Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Zaffre (2019), 384 pages
Description
"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. 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, and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo brings home the idea that the most ordinary of lives can be completely upended in unimaginable ways"--… (more)
Media reviews
Lefteri’s slow-building narrative rarely veers into sentimentality or overwhelming bleakness.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
This is perhaps the most poignant book I have read thus far this year. Yet the book is filled with beauty and love.
Nuri is a beekeeper in Aleppo, Syria. His wife Afra is an artist. Amidst the Syrian Civil War Afra was left blind when she witnessed their young son killed by a bomb. Their nephew
Theirs is a journey of moving through their grief and rediscovering themselves, individually and as a couple. Along the way they meet people who will take advantage of them, some who will hurt them, and some who will give them the strength to continue their journey.
The author worked as a volunteer at a refugee center in Athens, Greece. The stories she heard and the people she met led her to writing this compassionate account of their stories.
Nuri is a beekeeper in Aleppo, Syria. His wife Afra is an artist. Amidst the Syrian Civil War Afra was left blind when she witnessed their young son killed by a bomb. Their nephew
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Mustafa fled Syria earlier and is now in England. Mustafa has bought some beehives and started his own business. He begs Nuri and Afra to join him, thus they set off, joining thousands of other refugees fleeing to what they hope is a better life, a safer life. It is a long and danger-filled trek to and through Turkey and then through Greece with no guarantee they will be granted asylum if and when they reach England.Theirs is a journey of moving through their grief and rediscovering themselves, individually and as a couple. Along the way they meet people who will take advantage of them, some who will hurt them, and some who will give them the strength to continue their journey.
The author worked as a volunteer at a refugee center in Athens, Greece. The stories she heard and the people she met led her to writing this compassionate account of their stories.
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LibraryThing member Cariola
When Nuri was young, his cousin Mustafa taught him the ins and outs of beekeeping, and the two men joined to form a successful business. But civil war tore apart their country, Syria, the bombs destroying their homes and their hives, killing Nuri's son Sami and blinding his wife Afra, an artist.
I am scared of my wife's eyes. She can't see out and no one can see in. Look, they are like stones, grey stones, sea stones. Look at her. Look at how she is sitting on the bed, her nightgown on the floor, rolling Mohammed's marble around in her fingers and waiting for me to dress her. I take my time putting on my shirt and trousers, because I am so tired of dressing her. Look at the folds of her stomach, the color of desert honey, darker in the creases, and the fine, fine silver lines on the skin of her breasts, and the tips of her fingers with the tiny cuts, where the ridges and valley patterns once were stained with blue and yellow, and red paint. Her laughter was gold once, you would have seen it as well as heard it. Look at her, because I think she is disappearing,
At this point, they have made it to England and are living in a B&B while waiting for their asylum application to be processed. Knowing that they have arrived makes it a little easier to read the flashbacks to darker days in Syria and their difficult journey through Turkey and Greece. Nuri's happier memories and strange dreams also provide moments of strength and hope. The people they meet in the refugee camps have their own stories. There is the Afghan musician, a likable man who is hiding a brutal secret; an African woman whose tiny baby is not thriving; social workers who are willing to stretch the rules and others who have no empathy for the refugees; and Mohammed, the boy with black eyes who appears as suddenly as he disappears, rolling his marble and looking for a key.
Yes, this is a sad novel, but it's also a beautiful one and a necessary one. I listened to the entire audio version in a single day, and I want to listen to it again. (And read it in print as well.) Art Malick is the perfect narrator; I can't imagine anyone giving voice to Nuri with more sensitivity and truth.
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Mustafa fled to the UK, and now Nuri has decided that he and Afra should join him there. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is the heart-wrenching story of their struggle, a struggle that tests their minds and bodies, their love for each other, their belief in their fellow human beings, and their will to live. Nuri is the narrator, and I was grabbed from the first page, when he watches his blind wife rising in the morning:I am scared of my wife's eyes. She can't see out and no one can see in. Look, they are like stones, grey stones, sea stones. Look at her. Look at how she is sitting on the bed, her nightgown on the floor, rolling Mohammed's marble around in her fingers and waiting for me to dress her. I take my time putting on my shirt and trousers, because I am so tired of dressing her. Look at the folds of her stomach, the color of desert honey, darker in the creases, and the fine, fine silver lines on the skin of her breasts, and the tips of her fingers with the tiny cuts, where the ridges and valley patterns once were stained with blue and yellow, and red paint. Her laughter was gold once, you would have seen it as well as heard it. Look at her, because I think she is disappearing,
At this point, they have made it to England and are living in a B&B while waiting for their asylum application to be processed. Knowing that they have arrived makes it a little easier to read the flashbacks to darker days in Syria and their difficult journey through Turkey and Greece. Nuri's happier memories and strange dreams also provide moments of strength and hope. The people they meet in the refugee camps have their own stories. There is the Afghan musician, a likable man who is hiding a brutal secret; an African woman whose tiny baby is not thriving; social workers who are willing to stretch the rules and others who have no empathy for the refugees; and Mohammed, the boy with black eyes who appears as suddenly as he disappears, rolling his marble and looking for a key.
