The Beekeeper of Aleppo: A Novel
This unforgettable novel puts human faces on the Syrian war with the immigrant story of a beekeeper, his wife, and the triumph of spirit when the world becomes unrecognizable. "A beautifully crafted novel of international significance that has the capacity to have us open our eyes and see."--Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz WINNER OF THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE - FINALIST FOR THE DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE - NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE Nuri is a beekeeper and Afra, his wife, is an artist. Mornings, Nuri rises early to hear the call to prayer before driving to his hives in the countryside. On weekends, Afra sells her colorful landscape paintings at the open-air market. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the hills of the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo--until the unthinkable happens. When all they love is destroyed by war, Nuri knows they have no choice except to leave their home. But escaping Syria will be no easy task: Afra has lost her sight, leaving Nuri to navigate her grief as well as a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece toward an uncertain future in Britain. Nuri is sustained only by the knowledge that waiting for them is his cousin Mustafa, who has started an apiary in Yorkshire and is teaching fellow refugees beekeeping. 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 even the bravest souls. Above all, they must make the difficult journey back to each other, a path once so familiar yet rendered foreign by the heartache of displacement. Moving, intimate, and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a book for our times: a novel that at once reminds us that the most peaceful and ordinary lives can be utterly upended in unimaginable ways and brings a journey in faraway lands close to home, never to be forgotten. Praise for The Beekeeper of Aleppo
"This book dips below the deafening headlines, and tells a true story with subtlety and power."--Esther Freud, author of Mr. Mac and Me "This compelling tale had me gripped with its compassion, its sensual style, and its onward and lively urge for resolution."--Daljit Nagra, author of British Museum "This novel speaks to so much that is happening in the world today. It's intelligent, thoughtful, and relevant, but very importantly it is accessible. I'm recommending this book to everyone I care about."--Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Refugee Boy
"This book dips below the deafening headlines, and tells a true story with subtlety and power."--Esther Freud, author of Mr. Mac and Me "This compelling tale had me gripped with its compassion, its sensual style, and its onward and lively urge for resolution."--Daljit Nagra, author of British Museum "This novel speaks to so much that is happening in the world today. It's intelligent, thoughtful, and relevant, but very importantly it is accessible. I'm recommending this book to everyone I care about."--Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Refugee Boy
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Community Reviews
The author after serving as a volunteer assisting refugees writes an historical novel of Afghanistan refugees who flee the Taliban as there village is invaded by foreigners. I initially found it difficult to read because the author bounces from the main character’s recent recollection of Afghanistan and his present day survival all the while caring for his invalid wife. In the end after very frightful experiences the main character is reunited with a distant relative in England. It’s a journey of survival.
Quite an emotional read through the life of war immigrants. The details and description take you along in their journey from Syria to England and through how their life changed forever.
3.5 stars. I finished it because I felt like it was an important book I needed to read, but the majority of it, I did not enjoy.
Despite the profoundness of the topic, the story wasn't told properly, it was very boring at times with too much focus on repetitive details rather than personalities of protagonists. The depth of characters wasn't revealed, so I couldn't build an emotional connection with any of the characters. The theme of the book is very interesting, but it wasn't narrated well.
This is one of those books that you want to discuss with everyone, you go round asking if they have read it, what they thought of it, urge them to read it.
It wasn't the sort of thing I would normally read.
It was difficult to read in that it revolves around the loss of a loved on and the way that grief can affect one mentally and physically. None the less I found it to be a beautiful book, and when I had finished I felt that I wouldn't find another book as good for a long time.
I miss this book. Rereading it would not be the same, but it is an extraordinary book, so I am sure I will read it again, sometime soon.
It wasn't the sort of thing I would normally read.
It was difficult to read in that it revolves around the loss of a loved on and the way that grief can affect one mentally and physically. None the less I found it to be a beautiful book, and when I had finished I felt that I wouldn't find another book as good for a long time.
I miss this book. Rereading it would not be the same, but it is an extraordinary book, so I am sure I will read it again, sometime soon.
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