The Beekeeper Of Aleppo

No, his dark thoughts came from somewhere else, as if he had already become afraid of losing everything, as if some echo from the future was reaching back and whispering in his ear. There is something attractive about tragedy, isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, no, I am not a sadist. I am far from it. I regard the suffering of living beings as the most dreadful thing that could ever happen. But I don’t deny that there is a quality in tragic things that attracts living beings towards themselves. The Syrian civil war has now been raging for almost 8 years. Numerous dead and uncountable displaced, yet the world is watching with fascination. “You know, if we love something it will be taken away.” The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is the first book that I have read that has the Syrian civil war as its backdrop. It is the tale of Nuri and Afra and so many more like them, fleeing their country and taking paths unknown, towards something they don’t know. In the journey that could lead them to their end, or to light, Nuri and Afra must battle not only with the devils that lurk behind shadows but also their own demons that threaten to tear them apart. I am glad that she’s blind. I know what that sounds like! If I could give her a key that opened a door into another world, then I would wish for her to see again. Lost in the stone grey abyss of his wife's blindness, Nuri narrates his story. He and Afra are staying at B&B in the South of England, waiting for their caseworker to lead them to the interview where their future will be decided. You see, they are seeking asylum in the dreamy and safe UK from their country Syria, which has been ravaged by war. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Humans are the worst of the animals, capable of inflicting the deadliest harm on their fellow species and not bat an eyelid. But for those who have been damaged beyond repair, does anything matter anymore? I wish I knew who my enemy was. In 2015, when Nuri and Afra started their journey from their home in Aleppo, they didn't know what the future held for them, yet they walked and walked into the unknown. Everything that they loved and owned was destroyed by the war, they didn't have a choice but to leave the country of their birth and right, and go to their cousin Mustafa and his family who have already made it there. At least Nuri knew this and he pushed a reluctant Afra to leave every day until something happened that jolted her back to the horrors of their reality. They met thousands of other lost souls like themselves on their mammoth journey on the refugee trail through Europe. Facing prejudice and hatred, from Aleppo to Istanbul to Greece and finally, England, crossing over treacherous land and stormy water for what seemed like ages, Nuri and Afra lose much more than their physical self and money, they lose their soul in trying to find their future. Sometimes I think if I keep walking, I will find some light, but I know that I can walk to the other side of the world and there will still be darkness. It’s not like the darkness of the night, which also has white light from the stars, from the moon. This darkness is inside me... Let me start by saying that I am fascinated by war stories and stories that speak of the cruelty of humans towards humans. I am fascinated to read about the lengths they will go to, to achieve their agenda, to inflict misery, and to just satiate their sadistic selves. It appalls me, but above anything else, it makes me thankful for what I have, and in reality, makes my problems shrink and my life much easier to live. This is what I wanted: to be with Afra in a world that was still unbroken. Written in deceptively simple language, the story flows. And with it, the reader. It barely took me two days with a toddler hanging on my legs to finish this one. It is one of those books that doesn’t let you keep it down until you have read the end, but then the end is not actually the end. It is just the beginning of your own tears and a resounding WHY!? Ms. Christy is a talented author. As she seamlessly blends the past with the present, she doesn’t let her writing become overbearing. It is just enough to let the reader grasp the full essence without making them cringe at the exaggeration of the fictional plot. The emotions are left raw, untouched by the author’s pen. A tree is called a tree and not a canopy of flickering green in the sun. Subtly and effectively the author lets the reader into the lives of the refugees. There is always one person in the group who has more courage than the rest. It takes bravery to cry out, to release what is in your heart. As much as Christy’s writing impressed me, I am more in awe of her art of storytelling. This book isn’t necessarily about the war, there is hardly any politics and just about some events of violence, but the whole book reeks of violence that is happening around the people. The writing isn’t dark or depressing, yet it is the only thing that you would feel while reading it. Nuri and Afra travel together but live in their own troubled worlds. The trauma that has befallen them hasn’t distanced them physically but they aren’t what they used to be. The bleak present and hopeless past are interspersed by the time before the war when life was good and the bees hummed and the children played and when one could walk with their head held high and sleep peacefully under their roof. More than anything, the story is about hope and human desperation for want of a good life, at least a bearable life. ...and then it saddened me when I realized that Sami has been born in a world where everything could break. The more I write, the more I will lessen the impact this book has had on me. So let me just end here by mentioning one last thing. Something from this book reminds me of that photo once printed on the front page of newspapers around the world. A face-down toddler on the beach, drowned and dead. His only fault was that he was born in a war-torn country and wanted to escape for a better future. I look at my daughter, same age as him when he breathed his last, and say a prayer of thank you to the Almighty for having blessed us with a life that doesn’t end like that. Be thankful for what you have, many in the world would go out on a limb and kill for half of that. Despite the broken world that we all live in, there is hope that tomorrow would be better and our children will see better days than today. Where there are bees, there are flowers and where there are flowers there is new life and hope.

Some books take you places without moving your feet. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is one of them-but this is a journey I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra, an artist, lived a peaceful life in Aleppo with their son, Sami-until war changed everything. Through their heartbreaking journey from Syria to the UK, the novel captures the raw realities of displacement, the weight of loss, and the resilience required to keep moving forward. This book doesn't just tell you what it means to be a refugee-it makes you feel it. The fear, the trauma, the fleeting moments of hope, and the small victories that mean everything when you have lost it all. It also sheds light on how trauma manifests in ways we may not realize until it's too late. The mind and body are deeply connected, and healing is often as much about acceptance as it is about time. What stood out most to me is the novel's quiet but powerful message: even in the worst of circumstances, love can be a lifeline. Afra's healing came through acceptance, and Nuri's through love. i’d give this one a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is a deeply moving and powerful novel that explores the human cost of war and the strength it takes to survive. Inspired by real stories of refugees, the book follows Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra, as they flee war-torn Syria in search of safety and a new life. At its heart, the novel is about love, grief, and resilience. Nuri and Afra carry the pain of unimaginable loss, and their journey across countries is not just physical but emotional. Afra’s blindness and Nuri’s internal struggles symbolize the trauma they both endure, making their story even more poignant. One of the most striking aspects of the book is its raw and emotional storytelling. The author uses simple yet powerful language to portray the horrors of war and the harsh realities faced by refugees. The narrative moves between past and present, gradually revealing the depth of the characters’ suffering and their efforts to heal. The symbolism of bees and beekeeping adds a beautiful layer to the story. It represents hope, community, and the idea of rebuilding life, even after everything has been destroyed. These moments of quiet reflection balance the darker themes, giving the reader a sense of light amidst the darkness. What makes this book a great read is its humanity and authenticity. It doesn’t just tell a story about war—it makes readers feel it. The emotional connection to the characters is strong, leaving a lasting impact. Overall, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a heartbreaking yet hopeful novel. It reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to endure even the most difficult circumstances.

I couldn’t put this book down—without crying. It’s not easy to get over a loss, leave your homeland, and forget how to love or lead a normal life. Living in survival mode, always on edge, with danger lurking at every turn... Well -written❤️

This is a beautifully written book and almost feels like I’m seeing everything happening before me through the writer’s eyes. A few experiences were repetitive but the poetic imagination of the writer made me look past it.

A book that's much- hyped one the social media. I found it an average read.

Stream of consciousness technique is used in this novel brilliantly . Very engaging and unfolds facade of truth in the life of refugees. As it was taken from the lives of real people and places every nuances of the story matters more to me. Through the eyes of Nuri and Agra I was able to understand the predicament they face throughout their journey. As they were fortunate enough to live and reach the safe destination my hearts goes to the twins , angelici and other few people who lost their loved ones , souls/body ripped and children who lost/snatched from their parents even after several struggles couldn’t escape from the brutality of war physically and mentally. They wanders and lost their lives in d deep blue ocean and in d darkness of woods in the journey to save themselves and their families. It’s so disheartening to see still there are wars which not only robs the lives of innocents but also robs their dreams of living a safe normal life somewhere in the corner of this earth. This writer has d power to transfer the emotions and pain of each character through her writings. The language is simple and lucid but powerful enough to make anyone cry. Loved/lived this book.

Wars. Loss. Journey. Hope. A heart-wrenching read, more so, in today's political climate where religion/ethnicity/regionalism takes over the biggest thing we all hold in common - Humanity ; leaving people with deep scars while they search for - Light & Hope - a way back to ourselves. A way to live, again!

Polecam

The book was nicely written; a quick and easy read. The author paints a picture of the experiences of refugees and the hardships they face when trying to get to a safer country; her experiences as a UN volunteer make reading this all the more real and eye-opening. The moving story of the characters in this book highlights the importance of understanding the alternative view and not one that is usually portrayed in the media of refugees being a 'burden' on countries they flee to. I will look forward to more from the author as I found that her choice of clear and simple language allowed the book to flow well and despite the subject and content of the book, made it all the more entertaining to read. Would definitely recommend.

