering whether the end justifies the means.

Lost Boy - a truly compelling read about a grumpy old man who finds fault with the noise generated by the little boy next door. Mr Spellman does everything he can, internally and externally to stop the irritation, but sometimes what we think we want turns out to be the opposite.

Night Flight - a poignant look at life for young boys being raised by a single parent and the pressure it puts on both the parent and the child. The story delves into the ease with which rejected and/or neglected youngsters can slip into crime and drug taking. There is a supernatural element which leaves you wondering if it actually happened or not. Was the narrator reliable?

And a little child shall lead them - this story talks to the invisibility of homeless and unfortunate people and the judgement that more successful people immediately pass on them due to their circumstances. A poignant story of caring.

Remaining Ruth - a peep into depression, teenage angst and cutting. Very scary for any parent who struggles to reach and understand their teenage child.

On the whole, an intriguing and well written collection of short stories that I really enjoyed reading.

Profile Image for John W. Howell.
Author 10 books92 followers
August 21, 2022
Often, a collection of short stories includes one or two memorable stories. The best way to get more is to buy an anthology or read Slivers of Life by Beem Weeks. Given the state of my TBR, I bought this book in 2018 and only now got to it. The quality of the stories individually and the collection as a whole gave me a pleasant surprise. I had to kick myself for not getting to it sooner.
The dialogue in each story is not overburdened with colloquial dialect, but the reader can tell that the folks involved are from different times or places. Beem Weeks has an enviable talent for pegging personalities, giving the reader distinct impressions of how they will behave. To get a vivid picture, the reader does not need to read long descriptions of the character’s dress or appearance. A few words coming out of their mouth is all it takes, and the author is a master at doing this.
The stories themselves are about people. These could be a next-door neighbor or someone in the family involved in a creative condition created by Mr. Weeks. The point is these stories are so good as a result of the writing and not a contrived situation. Rest assured, each story will cause the reader to pause and think about the lesson. Yes, there is a lesson in each one, and that is the beauty of this collection. The reader can be entertained, educated, and challenged all at the same time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written literature.
Profile Image for D.G. Kaye.
Author 11 books145 followers
October 13, 2024
Short stories that take us in and pack a punch of human-ness with a mixed bag of stories that touch on loss, hatred, awakening, grief, abuse, and revenge with plenty of variety in these well written, easy reading, make you think, type of stories with characters that draw us right into story. Stories about people and the human condition, reaction, behaviors in some of the more complex situations people may be faced with in life. If you enjoy engaging short stories with engaging dialogue and third person narration, as well as minimal description (character driven), you will enjoy this book.

A few of my favs:

A Match Met – a story about a sinister method of killing off a husband, and an ending with a lovely twist of Karma.

The Distance – A tale about loss, and a reinacarnated child introduced to the grieving family.

Beautiful Chaos – The old name of the band Darcy and Avis were once part of. And when Darcy and friends decide years later to check up on Avis’s ill health, they get a big surprise.

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them – Young Mattie teaches her father a lesson about empathy when she shares her concern for a curious homeless woman.

Mr. Woodlick – Charlie Woodlick, an old neighbor, bought Jimmy his first legal drink, and along with that, Charlie confided in Jimmy. Charlie didn’t have long left for this earth and despite Charlie’s awful secret and rough persona, he showed the boy that underneath it all, there was a soft spot for Jimmy.
Profile Image for Patricia Furstenberg.
Author 57 books139 followers
June 11, 2024
"Gates of Erebus: Dark Paranormal Short Stories" is a captivating anthology featuring talented indie authors from around the globe.

This collection includes tales of a mother condemned for witchcraft, a demon in unexpected places, a soldier whose true monstrous nature is ambiguous, a mutant and an assassin, a murderous imp, a man escaping from Hell, a haunted house, a supernatural race maintaining the balance of good and evil, human devolution, and Death taking a wife.

Short stories provide a unique reading experience by presenting complete narratives in a concise format. This makes them ideal for busy readers who may only have a few moments to enjoy a good book. Each story in this anthology takes the reader on a complete and satisfying journey, making it easy to enjoy a story or two while commuting, in a waiting room, or in between daily tasks.

