I Left You Behind - A Book of Heartfelt Short stories

I enjoyed reading every short story in Nazneen Sheikh’s I Left You Behind. The stories are relatable and carry a sense of familiarity.

The vivid descriptions—from sounds to visual details—bring each story to life. They make imagining the settings and the characters’ experiences a pleasure. All the stories highlight the importance of education, storytelling, passing down knowledge, and keeping an open mind to continue exploring and learning throughout life.

Each story is unique, and I appreciate that the author provides the place and year in which they are set, helping us understand the characters and their thinking within the context of the timeline. The stories span several decades and three countries, with many of them based in Ontario. They explore shifting homes, lost ancestral homelands, distant memories, fragmented family moments, and are inspired by the author’s own life experiences—touching on parental bonds, poignant encounters, tragedies, personal triumphs, injustice, and the importance of education and a love for literature. There is even an interesting story told from the perspective of a carpet.

I also like how the author introduces characters from various racial and economic backgrounds. This diversity makes the stories engaging and encourages readers to look forward to learning more about each character. She addresses the challenges people face because of who they are and the circumstances surrounding them.

Each story is unique and thought-provoking. This book would be a fun and exciting read for young adults and older readers.

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