Beautiful book. Heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a heart-wrenching, emotional read that brought tears to my eyes more than once, yet it is also thought-provoking and relevant to so much of what is going on in the world today. The story is beautifully written as well as the realistically rendered characters (all of whom I adored). Nuri and Afra are characters that I know will stay with me for a long time to come, as the penetrating sadness around their story is one that is difficult to forget. Both characters experience PTSD and feels disconnected when it comes to personal relationships. Many of their fears are due to traumatic experiences and even though Afra is the one without sight, there are times where they both lose their vision. With that said though, there were also moments of hope amidst the desperation, such as when Nuri and Afra finally make it to their destination (not a spoiler, since we are already told this from the very first page) and are met with much kindness from the people they end up staying with at the refugee center as they wait for their asylum applications to be processed. These interactions at the refugee center in present time brought a certain element of hope to the story, which helped to balance out the overwhelming sadness of the past narrative recounting Nuri and Afra’s harrowing journey – at the same time, it made their story all the more poignant and powerful. The Syrians in The Beekeeper of Aleppo experienced tragedy, and lost so much when they escaped their beloved homeland, which became a war zone. Their search for freedom and safety was emotionally and physically tragic and deeply painful, yet I fully and completely loved this book. Lefteri’s research and experiences have allowed her to get to the heart of the human emotions. With vivid prose and insight, she takes us to the lowest point of desperation while simultaneously revealing the hope that exists, even when we have lost everything. I highly recommend this book!

シリアでは、アサド政権と反体制派の戦いが熾烈を極めて、Aleppo の街は崩壊していく。私たちもテレビの画面でその戦禍の様子をしばしば目にし、なぜ同じ国どうしでこんな事態が起こるのだろうと心を痛めるが、しかしそれは遠い国の出来事として通過していく。 本書は2016年、Aleppo の街で養蜂を営む青年 Mustafa と彼の年下のいとこの Nuri が、それぞれの事情で、ついに故郷を捨てて、難民となり、イギリスを目指す物語である。Mustafa は目の前で人々が銃撃されるのを目撃し、あまりの凄絶さに、自分も陰から彼らを撃ってしまい、逃げるために街を去る。Nuri に手紙を残して。 Nuri には妻の Afra と息子の Sami がいたが、半壊の家に暮らしていた彼らに爆撃が襲い、Sami は青い空を見上げたまま死亡し、Afra は失明する。 Mustafa はいくつもの難関を通り抜けて、今ではイ ギリスのヨークシャーで、また養蜂を一から始めようとしている。そして Nuri に自分を追ってイギリスに来るようにと誘う。時折の機会を見つけてはメールをやりとりする2人の、相手を思う心には胸をつかれる。Mustafa は言う。Where there are bees there are flowers, and where there are flowers there is new life and hope. 物語は主に Nuri と Afra のイギリスへ向かおうとする様子を中心に展開する。シリアからトルコのイスタンブールへ、そしてゴムボートで（テレビの画面さながらに) ギリシャを目指す。それは言葉に尽くせない艱難の連続。アテネの難民キャンプではいろいろなことが起こる。知り合った幾人かとはある種の連帯感や、共感も生まれる。シリアから、アフガニスタンから、アフリカから、ソマリアから、様々な言葉も飛び交い、敵愾心をあらわにする者もいれば、温かい思いやりを示す人もいる。不確かな先行きを待ちながら過ごす難民生活は悲惨そのものだ。 ここで私が改めて知ることになったのは、どこの地域にも、ＮＧＯで働く人たちが、組織的に難民の世話をしていることだった。著者自身も同時期、ギリシャのアテネでユニセフのボランティアとして働いていたということで、その経験も生かされているのだろう、難民生活のようす、その中で生じる様々なできごとが、リアルに描かれている。 Nuri は目の見えなくなった Afra に献身的に寄り添う。しかし最愛の息子 Sami を失ったことで、あるいはギリシャでの待機中に起こった事柄で、ふたりの気持ちはすれ違ったり、屈折したものになったりする。けれど、その奥底にあるのはやはりお互いに対する変わらぬ愛だ。折にふれそれが読む者の心をうつ。 Nuri は、旅の途中に親しくなり、やがて姿を消した少年に、Ｓami の姿を重ね、アーティストだった Afra は、目が見えなくなって無気力に沈んでいたが、ノートパッドに絵を描き始め、Nuri は生きるために何をでもやり、密入国業者を探し当てて、イギリスへの道を模索する･････ 全体的に平易な英語で書かれているが、現在と過去の内容が行き来してわかりづらい部分も。ともあれ、難民の現実をリアルに描き出し、私たちにいろいろなことを教えてくれる。多くの人に読んでほしい本である。