The Beekeeper of Aleppo – Christy Lefteri

Book Review of the Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

The 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.

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. 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. 

My Review of the Beekeeper of Aleppo

I found this such a moving and enlightening story. It’s so hard to imagine the horrors of living in a country torn apart by war and seeing all you love and care for destroyed.

It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to travel across the world facing danger at every step to try and find some kind of hope, a future free from pain and fear.

This is exactly what Christy Lefteri does, imagine. And she brings it to us in such an eloquent way, we feel the fear and pain along with Nuri and Afra, and the others touched along the way. How can she tell such a story if it didn’t happen to her? Her research is extensive, not only did she work in camps for refugees in Greece and hear of many true stories, she also went to see what it was like working with the bees. The story may not be true, but there is truth in every twist and turn.

I was worried, being quite a sensitive person, that it would be too much to digest, but Christy never meant this to be a horror story. It is, in fact, ultimately a love story. And although their are horrors to be told, they are presented in a way not to shock, but to evoke a deeper emotion.

The Audio Book Edition

I prefer to listen to my books on Audible and this is how I read The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

• By: Christy Lefteri
• Narrated by: Art Malik
• Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
• Unabridged Audiobook
• Release date: 02-05-19
• Language: English
• Publisher: Zaffre

I think Art Malik was a great choice for the narrator. It says through the book that Nuri speaks good English, and Art Malik certainly does. His voice managed to portray the pain and sensitivity, and the touch of madness that we discover from Nuri. I cried more than once, I caught my breathe, I felt the pain. But all the time, it was the gentleness of the story which helped me get through it.

At only 8 hour and 37 minutes, the story is quite short and I listened to it fast. I was keen to know what happened to Nuri and Afra next. I worried constantly for Mohammed and wondered if he would return. The ending was perfect, even though it wasn’t totally conclusive. I think it proved the real meaning behind the story.

I think this is the best book I’ve read this year.

Disclosure: I bought The Beekeeper of Aleppo for myself and all my thoughts and opinions are my own. However, I have included affiliate links in my post. This means that if you click a link and go on to purchase, it will cost you no more but may earn me a little cash. Thank you.