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Book Review: Backstories

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 4.5/5

Title: Backstories

Author: Simon Van der Velde

Publication Date: March 25, 2021

Genre: Short Stories; Mystery

Cover:

The cover is creative, unique, and eye-catching. I especially like the three-dimensional quality of the ripped paper and the line, “Intimate stories about people you think you know.”

Premise

Backstories is a collection of fourteen short stories with a twist. While the subjects are famous, or in some cases infamous, Van der Velde never fully names a character. Instead, he allows the reader to solve the mini mystery of identity by leaving a trail of clues about each person.

Why I chose this book:

Author Simon Van der Velde requested this review. The book’s concept was different, and I was happy to add it to my reading list.

First Impression:

After reading the first story, I knew this would be an entertaining book, and that’s precisely what it is! Because the chapters are short, it’s also the perfect book to read when pressed for time.

What I loved:

I always enjoy a good mystery, which is what Van der Velde delivers. What makes his stories so clever is his ability to tell just enough of the story for readers to glean details that will help uncover the character’s identity. For me, this became a bit of a game—how quickly can the mystery person be identified? In many cases, my suspicions were not confirmed until the very end of the story.

Van der Velde offers a fascinating look at some of the defining moments in people’s lives. In many cases, the story’s subject is either a young child or an adolescent. I found this interesting because it highlights just how formative those years are in a person’s life. We often know these individuals for their accomplishments as adults (e.g., musicians, actors, politicians, etc.). By highlighting these behind-the-scenes moments from their early lives, the reader may better understand their motivations and actions later in life. I had several of these “aha” moments!

Additional Thoughts:

Backstories is set in the 60s and 70s, and younger generations may struggle to identify certain characters. While I was able to identify most, there were several that I had to research. This may be a barrier for some readers who do not want to invest time in the process.

I feel there is one critical element missing that prevents this from being a five-star book, and that is some form of a final answer key for readers to verify the identities of the various characters. I assumed this would be at the end, so I felt disappointed when I reached the final pages and did not see this. The book feels somewhat incomplete without it.

**In an email conversation, Van der Velde noted that the answers can be found on his website (https://www.simonvandervelde.com/). He felt that including them in the book would detract from the reader’s experience.**

Quotable Quotes:

• I tried to explain, but I was too scared to speak, or like I see it now, Grandma was too scared to listen.
• That a father must do such a thing to his children, lay their fate in the hands of acquaintances. But what else can he do? Once wealthy, powerful even before the depression came, his choices have drained away like sands through an hourglass.
• And though he hides his fear from the world, Otto cannot hide it from himself.
• “Be good, “ Momma says, “do the right thing.”
“Dumb ass,” Daddy says, “do the smart thing.”

Who might enjoy this book:

Backstories is ideal for readers who enjoy mysteries wrapped up in a collection of short stories that are creative and entertaining.

Overall Impression:

Four and a half stars. Backstories is a memorable collection of short stories with a unique spin. Carefully thought out and well-written, Van der Velde focuses on pivotal moments in his characters’ lives. I feel at least some of these stories could easily be adapted and performed in live theatre, offering patrons a different entertainment experience. I look forward to the release of Backstories II, and am excited to play detective yet again!

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