Yes, this is a sad novel, but it's also a beautiful one and a necessary one. I listened to the entire audio version in a single day, and I want to listen to it again. (And read it in print as well.) Art Malick is the perfect narrator; I can't imagine anyone giving voice to Nuri with more sensitivity and truth.
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LibraryThing member Tip44
Listened to the audio, the reader really is what sucked me into the story. A four hankie read.
LibraryThing member Elainedav
This is a fabulous book. It tells the story of Nuri and Afra who eventually leave Aleppo in Syria and attempt the journey to the UK to meet their cousin Mustafa. They have lost everything, their home, their work, their son and Afra has even lost her sight. Yet they don't really want to go. They
The book mostly details their journey. It skips between past and present and gradually their full story is revealed. Along the way they encounter both the kindness of strangers and the absolute depravity of predators taking advantage of the most vulnerable of society. The descriptions of their time in Athens are made extremely convincing due to the author's experience having volunteered with refugees in this city.
When they finally arrive in the UK, the asylum process begins and life continues to be difficult.
This is a book which is topical and important. At a time when refugees are literally washing up on our shores, many people do not stop to consider their backstory. This novel helps you to understand the desperation that drives people to make such a perilous journey. It is extremely well written as the author has credibility in both the writing world and personal experience in what she has written about. I hope she writes more. It reminded me of 'In The Sea There Are Crocodiles' which is based on a true story and one where the refugee also passes through Turkey and Greece.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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want to stay in their familiar place, their home town. But when Nuri is threatened by terrorists, they no longer have a choice. They must leave.The book mostly details their journey. It skips between past and present and gradually their full story is revealed. Along the way they encounter both the kindness of strangers and the absolute depravity of predators taking advantage of the most vulnerable of society. The descriptions of their time in Athens are made extremely convincing due to the author's experience having volunteered with refugees in this city.
When they finally arrive in the UK, the asylum process begins and life continues to be difficult.
This is a book which is topical and important. At a time when refugees are literally washing up on our shores, many people do not stop to consider their backstory. This novel helps you to understand the desperation that drives people to make such a perilous journey. It is extremely well written as the author has credibility in both the writing world and personal experience in what she has written about. I hope she writes more. It reminded me of 'In The Sea There Are Crocodiles' which is based on a true story and one where the refugee also passes through Turkey and Greece.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
I love that this book was inspired by the author’s work with refugees and the people she met. It certainly feels real. It was exhausting to read, but I think that communicates a tiny portion of how exhausting it must be for real refugees torn from their lives. I loved the descriptions of
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beekeeping, and I thought the twist added a great depth to the story. I thought Nuri and Afra’s relationship was beautiful. Both the distance that had grown between them, and the moment of connection where they found each other again. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mnpose
This is a tough book to read. The story of a couple’s journey as refugees from Syria is hard to know. But! This book is beautifully written. The language of emotions, the description of the landscapes and the tension these characters lived through every single day was easily felt while reading. I
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found myself holding my breath for the last 20 to 30 pages and I needed sometime for my own weeping when I finished. Read this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Micareads
A story of Syrian refugees trying to flee to the safety of England. Throughout the story, we see how the trauma of living in Syria during the bombings and the long trek to asylum has affected the main character, Nuri but also how witnessing the death of their child Sami physically alters his wife,
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Afra. The storytelling is well done and the author put much heart and emotion into telling the story of this couple looking for freedom. Show Less
LibraryThing member aadyer
A harrowing and understandably emotional journey for a Syrian couple trying to flee the onslaught of war upon their homeland as a result of civil war. Unflinching in its portrayal of the destruction of a homeland, and even as a microcosm, the effects on the main two protagonists relationship and
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mental health. Uncomfortable at times & able to induce considerable emotional distress at the mendacity of the people met along the way. Important and explosive, this is the equivalent of a humanitarian grenade into passive observance of suffering by our society. Valuable. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathl33n
This book is going to stick with me for a very, very long time. It absolutely gutted me. And broke my heart. Repeatedly. Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.
