Fiction

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-02-27 16:59:43
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Christy Lefteri
  • ISBN：1838770011
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Summary

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。

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？

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Reviews

Lauren White ，

I think so many people will come away from reading this book， as I did， with a stronger sense of understanding about identity of these refugees。 It is so easy to forget that each one of them has their own （often terrible） story to tell。 Such a brilliant， beautiful book to read。

Felicia Roff Tunnah ，

This was an incredibly sad story that was beautifully told。

Jaclynn Morse ，

Beautiful and heartbreaking story。 Learned so much about the effects of war on families。

soren karimi ，

بدون اغراق، از بهترین کتاب‌هایی که تابه‌حال خونده‌ام به‌حساب می‌آد。داستان درباره‌ی زنبورداری سوری هست که جنگ همه‌چیزش رو ازش می‌گیره。 مجبور می‌شه همراه خانواده‌اش از حلب و سوریه فرار کنه。 مقصدش لندنه。 مقصدی بلندپروازانه که مسیری دشوار داره؛ همه این رو بهش می‌گن。 اما نوری مصممه بره اونجا。این کتاب واقعاََ تونست دست دراز کنه و من رو لمس کنه。 بااین‌که داستان پر از تلخی و رنجه، حس بسیار خوبی به من داد。 امید داد。گفتنیه که ماهرانه نوشته شده。 روایت واقعاََ من رو سرحال آورد‌؛ در عین سادگی، ظرافت حیرت‌انگ بدون اغراق، از بهترین کتاب‌هایی که تابه‌حال خونده‌ام به‌حساب می‌آد。داستان درباره‌ی زنبورداری سوری هست که جنگ همه‌چیزش رو ازش می‌گیره。 مجبور می‌شه همراه خانواده‌اش از حلب و سوریه فرار کنه。 مقصدش لندنه。 مقصدی بلندپروازانه که مسیری دشوار داره؛ همه این رو بهش می‌گن。 اما نوری مصممه بره اونجا。این کتاب واقعاََ تونست دست دراز کنه و من رو لمس کنه。 بااین‌که داستان پر از تلخی و رنجه، حس بسیار خوبی به من داد。 امید داد。گفتنیه که ماهرانه نوشته شده。 روایت واقعاََ من رو سرحال آورد‌؛ در عین سادگی، ظرافت حیرت‌انگیزی داشت。 شخصیت‌پردازی‌ها درخشانه و فضاها شما رو به خونه‌های مخروبه، شهرهای جنگ‌زده و مرز کشورهای مختلف می‌بره。 شما رو واقعاََ می‌شونه همون‌جایی که شخصیت‌ها نشستن。و می‌تونم با خیال راحت هرچقدر می‌خوام از ترجمه‌ی این کتاب تعریف کنم。 نثر گیرا و گاهی شاعرانه‌ی این کتاب بهتر از این نمی‌تونست به فارسی ترجمه بشه。من این کتاب رو به همه توصیه می‌کنم。 هرکسی که داستان خوب می‌پسنده، پشیمون نمی‌شه。 。。。more

Mikaela Garcia ，

It was an emotional roller-coaster experience and I also learn about bees and what is different from other bees around the world。 It was good writing and well translated from English too Swedish。 I like how I the reader could follow Nuri own psyche， and how it is too lost its own home and leave your childhood town。

mayam ，

absolutely beautiful。

Ann Conroy ，

I rarely take the time to write a review but this is one of those books that will stay with me。 It was beautifully written， but it is a gut wrenching story centering on one Syrian family fleeing their country。 The hardest part is knowing that their story is one experienced by so many people， not only from Syrian but other countries as well。

Cherry Tina ，

📌where there are bees， there are flowers and where there are flowers， there is a new life and hope 📌。This is a compelling story of love ，hope and compassion。 The entire book is absolute WOw！ and a must read。 A story of survival that I highly recommend。

Marnie ，

What a heartbreaking book。 The sad thing is that， although this is fiction， it represents so much of what a refugee goes thru。 Worth the sadness to learn more about the world。

Sandrine ，

This novel is so well written， you really feel the narrator's emotions。 Pretty upsetting ， disturbing at time， yet there is love and hope in this book too。 It helps you understand how some people's lives are so hard， such as people's leaving their country in time of war， uncertainty etc。。。 and it makes you appreciate that perhaps we have it very easy at time and we should appreciate what we have， we should be more grateful。 This novel is so well written， you really feel the narrator's emotions。 Pretty upsetting ， disturbing at time， yet there is love and hope in this book too。 It helps you understand how some people's lives are so hard， such as people's leaving their country in time of war， uncertainty etc。。。 and it makes you appreciate that perhaps we have it very easy at time and we should appreciate what we have， we should be more grateful。 。。。more

