Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

52 reviews

bluelien's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book a lot!! I appreciate Christy taking the time to show the mental impact of having come from a war zone and having gone through the fleeing experience as the trauma refugees go through is often overlooked. I also liked the artistic style, she ended a scene and started the next using the same verb in a different tense. Furthermore, I loved that it showed their sorrows but also their hopes and will to live because refugees are very strong people! It was a wonderful and emotional read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Murder and Sexual assault

kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A fictionalised story, told in a narrative that sounds so close to reality, mentions of grave events in real life that makes one realise the horrors taking place around the world.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a brilliant piece of work that is heavily regarded in temporal distortion as the timelines shift after every chapter. But unlike other works where such skipping of timelines makes the plot difficult to visualise and piece together, Christy Lefteri has done an incredible job in the pacing and sequencing the plot, readers can be gratified by following the plot without having to give thought to the timelines despite the lack of linearity. 

Apart from the various sensitive topics discussed, what one could find most appealing about the novel is the characterisation of Nuri, the protagonist and narrator and his mental health struggles. After losing his son to war, Nuri suffers with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as he tries to distance himself from the trauma he has suffered by making illusions of various sorts to cope with the distress. 

I could not point out flaws as the plot and characterisation of the novel does a wonderful job at portraying the tragedies of violence in an apolitical manner. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, Child death, Torture, Confinement, and War

Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Rape, and Police brutality

Minor: Xenophobia and Child abuse

eahhhhh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and War

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Minor: Trafficking, Child death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Slavery

arayo's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Murder, and Violence

tahsintries's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, Death, and War

Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Deportation, Rape, and Racism

erinchezick's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and War

issy_jacob's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, War, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Deportation, and Rape

laura_alsop's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Child death, and Mental illness

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

the story was good, and i really appreciated the afterword that explained the backstory to the author writing it. however, the plot didn’t feel fully developed. it was definitely still good though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Rape, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism

oofsharkz73's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

there is nothing to not like about this book. it's powerful. definitely a must read. lefteri did an amazing job of invoking emotion and putting things into perspective with this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child death, War, Violence, Rape, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail