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aslan123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
A beautiful yet heartbreaking tale of a man (a beekeeper) and his wife (an artist), who are trying to flee Aleppo in hopes of a better life in the uk.
This book not only tackles the issue of war and the innocent lives affected by it, but also touches on the topic of mental health, trauma, loss and much more.
I feel like everyone should read this book, as it provides an insight into what these people have to face every day, leaving their homes to find safety elsewhere, but never truly feeling like they belong… safe but an outsider in a foreign land, hoping for a fresh start.
I only wish it would resonate with others the way it resonated with me.
This book not only tackles the issue of war and the innocent lives affected by it, but also touches on the topic of mental health, trauma, loss and much more.
I feel like everyone should read this book, as it provides an insight into what these people have to face every day, leaving their homes to find safety elsewhere, but never truly feeling like they belong… safe but an outsider in a foreign land, hoping for a fresh start.
I only wish it would resonate with others the way it resonated with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: War
kirstenpod_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Death, Violence, Mental illness, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Trafficking, Sexual assault, and Deportation
maevebm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
A beautiful story of hope, survival, loss, and grief. And a good reminder to save the bees!
Nuri and Afra’s experiences were both so tragic and shared, but manifested in completely different ways. I loved the alternating time lines, as it provided a stark contrast to what their lives were versus what they became. I also found this to be an important reminder that there are ongoing refugee and humanitarian crises, caused by civil war, extremism, and climate change.
Nuri and Afra’s experiences were both so tragic and shared, but manifested in completely different ways. I loved the alternating time lines, as it provided a stark contrast to what their lives were versus what they became. I also found this to be an important reminder that there are ongoing refugee and humanitarian crises, caused by civil war, extremism, and climate change.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Torture
ninaknowles's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
saramoser's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
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
This book is a heartbreaking tale of Syria refugees and their travels to the UK. The story shows how PTSD affects everyone differently, but tells the extremely sad but hopeful tale of Nuri and Afra and the extremely difficult and long journey they had to take to escape their war stricken, brutal and dangerous country and find safety.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Rape, Mental illness, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Child death, and Murder
nadia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Given the subject matter and plot points, I expected this book to have a lot more of an emotional impact on me, but something wasn't quite landing. Still, it felt oh so close! I'm not sure what was missing for me. Maybe the writing wasn't popping off the page for me, or I wanted more exploration of certain topics, or I wanted more from the ending....I'm not sure!
On the whole, this was a moving, emotional story, and not one to read if you're not feeling on top form. I was going through a tough time emotionally while reading it and maybe that impacted my eagerness to pick it up and make progress with it!
On the whole, this was a moving, emotional story, and not one to read if you're not feeling on top form. I was going through a tough time emotionally while reading it and maybe that impacted my eagerness to pick it up and make progress with it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Rape
gear3232's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
This is one of those books that feels so real that it makes you feel all of the things the characters are feeling. It draws you in. I love the authors choice to write a bit of the present and a bit of the past in each chapter. It helps us to see so much of how these characters change. All of the terrible things that happen are written in such an open and honest way that makes them and the story even more real. This is the kind of book that you remember for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, War, Mental illness, Grief, Genocide, Death, and Drug use
Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
rachel_burgess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape
nick13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This novel is truly beautiful and it harnesses that beauty, taking the reader to some of the darkest depths to suffocate them within its pages. The trail for a refugee is rough, tortuous even, and yet no matter how hard the road gets, the characters find some sort of hope to cling on to. Sure, not one of these characters has power, nor even are a hero, but they are so human, so hopeful, that it is impossible for me not to love them more than any hero.
5/5: some of the best characterization, the best portrayal of grief I've ever read, and an impactful story that will make you feel...not great.
5/5: some of the best characterization, the best portrayal of grief I've ever read, and an impactful story that will make you feel...not great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Trafficking
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence
Minor: Self harm
yourlocaldealer's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Grief, and Drug use