and my heart crumples like a coke can

by Alison Whitelock

Raw and beautiful and completely devoid of pretension, Ali Whitelock's poems will speak to anyone who's ever messed up, been confused, wished they'd done things differently; to anyone who's had an affair and regretted it, who's been loved completely but was too blind to see it.

Genres: Poetry

102 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

They say those born overseas will always ache for the sky under which they were born. Ali Whitelock’s particular bit of sky hovers above Scotland and spends most of its time obscured by clouds almost permanently pregnant with rain, hail, occasionally snow. Her first book, Poking Seaweed with a Stick and Running Away from the Smell, was published to critical acclaim in Australia and the UK. A few years later, after an abrupt life lesson, she stumbled upon Mary Oliver’s Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? and took the decision to give up her spectacularly boring day job in order to write full-time. is her first poetry collection. Her poems have appeared in newspapers, magazines and journals in Australia, the UK and the USA, which Ali very much enjoys telling anyone who’ll listen. She currently lives in Sydney.

Reviews

[Other Terrain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just knew ‘and my heart crumples like a coke can’ was a special book from almost the first moment I took it from my tall tower of TBR books on my bedside table. Oh my God, I thought, crossly and annoyed with myself, I must have left my morning coffee cup on it. I rubbed hard at the ring stain on the cover and laughed, realizing it was not a coffee stain ring at all, but depicted a coke can stain. I found that image of a cup stain ring, with its promise of human honesty and frailty, an undeniable invitation into the pages of Ali Whitelock’s poetry. I was not disappointed.

Despite writing poetry myself, I have never read poetry to deconstruct its use of metre or speak about stanzas. I write poetry as a visceral response to living, and I want to read those kinds of poems too. I want to read honest poetry which comes from the heart, guts and soul. There is little doubt Whitelock writes from her heart, soul, and her guts. I place a particular emphasis on guts, with its meaning of strength of character and courage. These poems are courageous, and often heartbreaking, sometimes laugh out loud funny, and reveals the strength of Whitelock’s character. It also reveals her vulnerabilities. Whitelock does not shy away from facing her demons, or how life is an eternal struggle. Her poems also speak powerfully about the search to know who we are, the struggle to know and own the voice that we should sing everyday of our life. To know we will fail, and fail again, but as long as we face the new day we have the chance of emerging, scarred, always a little scared, but stronger in the ways which really matter.

That image of the coke stain ring is poetic in its symbolism. It leaves its mark on me, as does so many poems in this collection. The coke ring on the cover sits below Whitelock gazing at us, as if sitting across from us on a cafe table. She gazes at us as if inviting us to enter her life, and heart, as we do by entering and reading this book.




Review by Wendy J. Dunn. First published in issue six of Other Terrain.

http://www.otherterrainjournal.com.au...

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali Whitelock is an incredible poet and storyteller, and this collection is hands down one of the best books of poetry I’ve ever read. Whenever someone tells me that they “don’t like” or “don’t get” poetry, I force this book into their hands (and if they won’t read it for themselves, I tie them to the chair and read it aloud to them until they capitulate and admit it’s fantastic). I can’t wait to read her next collection!

[Angélique Moseley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to bulldoze grammar along with the obligatory trappings of adult relationships, then Alison Whitelock is your woman.

There is bite in every line here; there is visual play and visceral hatred. You might want to take a drink and finish the slim volume in one sitting -- and you might well want to read more of her work after the hangover.

[Karly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

[Lari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not my style.