Chris Dilts ，

This is probably the most 'Oprah Book Club' of the books I've read in the past two years， but nonetheless， it was a pleasant and fulfilling novel in the vein of touching real-life nonfictional situations and stories connected through hardships resultant of current world affairs。 In this case， it explores the all-too-inhumane aspects of the worldwide refugee crisis centered around Syria。The story plays a bit with narration and interweaves flashbacks with current experiences fluidly and with purpo This is probably the most 'Oprah Book Club' of the books I've read in the past two years， but nonetheless， it was a pleasant and fulfilling novel in the vein of touching real-life nonfictional situations and stories connected through hardships resultant of current world affairs。 In this case， it explores the all-too-inhumane aspects of the worldwide refugee crisis centered around Syria。The story plays a bit with narration and interweaves flashbacks with current experiences fluidly and with purpose。 Characters are interesting and pointedly constructed， but no words are wasted meandering around less efficacious traits or attributes。 As a father， I've found this book touching and sometimes even emotionally difficult to read。 I feel like the current United States political discourse regarding immigration and acceptance of refugees would be greatly enhanced with both sides of the aisle hearing this story。 Excellent story and an easy read。 。。。more

Tori ，

Took me a while to get through， but this was a great look into the lives of refugees。

Erika Dean ，

Wow！ My heart！

Kay ，

Maybe 4。5 or 5。 This book allows you， makes you feel what an immigrant’s journey is like in a small way。 It is a quiet book although there is much violence。 Written from experience of working with refugees you wonder with every page。。。could I survive this journey。

Emily Standring ，

**SPOILER ALERT** This book was such a beautiful read。 It's common themes were hope， love and pain， and how in even in the darkest times， we all have some light to which we find ourselves reaching。 This story enlightened me on the hardships faced by many refugees， and I am grateful for this education， because it has truly raised by awareness。The language used was so touching， as though every word truly meant something。 I REALLY liked the reveal at the end of Mohammed actually being Sami all alon **SPOILER ALERT** This book was such a beautiful read。 It's common themes were hope， love and pain， and how in even in the darkest times， we all have some light to which we find ourselves reaching。 This story enlightened me on the hardships faced by many refugees， and I am grateful for this education， because it has truly raised by awareness。The language used was so touching， as though every word truly meant something。 I REALLY liked the reveal at the end of Mohammed actually being Sami all along。 It was something I had a hunch about， but I was still surprised all the same。 The continuity of the image of the bees was very well done， and I myself found myself likening it to Gatsby's 'Green Light'， namely because it was a dream that was seemingly out of reach for Nuri。 However when Mustafa travels to see Nuri at the book's conclusion， it was a gorgeous remind that all of the fear and pain was all for that moment。 To start again， to live a new life without fearing for safety at all times。 。。。more

