The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

Blurb

"In the midst of war, he found love
In the midst of darkness, he found courage
In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo: what will you find from his story?

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 - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - 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. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling."

Hardcover, 400 pages
Published May 2nd 2019 by Bonnier Zaffre
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

The author paints a rich picture of life in Aleppo before war destroys it and the lives of those within it. The story focuses on Nuri and Afra, a married couple who have suffered a terrible loss, which deeply impacts both of them in ways which only become clear towards the end of the book. They don't want to leave their home but are left with no choice when their lives are at risk. I found the story of their journey from Syria across Europe harrowing and heartbreaking, both for them and the people they meet along the way.

It's difficult for someone who lives in a safe country to imagine what it would take to make someone leave everything they have ever known and potentially everyone they have ever known. This book tells just a few of those heartbreaking stories.

This is a beautifully written story about the power of compassion and hope in the face of adversity. I've given this 5 out of 5.

The Author

Christy Lefteri was born in London in 1980 to Greek Cypriot parents who moved to London in 1974 during the Turkish invasion. She completed a degree in English and a Masters in creative writing at Brunel University. She taught English to foreign students and then became a secondary school teacher before leaving to pursue a PhD and to write. She is also studying to become a psychotherapist.