LibraryThing member Tonstant.Weader
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is the story of the times we live in–a time when upheaval around the world is driving people from their homes in search of safety elsewhere, usually in neighboring countries. Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, and Ethiopia host more refugees than any other countries. A
The story follows two timelines that switch back and forth. We are with Nuri and Afra as they go through the process of seeking asylum and also following them from their home in Aleppo their flight to England. The trip is arduous and filled with fear and privation, but home offers nothing but death. Afra was blinded by an explosion and Nuri seems to be stoically handling every circumstance that comes their way, calm and holding it all together, though over time you realize that trauma has affected him, too, in ways you slowly begin to see and understand.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a wonderful book. While it will break your heart, again and again, it does so most often in the quiet moments. For example, at a refugee shelter, Nuri overhears a little girl talking to her father, asking when she can see her mother again. He tells her she won’t see her but while she’s sleeping she can feel her come and brush her forehead.
There is also the bee Nuri finds at the B & B where he and Afra are living while awaiting approval of their refugee status. It has no wings, born with a defect, and driven from its hive. Nuri finds it and places it on a flower. A fellow refugee brings some flowers in pots for the bee and Nuri checks on the bee, showing the bee to Mohammed, the little boy who joined them in a refugee camp. In a way, the bee represents Nuri, broken, exiled, but enduring
While the terror and grief of the wars that drive people to seek refuge are the foundation on which this story is built, there is also so much beauty, not just in their memories of Aleppo before the war and the apiaries that Nuri tended for his cousin Mustafa, but also in the humanity with which the refugees comfort each other. This is a story about love and humanity far more than a story of war and suffering.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo will be released on August 27th. I received an ARC from the publisher through ShelfAwareness.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Christy Lefteri
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo-b...
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few, just 17% of all refugees, seek asylum in Europe. Nuri and Afra Ibrahim are two of them, seeking refuge in the U. K., the hardest place to seek asylum. Fleeing for their lives, they leave Aleppo and travel to Turkey and from there to Greece and finally to the U.K.The story follows two timelines that switch back and forth. We are with Nuri and Afra as they go through the process of seeking asylum and also following them from their home in Aleppo their flight to England. The trip is arduous and filled with fear and privation, but home offers nothing but death. Afra was blinded by an explosion and Nuri seems to be stoically handling every circumstance that comes their way, calm and holding it all together, though over time you realize that trauma has affected him, too, in ways you slowly begin to see and understand.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a wonderful book. While it will break your heart, again and again, it does so most often in the quiet moments. For example, at a refugee shelter, Nuri overhears a little girl talking to her father, asking when she can see her mother again. He tells her she won’t see her but while she’s sleeping she can feel her come and brush her forehead.
There is also the bee Nuri finds at the B & B where he and Afra are living while awaiting approval of their refugee status. It has no wings, born with a defect, and driven from its hive. Nuri finds it and places it on a flower. A fellow refugee brings some flowers in pots for the bee and Nuri checks on the bee, showing the bee to Mohammed, the little boy who joined them in a refugee camp. In a way, the bee represents Nuri, broken, exiled, but enduring
While the terror and grief of the wars that drive people to seek refuge are the foundation on which this story is built, there is also so much beauty, not just in their memories of Aleppo before the war and the apiaries that Nuri tended for his cousin Mustafa, but also in the humanity with which the refugees comfort each other. This is a story about love and humanity far more than a story of war and suffering.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo will be released on August 27th. I received an ARC from the publisher through ShelfAwareness.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Christy Lefteri
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo-b...
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LibraryThing member janerawoof
Mainly the journey of Syrian refugees, fleeing the war and devastation in their homeland. The protagonist, Nuri, wants to seek asylum in the U.K., where his cousin and family are and to resume their honey business in a new land. Nuri's wife is blind and he must help her. The book details ghastly
Highly recommended.
