Baby Khaki's Wings

by Anar Ali

These richly imagined tales, by turns playful and dark, and shot through with magic, depict the lives of East African Ismailis, a Muslim community with origins in India and a history of upheaval and dislocation. Set variously in Canada and East Africa, these stories portray characters caught between home and exile, between what is real and what is imagined, what is lost and what is found. A baby with wings, a disappeared life savings, a pearl diver's magical secrets—in each story, what is cursed is also blessed, and redemption, when it comes, will take your breath away. Reminiscent of the stories of Singer and O. Henry, Baby Khaki's Wings is an unforgettable reading experience and the mark of a singularly new and luminous literary talent.

Genres: Short Stories

246 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ian]

Second time reading this excellent collection of short stories that, while all separate tales about seemingly unrelated characters in different parts of the globe, together create a unified look into the world of the Ismaili diaspora, from East Africa to England and Canada, that author, Anar Ali expertly brings the reader into.

The economical, almost magazine-like documentary style of writing Ali employs, with her anthropological attention to the culturally specific details of Ismaili society from food to holidays, language, social ties and beyond, recall the writing style of Raymond Carver and the laser focus on a singular cultural milieu of a John Cheever but the elements of magic realism she injects into some of the stories and the innate poetic sensibility she imbues them with separate her from being a mere retread of either.

Ali's 'write what you know' specificity does serve her well though as these tales of love, romantic, parental and beyond, immigrants' striving and identity issues of being the 'other' will resonate with anyone who has gone through any of these experiences regardless of their own background.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't enjoy reading a collection of short stories, but these I liked. They're so well written and engaging, it would have been awesome if Ali wrote a complete novel based on one of them.

The stories are based on different characters but they all take place in either Eastern Africa or Alberta (Canada). And they're all based on the Ismaili community - which I didn't realize was so large, here in Canada.

Ideally a glossary should have been provided. They are a lot of words used and not always translated after. You can still get the gist of what's being said - but it would have been nice to know the exact meaning.

[Rahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would actually give this close to a four because the themes are so close to my family history. really liked the writing style

[HadiDee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A variable collection, I really liked the title story and Open House, Samuel Mathews and Bombshell Beauty.

[Sanj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ali shows promise. I particularly liked the short story Baby Khaki's wings.