ARC Review: “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” by Christy Lefteri

“The Beekeeper of Aleppo” by Christy Lefteri

Publication Date: August 27, 2019

Genre: Fiction

Page Length: 336 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo–until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.

As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all, they must journey to find each other again.

Moving, powerful, compassionate, and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. It is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.  (description from Goodreads)

Review:

The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows the story of Nuri and his wife Afra who are seeking asylum in England as refugees from Syria. Before their home and neighborhood was destroyed by the storm, Nuri was a prominent beekeeper with his cousin, Mustafa. Nuri and Afra are devastated to lose their home and everything they’ve ever known. Going through the immigration process is terrifying for them because don’t know if they will be granted asylum or be sent back to Syria. We see glimpses of their life now and the journey to England through intermittent flashbacks.

This novel is very painful to read at times because of all of the hardship the characters face, but I feel it is an important narrative to read. It amplifies the voices of the unsung and we get to see how each refugee’s journey was different as we meet various people and hear their stories through Nuri’s pov. It paints a vivid portrait of the harsh realities of immigration camps and the lives lost by many on a journey to a safer place:

“We found ourselves enclosed in barbed wire, and before us was a grim village with immaculate concrete walkways, wire-mesh fences, and white gravel. There were rows and rows of square makeshift cabins constructed of corrugated metal, for people to stay in until they got their papers . An empire of identification. “

Lefteri writes with great detail, making you feel all the emotions running through each characters mind. You feel their discomfort, pain and overwhelming sense of loss. You can feel how lost everyone is and how they drift from place to place trying to find solace. Lefteri pays great attention to detail in this story and while reading I could imagine the humming of the bees, the sea near Aleppo, and picture the horrible camps that Nuri and Afro stayed.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo was a very emotional read from start to finish. I liked that the author was inspired to write this book based on her own experiences of working in a refugee camp in Athens, Greece. At times it’s very difficult to read, but it’s also a very lyrical and beautiful story. It discusses topics including immigration, feeling broken, loss/grief, how to move forward in life when you are lost, and family.

I think it’s important to keep telling stories like this to make people more aware of things such as this that are going on in today’s world. These are real people with families and friends who have lost everything and are trying to find a safe place. It’s a heartbreaking piece of fiction but one that is well written.

Trigger Warnings: Mental Illness, Violence, Physical/Sexual Abuse

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.