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events they live through--from smugglers, stays in Turkey and a horrific sea journey to Greece, on their way to reaching England. In Athens, they encounter the worst of human nature. The novel also details their encounters with the government bureaucracy in England. For me, much of the book rang true; the author worked with refugees in Greece and I imagine her plot was a composite of stories she had heard. Very powerful.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member kakadoo202
Gripping mix of characters along the difficult road from Syria to the UK
LibraryThing member brangwinn
What does it mean to see? Nuri and his wife, Afra, flee Syria hoping to immigrate to England. Their son, Sami, was killed in a bombing. Afra lost her sight in the same bombing. As they make their treacherous way to England, the reader discovers how Nuri was impacted by PTSD. Written by a woman who
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has worked with refugees, Lefteri has used these experiences to create a story that will be both heartbreaking and hopeful, just like the female wingless bee Nuri and a Moroccan refugee, help survive by building her a garden in which she doesn’t have to fly. Lots to discuss if you are in a book club. And at the end, as Afra confronts the trauma and Nuri continues to fight his emotions, she says to Nuri “You think it’s me who can’t see.” Now there’s a discussion starter. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I've spent a fair amount of the pandemic lockdown reading reviews of books coming out in 2020. It was a little frustrating because with libraries closed and bookstores having problems getting stock there was no way of getting my hands on copies. But now my library is processing holds again and this
Nuri and his wife Afra and their son lived on the outskirts of Aleppo in a small house but they were happy. Nuri was in an apiary business with his cousin and he loved his life of looking after the bees and the hives and gahering the honey and other products. Afra was a gifted artist so she painted while looking after their son and on the weekends they went to the bazaar and sold her artwork. Then the Syrian Civil War started and they found it increasingly difficult to survive when death and destruction surrounded them. Nuri's cousin sent his wife and daughter abroad when the trouble first started but he stayed behind with his son to run the business with Nuri. When the hives were all burnt Nuri and his cousin talked about leaving Syria but Afra, blinded in a bomb blast, resisted. One day when Nuri went to visit his cousin he found the house empty and a note from his cousin telling Nuri he was going to England to his wife and family. He urged Nuri to follow as soon as possible. We get these details interspersed with the details of Nuri and Afra's refugee flight. The author worked for two summers with refugees in Greece so she has based the details on testimony from people who have made the gruelling trek trying to find a safe haven. But the book is far more than just a survival story and I think Lefteri did a brilliant job of placing us in the mind of a person suffering from PTSD and grief.
One really effective device in the book is that some chapters would be missing the final word which was the chapter heading and first word of the next chapter. This really tied together the different locations and circumstances for Nuri and Afra. This is a book that I will remember for a long time I think.
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book (plus lots more) was finally available. And it was worth the wait!Nuri and his wife Afra and their son lived on the outskirts of Aleppo in a small house but they were happy. Nuri was in an apiary business with his cousin and he loved his life of looking after the bees and the hives and gahering the honey and other products. Afra was a gifted artist so she painted while looking after their son and on the weekends they went to the bazaar and sold her artwork. Then the Syrian Civil War started and they found it increasingly difficult to survive when death and destruction surrounded them. Nuri's cousin sent his wife and daughter abroad when the trouble first started but he stayed behind with his son to run the business with Nuri. When the hives were all burnt Nuri and his cousin talked about leaving Syria but Afra, blinded in a bomb blast, resisted. One day when Nuri went to visit his cousin he found the house empty and a note from his cousin telling Nuri he was going to England to his wife and family. He urged Nuri to follow as soon as possible. We get these details interspersed with the details of Nuri and Afra's refugee flight. The author worked for two summers with refugees in Greece so she has based the details on testimony from people who have made the gruelling trek trying to find a safe haven. But the book is far more than just a survival story and I think Lefteri did a brilliant job of placing us in the mind of a person suffering from PTSD and grief.
One really effective device in the book is that some chapters would be missing the final word which was the chapter heading and first word of the next chapter. This really tied together the different locations and circumstances for Nuri and Afra. This is a book that I will remember for a long time I think.
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LibraryThing member creighley
The Syrian War is brought to life in this story of a beekeeper and his wife as they struggle to find refuge.
Nuri is a beekeeper and his wife, Afra, is an artist. Nuri rises early to hear the call to prayer before driving to his hives in the countryside. On weekends Afra sells her colorful
Nuri is a beekeeper and his wife, Afra, is an artist. Nuri rises early to hear the call to prayer before driving to his hives in the countryside. On weekends Afra sells her colorful
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landscapes at the open market. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful hills of Aleppo. When their son is killed by the war, Nuri knows they must leave. Escaping will not be easy : Afra has lost her sight. Show Less
LibraryThing member runner56
In the tradition of The Kite Runner, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story of suffering and the remarkable ability of the human spirit to survive against a background of war, slaughter and heartache.
