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kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
beaingleby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Murder, Hate crime, and Sexual assault
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
One thing that is constantly lurking in the back of my mind, especially after reading Yellowface, is who gets to tell which stories. I do like that the author acknowledges who they spoke to and what experiences they have related to the topics of this book.
Graphic: Grief, War, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Blood, Gore, Addiction, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide
amyvl93's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows the journey of Nuri and Afra as they attempt to journey from war-torn Aleppo in Syria, to join their family in relative safety in the North of England, where they have found comfort teaching beekeeping to fellow refugees. Lefteri draws a heartbreaking portrayal of Aleppo, as Afra in particular struggles to leave their home and the place they have experienced unimaginable loss - but this portrayal becomes all the more challenging as we begin to follow the couple through Turkey and into Greece. The novel shines a brutal light on the desperate refugee experience, on the constraints related to safe routes and those who benefit from the desperation of fellow humans to reach a place of safety. Lefteri also shows the reality of the asylum process for people when they arrive in England, which is far from the gold-plated, benefit-recieving experience that certain newspapers would have you believe.
Against this, it would be unsurprising if the characters within the novel became mere ciphers for Lefteri to get her points across - but this is not the case. All the people that Nuri and Afra meet are given human complexity - as do Nuri and Afra as they struggle to adapt to a life having seen and lived the things they have.
Some of the imagery and metaphor used in the novel was a little too on the nose for me, but overall I really enjoyed and appreciated The Beekeeper of Aleppo.
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, and War
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Self harm, Trafficking, and Xenophobia
Minor: Deportation
vanessaeco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Xenophobia, Self harm, War, and Rape
melisayasilem's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: War, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Blood, Confinement, and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Minor: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Self harm
meremesch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Islamophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Pedophilia, and Rape
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
I hope more people read this book.
We HAVE to create Safe Refuge Routes to Europe.
Graphic: Child death, War, Death, Trafficking, Grief, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder