'Astonished in the Ruins'
Bachtyar Ali’s upcoming book to explore his childhood and early youth
SULAYMANIYAH — A new book by Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali, “Astonished in the Ruins,” is set to be published at the Erbil International Book Fair, held from April 17-27. The book explores Ali’s childhood and early youth, weaving personal reflections with broader musings on life, reading, and the inception of his writing ambitions.
“Astonished in the Ruins” takes the form of an extended interview with Mariwan Halabjayi, Ali’s friend and authorized translator focusing on the Persian language. The interview, originally published in 18 parts nearly 15 years ago in the Chawder newspaper in Sulaymaniyah, has been expanded into a book with additional sections.
Ali is renowned for his novels and poetry spanning nearly three decades. The new book represents the first quasi-autobiographical exploration of his life, presented through an extensive interview. It offers readers a rare glimpse into the intimate details of his life and the genesis of his desire to write.
The release is generating anticipation among readers who have followed his career and are familiar with his magical realism and poetic expressions, providing an understanding of the personal contexts behind his creative outputs.
The book delves into the author’s early experiences and inspirations, offering insights into his development as a prominent Kurdish novelist.
Ali describes the book as not only a recounting of his childhood, but as a medium to document his thoughts on various topics, including the beginnings of his desire to write and the friendships that shaped him during that era. He reflects, “The conversation holds a special place in my heart as it discusses a child, and later a young man, astonished in a world ominously heading towards destruction and chaos.”
The title of the book metaphorically represents the collective state of a generation mesmerized amidst a world crumbling under violence and despair.
The book will be published by the Rahand Publishing Center along with his latest novel, “Nafrati Nawbaharan.”
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