THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO- Christy Lefteri
THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO: powerful, emotional and heart-wrenching. Similar to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I knew when I saw this book it would be a book I would definitely enjoy reading. This was a story that left a lasting impression long after I’d finished it- a story that left me feeling grateful and humble.
The story itself is beautifully written in a way that is sympathetic to the themes in which it tackles- primarily war and the lives of those affected that are left refugees or seeking asylum. It is powerful enough for the reader to realise the brutal reality of life in such war-torn countries but Lefteri is sensitive in her approach to writing to ensure it is accessible and not traumatic. It is clear the novel is well-informed and that Lefteri has used her extensive knowledge and personal experiences whilst working for UNICEF in Athens to make sure her writing was reflective of real life- a poignant fictitious novel injected with a good dose of reality.
Nuri and his wife Afra, the main characters the story is built around, are refugees seeking safety from their home in Aleppo, Syria that has been destroyed by war. The story largely follows their journey from the Middle East, across Europe and eventually to the UK where they are waiting to see if they are granted asylum. This is apparent from the offset as Lefteri writes with interchanging ‘then and now’ chapters. This works well in helping the story unravel and she has cleverly used beautifully illustrated pages that use a word to link the two chapters, something I really loved and thought helped them flow more seamlessly. Whilst the chapters worked well switching between time periods, it didn’t help avoid my biggest criticism of the book- pace. Whilst I really enjoyed the story I found that by the time I’d got half way through, it had slowed and I found myself losing the desire to delve into the story (I wasn’t desperate to pick the book up which was a real disappointment). With the pace dropping I found I had to motivate myself to pick this back up and keep going and I’m so glad I did- there is no getting away from the quality and the power behind the story. A memorable and thought-provoking tale of hope. I was in a constant state of emotional turmoil as I was unable to switch off the emotional connection to the story and the circumstances that were presented within the pages. It was achingly sad, moving and full of sorrow, yet despite the adverse circumstances Nuri is faced with, it showcased the sheer grit, determination and human capacity to endure and survive at the darkest of times. Similarly to Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird, set in the neighbouring country of Lebanon, it is impossible to not get consumed by the devastation, loss and love that shadows the characters. The story of the bees was cleverly woven throughout the story to add moments of happiness and joy as well as being a symbol of hope; this enables a more balanced reading experience and made for moving and heart-warming chapters amongst the devastation. Ultimately if you like cultural stories that are meaningful and thought-provoking then I’d definitely recommend it.
I was kindly gifted this book by Readers First and Zaffre Books in exchange for an honest review.
The story itself is beautifully written in a way that is sympathetic to the themes in which it tackles- primarily war and the lives of those affected that are left refugees or seeking asylum. It is powerful enough for the reader to realise the brutal reality of life in such war-torn countries but Lefteri is sensitive in her approach to writing to ensure it is accessible and not traumatic. It is clear the novel is well-informed and that Lefteri has used her extensive knowledge and personal experiences whilst working for UNICEF in Athens to make sure her writing was reflective of real life- a poignant fictitious novel injected with a good dose of reality.
Nuri and his wife Afra, the main characters the story is built around, are refugees seeking safety from their home in Aleppo, Syria that has been destroyed by war. The story largely follows their journey from the Middle East, across Europe and eventually to the UK where they are waiting to see if they are granted asylum. This is apparent from the offset as Lefteri writes with interchanging ‘then and now’ chapters. This works well in helping the story unravel and she has cleverly used beautifully illustrated pages that use a word to link the two chapters, something I really loved and thought helped them flow more seamlessly. Whilst the chapters worked well switching between time periods, it didn’t help avoid my biggest criticism of the book- pace. Whilst I really enjoyed the story I found that by the time I’d got half way through, it had slowed and I found myself losing the desire to delve into the story (I wasn’t desperate to pick the book up which was a real disappointment). With the pace dropping I found I had to motivate myself to pick this back up and keep going and I’m so glad I did- there is no getting away from the quality and the power behind the story. A memorable and thought-provoking tale of hope. I was in a constant state of emotional turmoil as I was unable to switch off the emotional connection to the story and the circumstances that were presented within the pages. It was achingly sad, moving and full of sorrow, yet despite the adverse circumstances Nuri is faced with, it showcased the sheer grit, determination and human capacity to endure and survive at the darkest of times. Similarly to Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird, set in the neighbouring country of Lebanon, it is impossible to not get consumed by the devastation, loss and love that shadows the characters. The story of the bees was cleverly woven throughout the story to add moments of happiness and joy as well as being a symbol of hope; this enables a more balanced reading experience and made for moving and heart-warming chapters amongst the devastation. Ultimately if you like cultural stories that are meaningful and thought-provoking then I’d definitely recommend it.
I was kindly gifted this book by Readers First and Zaffre Books in exchange for an honest review.
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