The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Author Christy Lefteri is a daughter of refugees, and spent several summers volunteering with refugees in Greece. There is no doubt she beautifully and accurately taps into the suffering of her characters with the heartfelt storytelling of the plight of Syrian refugees in The Beekeeper of Aleppo. This emotional story of a once-happy couple demonstrates the toll that war takes on a human’s soul, and embraces the hope that still exists, even in the worst of circumstances.
Finding it difficult to walk away from their treasured memories of family and country, Nuri and Afra must leave the civil war in Syria behind them. Nuri, a dedicated beekeeper, feels pressure to make it safely to England. His wife, Afra, an accomplished artist who was blinded during an explosion that tragically kills their young son, has less motivation. Amid residual emotional trauma, Nuri must be Afra’s eyes and her caretaker as they embark on this necessary, yet dreaded trip.
The story is roughly in two parts. The first takes place in 2015, when the couple makes the life threatening journey to a seaside village in England. Dealing with dangerous sea crossings and smugglers, they venture to safety through Turkey and Greece. The second part recounts the time they spend in a rooming house in England, waiting for asylum. Nuria and Afra cope with their personal demons in their own separate ways, often getting caught up in their thoughts. “Sometimes we create such powerful illusions, so that we do not get lost in the darkness.”
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.
The Syrians in The Beekeeper of Aleppo experience tragedy, and lose so much when they escape their beloved homeland, which had become a war zone. Their search for freedom and safety is emotionally and physically tragic and deeply painful, yet I fully and completely loved this book. Christy 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!
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is now available for purchase.
For more books I love with related topics:
Vietnamese Refugees: Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhá Lai
Korean Refugees: If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim
Rwandan Refugees: The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya
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