Well-organized and edited, the stories flow smoothly, making this anthology perfect for short reading sessions or a single, immersive experience. "Gates of Erebus" is a enjoyable and well-crafted collection that will keep readers on edge. Recommended!
Profile Image for Jan Sikes.
Author 31 books257 followers
June 26, 2017
Slivers of Life could not be a more appropriate title for this compilation of short stories from Author, Beem Weeks. Each is like a slice of pie from the whole or pages ripped from someone’s book. I thought I had found my favorite story in the book with “Medal Detector,” but the next chapter, “Forget Me (Not Fade Away)” had me in tears. Emotion drips from the exquisite way Beem weaves his words together to make the story, and he is a master at ‘Show Don’t Tell.’ He covers the gauntlet with stories about old folks to teenagers experimenting with forbidden and dangerous situations to the Bigfoot myth. If you are a lover of emotionally driven ‘too-human’ stories, this book is for you. It’s easy to read, but the stories linger long after you’ve turned the last page.
Profile Image for Robert Fear.
Author 19 books37 followers
September 27, 2019
Extremely well written and constructed

It took me a while to get into this collection of twenty short stories. I had to read them several times before I started to get into the proper sense of time and place conveyed by each story.

Having said that, once I reached this stage I really appreciated each and every one of them. They are all extremely well written and constructed. I got a sense of being there with the different characters and felt the situations in a way I had not expected as each story unfolded.

I would highly recommend this short story collection but, if you are like me and are unfamiliar with the places and accents, take your time savoring each and every tale. You will be rewarded for your patience.
Profile Image for Bette Stevens.
Author 5 books154 followers
March 24, 2018
OUTSTANDING!
Slivers of Life is an wide-ranging collection of short stories that readers of all genres are sure to enjoy. Characters, setting and theme are exquisitely woven into each gem by talented author Beem Weeks. Mystery, history, romance, sci-fi and more had this reader on the edge of her seat and wanting more. I’m happy to have this collection in paperback and kindle versions. It’s one of those little gems that I’ll surely return to again and again. ~Bette A. Stevens, author of award-winning picture book AMAZING MATILDA [[ASIN:B00AU9ZISA Amazing Matilda (Children's Literature): The Tale of A Monarch Butterfly]] and other books for children and adults.
Profile Image for D.L. Finn.
Author 25 books304 followers
August 27, 2018
This is a collection of twenty short stories that embrace the full spectrum of emotions and life. The descriptions were vivid, and the characters drew me into each story. There’s a vast array of subjects covered that made me feel so many things ranging from: sadness to satisfaction to surprise. I tried to pick a favorite story as I read, but as I declared this was my favorite, I would feel the same way about the next story. I was very happy to see a short with Baby from “Jazz Baby” in one of these stories. I can easily recommend “Slivers Of Life”.
Profile Image for Zuzanne Belec.
Author 2 books20 followers
September 20, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories by Beem Weeks, particularly his humour, unique style of writing, and his varied perspectives, genres, voices, topics covered and well-formed characters.
It was a smooth read throughout, at times spunky, sing-songy, poetic, conversational, lively, quirky, funny, sad, but touching always. With his varied characters and settings, the author captures well the essence and beauty of daily life in these slivers of time and culture. I’m looking forward to reading all his other works too.
I highly recommend Slivers of Life!
Profile Image for Yvette Calleiro.
Author 13 books64 followers
July 3, 2019
This book was a great collection of short stories. Normally, I don't like short stories because they end too quickly, but the author brings great closure to each one, leaving me feeling satisfied. The author has a solid skill of creating unique voices for his characters which also made the reading more enjoyable. If you enjoy short stories, you will want to read this book! :-)
Profile Image for Michelle.
Author 6 books236 followers
August 7, 2017
This is a well-written collection of short stories. Beem Weeks captures the diversity of human emotions and really brings the characters to life. There is something for everyone here. It was a quick, enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Gracie Bradford.
Author 6 books32 followers
September 5, 2018
This book was an excellent bedtime read. Recommended for anyone who follows this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.