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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
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.
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.
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
sandysmith's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. In January 2021, I kick-started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children only reading when on holiday, having previously being an avid reader. This is a great read giving the reader empathy for refugees. It is about Nuri and Afra fleeing Syria. Whilst it is a work of fiction it was also informative and I found myself reading more widely about Syria. It does look at difficult subject areas including post traumatic stress disorder, grief, losing a child and depression. Sad but fascinating stuff. Well worth a read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, War, Child death, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, and Grief
eahhhhh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Murder, and Violence
kfawcett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Rape
tahsintries's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Death, and War
Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Deportation, Rape, and Racism
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, War, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Deportation, and Rape
cristiana_criss's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Într-o lume în ruină, în care durerea și deznădejdea sunt acoperite de praful răscolit de suflul unei bombe, Nuri încearcă să își aducă soția înapoi la lumină. Din Siria scufundată în beznă, pe valurile mării din Turcia spre Grecia, în taberele labirint, în care îți uiți calea și în care te afunzi și mai mult în propriile coșmaruri, ochii Afrei văd mai departe decât cei ai soțului ei, chiar și de sub vălul pierderii. Purtat de amintiri și înconjurat de zumzetul albinelor din stupii din Alep, Nuri nu se poate rupe de trecutul lui, făcând tot ce e posibil pentru a-și apăra familia în prezent. În căutarea siguranței, cheia de bronz reușește să deschidă, în cele din urmă, o ușă către o nouă viată.
"Dar Afra nu voia să plece, așa că ieșeam în fiecare zi, scotoceam printre ruine, căutând mâncare, și mă întorceam cu câte un cadou pentru ea. Găseam tot felul de lucrușoare ciudate, bucăți frânte din viețile oamenilor: un papuc de copil, o zgardă de câine, un telefon mobil, o mănușă, o cheie. Ce ciudat, să găsești o cheie într-un loc unde nu mai există uși pe care să le deschizi. Dacă stai bine să te gândești, e și mai straniu să găsești un papuc și o mănușă acolo unde nu mai există un picior sau o mână care să le poarte. Erau cadouri triste, rămășițele unor povești dureroase. Cu toate acestea, i le ofeream, i le puneam în brațe și așteptam o reacție din partea ei, dar asta nu se întâmpla niciodată. Însă continuam să încerc. Era o modalitate bună de a ne distrage atenția. În fiecare zi ieșeam și găseam ceva nou. Într-o zi, am găsit cel mai bun cadou posibil: o rodie."
- pg. 42
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Drug use, and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Child death, and Mental illness