ShellsReads ，

There is a lot to admire in this novel but equally it is not without flaw。 The bees are the best bit but too much nectar not enough sting sums up the whole。‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ is undoubtedly a compelling story of traumatisation， despair and the indomitable human will to survive against all the odds。 A fictional account that feels very authentic with its devastation of war， terrifying uncertainty， building tension of the tortuous escape journey， and all the small details like the strange fo There is a lot to admire in this novel but equally it is not without flaw。 The bees are the best bit but too much nectar not enough sting sums up the whole。‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ is undoubtedly a compelling story of traumatisation， despair and the indomitable human will to survive against all the odds。 A fictional account that feels very authentic with its devastation of war， terrifying uncertainty， building tension of the tortuous escape journey， and all the small details like the strange foreign customs of Europeans from a migrant perspective。 Why do European men stand up to pee？The characters which Christi Lefteri has created are all so memorable， even those that appear only briefly。 Deft brushstroke details that hold each in view: Nuri and his uplifting relationship with his bees， and his artist wife Afra with her gradual re-awakening need to draw those crayon half completed drawings。 Mustafa the distant symbol of hope who has made the journey， crossed the waters and tentatively started a new different kind of life in the North of England。 Sami pushing his migrant worm around in his toy truck in the garden， his terror of water。 Mohammed the transient lost boy pulling Nuri into the past skirting around the edges of a black hole。 Lucy Fisher the social worker whose face can be a burst of warmth or whose lips tighten as if she has eaten something horrible。 And the brooding evil menace of desperate Nadim in the camp in Athens and the evil callous exploitation of the trafficker Mr Fotakis with his flashing silver tooth and his gold ring。 t‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ is in many ways deceptively simple in its plain storytelling style。 But stylish touches in places raise the writing above the ordinary。 There is a lyrical haunting quality to the prose especially the memory bees。 There are some stylistic quirks making ‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ with its rather banal bandwagon title actually standout from the unending avalanche of modern novels: - Nuri’s poetic calming memories of the tranquil happy before the war times in Syria; the mesmerising descriptions of his and Mustafa’s time with the bees; the use of bees as a kind of calming smoke on Nuri’s suppressed agony; the repetitive synchronisation of one chapter ending with a letter starting the next melding the narrative from present to past。 Those vital emails of hope from Mustafa who has made it to the UK pulling Nuri and Afra from their old broken worlds to their potential new lives。 The past life transfiguring into a new life like the damaged bee he nurtures in England which he is amazed to see has ‘learnt to survive without her wings’ in the little garden he has made for her – her new home。 All are powerful symbols elevating what could have just been another book on the shelf to a higher place。But it is not a perfect novel by any means。 I have queasy misgivings。 The descriptive beautiful prose of the old life doesn’t contrast sufficiently starkly with the horrors – the shooting， bombing， decapitations， drownings， murder， rapes， exploitation， uncertainty and fear are all matter of factly revealed in brief bald statements。 They are all rather superficially portrayed， glossed over quickly。 This lack of realistic grisly sour detail as counterpoint to the sugary sweetness of bee world memories seriously runs the risk of both belittling the pain of the migrants and being excessively cloying。 It doesn’t just come across as the emotional numbness of the narrator Nuri。 The prose can be extremely eloquent and graphic when he’s describing the good things。 The novel feels unbalanced and suspiciously like it’s just sanitised ‘feelgood’ trauma for a commercial market that doesn’t deal well with the brutal and gritty stuff。 If so that would be an insult not a tribute to the heroic journeys that all migrants undertake。That said ‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ is an absorbing page turning novel giving us all a glimmer of hope in despairing times and we all need that。 And I have a huge soft spot for bees anyway。 Christi Lefteri is certainly an author to watch out for in the future … the promise of better yet to come。 。。。more

Nan ，

Deeply moving， disturbing and beautifully written。

Courtney ，

3。5 stars。 I'd give this 4 except I probably won't read it again。 This is not normally the kind of book I love to read， but I can hardly resist anything that refers to bees。 This really was a well-crafted story。 I was surprised by it。 It really helped me feel the refugee story a bit more clearly。 And I'd like to give props to the author for being able to tell a story where really hard things happen， but not being explicit or dark or crass。 3。5 stars。 I'd give this 4 except I probably won't read it again。 This is not normally the kind of book I love to read， but I can hardly resist anything that refers to bees。 This really was a well-crafted story。 I was surprised by it。 It really helped me feel the refugee story a bit more clearly。 And I'd like to give props to the author for being able to tell a story where really hard things happen， but not being explicit or dark or crass。 。。。more

SWZIE ，

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is beautifully written。 It had a profound effect on my emotions as I read the tale of inconceivable human suffering。 The story is fictional but the events and experiences are very real and will resonate with many people who have suffered in similar ways to the fictitious characters。 It is bound to elicit compassion and tear at the heart strings of anyone who reads it。We regularly hear of refugees who head for our shores to escape persecution， oppression or the fear of los The Beekeeper of Aleppo is beautifully written。 It had a profound effect on my emotions as I read the tale of inconceivable human suffering。 The story is fictional but the events and experiences are very real and will resonate with many people who have suffered in similar ways to the fictitious characters。 It is bound to elicit compassion and tear at the heart strings of anyone who reads it。We regularly hear of refugees who head for our shores to escape persecution， oppression or the fear of losing their lives。 It’s easy to become immune to hearing of such tragedies when they are mere statistics， but it’s so different when you read of individuals who have witnessed sights and experienced things that are beyond our worst imagination。 The author， Christy Lefteri， worked as a volunteer at a UNICEF supported refugee centre in Athens - where the people told of their terrifying experiences。 She wrote the novel as a way of bringing those stories alive。The Beekeeper of Aleppo is from the perspective of Nuri。 It tells of his arduous journey to flee war torn Syria with his wife Afra， after their 7 year old son was killed。 I cannot imagine anything worse than losing a young child and forced to leave your country， your house， friends， family， job - and all that you are familiar with。The mental images of their journey in an overloaded dingy， across the treacherous ocean， were disturbing。 I thought how brave those people in real life must be， taking such an enormous risk with their families， knowing how many drown while attempting the same journey。 To think that an even greater danger would be for them to remain in their own country illuminates the plight of refugees。Nuri’s wife， Afra， was blinded （physically or psychologically） by the same explosion that killed her child; this seemed to make her other senses more enhanced; her heighted senses made her very aware。 Although Nuri tried to keep things from Afra to shield her， she sensed when something was wrong。 Their experience tested their relationship to the limits。 I felt there were times when they questioned their love for each other， or they wondered whether each other’s love was being reciprocated。 They were so absorbed by inward grief that they appeared to be drifting apart。 There hadn’t been enough time for them to express their sorrows。 Afra never cried for Sami her son。 Nuri clearly showed signs of post traumatic stress。 His mind became frail。 It was sometimes confusing to know his reality from his imagination。From the beginning to the end of their long journey I was filled with tension。 I worried that something might happen to prevent them travelling to their destination。 Nuri had been a bee keeper before the uprising and war in Syria。 He had a thriving business with his relative， Mustufa。 He hoped to meet up with Mustufa， who had already successfully completed the journey， so they could resume their bee keeping。 （I loved learning about the behaviour of bees。 It was so interesting）。People like Nuri and Afra faced various dangers along the way， including the potential harm from unscrupulous people who prey on vulnerable displaced refugees， including children。 I was so drawn in by the story and the experiences of these characters that could easily have been real people， that I found the novel thought provoking。 By the end of the book I wondered how long these people take to fully recover from such emotional trauma。The book is so beautifully written that it came as no surprise to learn that Christy Lefteri is a lecturer in creative writing at Brunel University。 。。。more

Jay ，

This is a truly remarkable book， but not easy to read。 The terrible experiences of Niuri and Afra， and of many other refugees they met on their journey are compelling reading。

Carmyn ，

4。5

Alex Shalan ，

I wanted to like "The Beekeeper of Aleppo" more than I actually did。 I was intrigued by the subject matter of the Syrian refugee migration。 It illuminated the plight， harrow and struggle which Syrians face in their country and the arduous journey to leave it。 Part of me wishes it went into more detail and expanded more of the character depth and development。 While the writing style was applauded by critics， I didn't care for it and it lost my attention。 I wanted to like "The Beekeeper of Aleppo" more than I actually did。 I was intrigued by the subject matter of the Syrian refugee migration。 It illuminated the plight， harrow and struggle which Syrians face in their country and the arduous journey to leave it。 Part of me wishes it went into more detail and expanded more of the character depth and development。 While the writing style was applauded by critics， I didn't care for it and it lost my attention。 。。。more

Terralyn Brown Barfield ，

4 1/2 Stars ✨ Very moving and believable。 The first 30 pages were realistic and disturbing enough that I considered quitting right then。 I didn’t think I was in a state of mind to go down that dark road。 Once I figured out to read the chapter headings as just another word in a continuous sentence， I appreciated the author’s writing device。 Her writing style is very beautiful and the story so poignant it reverberates in my head hours later。 This must be the story of countless contemporary immigr 4 1/2 Stars ✨ Very moving and believable。 The first 30 pages were realistic and disturbing enough that I considered quitting right then。 I didn’t think I was in a state of mind to go down that dark road。 Once I figured out to read the chapter headings as just another word in a continuous sentence， I appreciated the author’s writing device。 Her writing style is very beautiful and the story so poignant it reverberates in my head hours later。 This must be the story of countless contemporary immigrants。 Highly recommended。 。。。more

brodie ，

Everybody should absolutely read this。 It opened my mind to an understanding that refugees are just normal people， who once lived a life akin to mine or yours。 I now have a fuller understanding of their journeys， and some of the reasons why many flee homelands。 I have the greatest of respect， I don't belive I could survive anything similar。The story follows a couple on their journey across Europe to seek refuge in the UK。 Chapters are beautifully written and spilts into two parts: half dedicated Everybody should absolutely read this。 It opened my mind to an understanding that refugees are just normal people， who once lived a life akin to mine or yours。 I now have a fuller understanding of their journeys， and some of the reasons why many flee homelands。 I have the greatest of respect， I don't belive I could survive anything similar。The story follows a couple on their journey across Europe to seek refuge in the UK。 Chapters are beautifully written and spilts into two parts: half dedicated to life in England， the other about their previous life in Syria and journey across Europe。 。。。more

