disclosure:  we were sent the item mentioned for the purpose of review

I tend to read long novels so sometimes it does me good to try something different.  When I was offered the opportunity to read the newly published Backstories by Simon Van der Velde featuring fourteen short stories I thought I’d give it a try.

Backstories is a little different from the norm. Each short story is told from the point of view of a famous person, literally providing them with a back story to an important moment in their lives.  The stories are cleverly woven with little clues as to the name of the character’s identity but in most instances, I didn’t work whose back story I was reading until the final page of their story, although none are written down in black and white, so maybe I didn’t get them right after all.

Some are funny, some are sad, but most are rather poignant and thought-provoking.  Backstories are focused on characters from the ’60s and ’70s, based in the US and UK and the stories are underpinned with the ideals of social justice and inclusion.

It’s hard to go into too much detail about the individual tales in Backstories without giving away any identities, but if you get to read Like Magic then you’ll find out about an actress I was obsessed with in my teens.  Preserved in Amber gives a slant on the life of a young girl, known the world over, and whose writing has lived on long after her passing.

The book is an interesting read, and if you’re looking for something a little different then I can recommend giving Backstories a try. I’ve also included my Amazon Affiliate link below (I do earn from qualifying purchases).