Nuri, his wife Afra, and their son Sami are residents in war torn Aleppo. By profession he is a
….”But as the years passed, the dessert was slowly growing, the climate becoming harsh, rivers drying up, farmers struggling, only the bees were drought-resistant. Look at those little warriors Afra would say on the days when she came with Sami to visit the apiaries, a tiny bundle wrapped up in her arms. Look at them still working when everything else is dying”...”Nice to meet you he said...I wish you a day of morning light”....” How many tissues will people need to buy? Maybe this is a city of crying”....”Can you see the bees Nuri? Try to see them in your mind. Hundreds and thousands of them in the sunlight, on the flowers, the hives and the honeycomb. Can you see it?”.....”I am standing away from them by the glass doors, watching them, and I think about the little boy who never existed and how he had filled the black void that Sami had left. Sometimes we create such powerful illusions, so that we do not get lost in the darkness”.....
Provocative, thought provoking prose, make this a story long remembered. Highly recommended.
Nuri, his wife Afra, and their son Sami are residents in war torn Aleppo. By profession he is a
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beekeeper and carries out this dedicated vocation with his friend Mustafa. Running through this insightful story is a fond adoration of the daily life of the humble bee, the delicious honey they produce, and their importance in the ecological system. Life is irrevocably changed when a bomb explodes, killing Sami and blinding Afro. As the desperate situation in Syria/Aleppo disintegrates Nuri takes the decision together with his wife to make the perilous journey across Europe and obtain residency in the UK as an asylum seeker, and by so doing join his friend Mustafa who has already established a business in Yorkshire. What follow is not only the hardships of such and endeavour but a story of 2 people deeply traumatised attempting to save a relationship fractured by events in an escalating war...….”But as the years passed, the dessert was slowly growing, the climate becoming harsh, rivers drying up, farmers struggling, only the bees were drought-resistant. Look at those little warriors Afra would say on the days when she came with Sami to visit the apiaries, a tiny bundle wrapped up in her arms. Look at them still working when everything else is dying”...”Nice to meet you he said...I wish you a day of morning light”....” How many tissues will people need to buy? Maybe this is a city of crying”....”Can you see the bees Nuri? Try to see them in your mind. Hundreds and thousands of them in the sunlight, on the flowers, the hives and the honeycomb. Can you see it?”.....”I am standing away from them by the glass doors, watching them, and I think about the little boy who never existed and how he had filled the black void that Sami had left. Sometimes we create such powerful illusions, so that we do not get lost in the darkness”.....
Provocative, thought provoking prose, make this a story long remembered. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
"Where there are bees there are flowers, and where there are flowers there is new life and hope."
Nuri is a beekeeper, working with his cousin Mustafa and living peacefully in Aleppo, Syria with his wife Afra, an artist, and their young son. Nuri and his family live a simple life, rich in family and
Afra has lost her sight so Nuri must lead her as they travel across Europe, their only beacon of hope is the knowledge that Mustafa, who has successfully made the same journey and is now teaching bee-keeping to refugees in Yorkshire, is waiting for them. Along the way they must confront not only their own loss but must also make the difficult journey back to each other.
This novel is certainly a book of our times, where civil war and migration seems to be constantly in the news. For that reason this is a relatively easy but uncomfortable read. Through the beauty of Afra's art and the author's depiction of the countryside of Syria readers are reminded that beauty is still present even in war torn countries. This is a story of darkness and light, of hope and horror, one that is both moving and beautifully written, and as such I would certainly recommend it.
Nuri is a beekeeper, working with his cousin Mustafa and living peacefully in Aleppo, Syria with his wife Afra, an artist, and their young son. Nuri and his family live a simple life, rich in family and
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friends until the unthinkable happens and civil war breaks out. When war destroys their home, their city and their lives, Nuri and Afra realise that they have no other choice than to leave their home and their country and undertake a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. Afra has lost her sight so Nuri must lead her as they travel across Europe, their only beacon of hope is the knowledge that Mustafa, who has successfully made the same journey and is now teaching bee-keeping to refugees in Yorkshire, is waiting for them. Along the way they must confront not only their own loss but must also make the difficult journey back to each other.
This novel is certainly a book of our times, where civil war and migration seems to be constantly in the news. For that reason this is a relatively easy but uncomfortable read. Through the beauty of Afra's art and the author's depiction of the countryside of Syria readers are reminded that beauty is still present even in war torn countries. This is a story of darkness and light, of hope and horror, one that is both moving and beautifully written, and as such I would certainly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member TNbookgroup
Luba. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story of the refugee experience and of hope, love, survival and resilience. It is a heart-wrenching story that humanizes the immigrant experience by illuminating the sorts of desperate circumstances that compel people to flee their countries or face a violent
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deadly, end. Syrian couple Nuri and Afra’s son has been killed, Afra is blinded, and Nuri’s beloved apiary has been destroyed. They set out on a treacherous trek to the UK by way of Turkey and Greece—a journey that will test their already fractured relationship, and their faith in the world. The author is the daughter of refugees and volunteered at a center for the displaced in Athens. Show Less
LibraryThing member Castlelass
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story of migration. It follows a couple who leave their home in Syria due to violence, unrest, and political upheaval in search of a safe haven. Nuri is a beekeeper in Aleppo and his wife, Afra, is an artist. They flee after a bomb kills their son and blinds Afra. Their
We know Afra has been traumatized and over the course of the narrative we become aware of how deeply trauma has affected Nuri, too. The story is told in flashforwards and flashbacks. Memories of the past and visions of the future are braided into the story, and by the end we have a full picture.
This book is beautifully written and emotionally evocative. There are heartbreaking moments, but there are tender moments, too, especially regarding an orphaned boy they encounter during their travels. These scenes are skillfully rendered such that they are easy to envision. It is a story of a refugee experience, along with memories of home in better times and optimism about thriving in different circumstances. It is an appeal to multicultural human compassion and understanding.
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cousin, Mustafa, has established beekeeping business in England, and they hope to join him. The storyline follows their travels and travails from Syria to Turkey to Greece to the UK. We know Afra has been traumatized and over the course of the narrative we become aware of how deeply trauma has affected Nuri, too. The story is told in flashforwards and flashbacks. Memories of the past and visions of the future are braided into the story, and by the end we have a full picture.
This book is beautifully written and emotionally evocative. There are heartbreaking moments, but there are tender moments, too, especially regarding an orphaned boy they encounter during their travels. These scenes are skillfully rendered such that they are easy to envision. It is a story of a refugee experience, along with memories of home in better times and optimism about thriving in different circumstances. It is an appeal to multicultural human compassion and understanding.
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LibraryThing member shazjhb
Very sad book about Syrian refugees. It gives a horrible picture of refugees from all countries. Multiple psychological problems but to be expected with PTSD
LibraryThing member LARA335
A Syrian couple, bereaved & damaged by war, make the long & dangerous journey to England. In this novel Lefteri, who had herself volunteered in a refugee camp in Athens, reveals the emotional trauma & the various exploitations of ordinary people escaping conflict.
Moving, haunting &
Moving, haunting &
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thought-provoking. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
This book highlights the struggle and the journey that refugees take to escape war and brutality in their homeland.
Nuri and his cousin, Mustafa, are beekeepers in Aleppo. One day, their apiaries are destroyed, and Mustafa and his family head to England. He begs Nuri and Afra to join them. Afra
Finally, Nuri convinces her to leave, but their journey is long and dangerous. Along the way, Nuri hallucinates about a boy named Mohammed. Nuri agrees to work for smugglers to help them get out of Athens.
The book is heartbreaking. Hopefully, it will open people's eyes to the struggle these refugees face.
Nuri and his cousin, Mustafa, are beekeepers in Aleppo. One day, their apiaries are destroyed, and Mustafa and his family head to England. He begs Nuri and Afra to join them. Afra
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doesn't want to leave because their son, Sami, is buried in Aleppo. Afra became blind after this happened.Finally, Nuri convinces her to leave, but their journey is long and dangerous. Along the way, Nuri hallucinates about a boy named Mohammed. Nuri agrees to work for smugglers to help them get out of Athens.
The book is heartbreaking. Hopefully, it will open people's eyes to the struggle these refugees face.
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Awards
Aspen Words Literary Prize (Longlist — 2020)
Dayton Literary Peace Prize (Runner-Up — 2020)
The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — Audiobook — 2020)
BookTube Prize (Finalist — Fiction — 2020)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019
Physical description
384 p.; 6.02 inches
ISBN
1785768921 / 9781785768927
Local notes
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until 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.
Signed by the author, limited to 250 copies, with gold sprayed page edges.
Signed by the author, limited to 250 copies, with gold sprayed page edges.