Claire Sutherland ，

A truly beautiful book。 Takes you on a journey。 Poignant but there is hope

Niamh Burnett （Mrsbookburney） ，

The beekeeper of Aleppo- An extremely powerful and emotive book， it stayed with me for a while afterwards， and I don’t think any book will live up to do。 The descriptions were powerful and I really felt that I was experiencing there journey。 The heartbreak that they faced， really came across and I cried at some parts。 I felt so sorry for Nuri， having to be the ‘strong’ one for so long， seeing him break at time were horrible to read， I wanted to be able to save him！ I feel I have learned so much The beekeeper of Aleppo- An extremely powerful and emotive book， it stayed with me for a while afterwards， and I don’t think any book will live up to do。 The descriptions were powerful and I really felt that I was experiencing there journey。 The heartbreak that they faced， really came across and I cried at some parts。 I felt so sorry for Nuri， having to be the ‘strong’ one for so long， seeing him break at time were horrible to read， I wanted to be able to save him！ I feel I have learned so much from this book and the horrors that people face when they have to flee their homes。 I would have liked more of a back story on what led them to their decisions I read this as part of a book club and we chatted at different stages of the book， this I was glad of as I felt I needed the emotional support to get me through to the end。 A must read by anyone， I feel this needs to be on everyone’s shelves 。。。more

Kbrown ，

Harrowing story of loss， survival at all costs。 Glad I’ve read it， not sure I will be passing it on。

Frédérique Van Tilborg ，

Zie mij huilen in de trein。 Diep geraakt。 Goed geschreven。 Een belangrijk verhaal dat verteld moet worden。

Livy ，

A gripping tale of the hardships and hope that two Syrain refugees experience on their journey to the UK。 This book is so beautifully written， I loved how it effortlessly flipped between the story of Nuri and Afra seeking asylum in England and the journey that they made to get there。 Especially became it was all based in on one simple world， which meant that the flow of the book wasn't even interrupted。 It was incredibly interesting to read of the hardships that people face to get to a country t A gripping tale of the hardships and hope that two Syrain refugees experience on their journey to the UK。 This book is so beautifully written， I loved how it effortlessly flipped between the story of Nuri and Afra seeking asylum in England and the journey that they made to get there。 Especially became it was all based in on one simple world， which meant that the flow of the book wasn't even interrupted。 It was incredibly interesting to read of the hardships that people face to get to a country that I am fortunate to have been born in， of course web hear about it on the news but reading a first person narrative really hit home。 The ending had me in tears， it was so hopeful for Nuri and Afra and they had really earned that healing process that they had started to go through。 Speaking of Nuri and Afra， they were such incredible main characters and I felt like I really knew them both by the ned ion the book。 I symhasused whit them both enormously and felt for Nuri during his interview to see if he would be granted asylum because they were asking some very difficult questions。 I just loved seeing how the journey changed them and shaped them into the people that arrived in the UK and those they were at the end of the book。 They had been through so much and I felt blessed to be privy to their moving story。 The writing style was stunning。 I was in awe at how well Christy Lefteri wrote the story of Nuri and Afra and you know that I love how amazingly well the story flowed because it was just incredible。 I will definitely be checking out more of her books in the future because it felt so real and so raw and so hopeful all at the same time。 。。。more

Liz ，

Beautiful， heart-breaking， hopeful。This book humanises the experiences of tens of thousands of refugees whose lives have been torn apart by civil war。 It details their trauma， their pain， and their humanity。 It’s genuinely a must-read for all。 I will never forget the story of Nuri and Afra， and their stubborn hope even when their world was torn apart。 It’s a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are to live in a peaceful nation， but also a subtle reminder that we must not allow our blessings to h Beautiful， heart-breaking， hopeful。This book humanises the experiences of tens of thousands of refugees whose lives have been torn apart by civil war。 It details their trauma， their pain， and their humanity。 It’s genuinely a must-read for all。 I will never forget the story of Nuri and Afra， and their stubborn hope even when their world was torn apart。 It’s a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are to live in a peaceful nation， but also a subtle reminder that we must not allow our blessings to harden our hearts against fellow humans who are going through hell。 This book convicts the reader’s heart to compassion。 Lefteri in writing this book has produced a timeless gem; I don’t think I could look at bees the same way again。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Beekeeper of Aleppo

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Beekeeper of Aleppo&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Beekeeper of Aleppo&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0