Ashes in the Air by Ali Alizadeh

[Lindach]

I do not read much poetry but I was interested in this collection after reading two previous books by this author. The poems are mostly autobiographical covering Alizadeh’s early childhood in Iran, growing up in Australia and his life as a student and later as an adult and a father. I felt his unhappiness as a ‘pudgy’ child wanting acceptance and as a teenager with a heavy accent who was not attractive to the girls at his high school. I felt empathy for his immigrant experiences and his struggles in trying to ‘fit in’ in Australia and Iran.

He also included some poems about refugees and political prisoners in Iran which made me feel sad and angry at the same time. All the poems are beautifully written and easy to read and I highly recommend this collection as well as his earlier books Iran:My Grandfather and The New Angel.

 

[Lindach]

I am very happy that this collection of poetry has been shortlisted for this year's Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Read the judges report here http://www.arts.gov.au/funding/awards/pmla/2012/shortlists/poetry/a...