The Beekeeper of Aleppo (book recommendation by Jane)

 

Nuri was a beekeeper and his wife Afra was an artist before the war hit their home city of Aleppo in Syria. They flee their country for a better life without war, violence and sorrow but they can never forget the events that lead them to this decision. 

Afra is blinded by the terrible events she has witnessed and a painful loss. While Nuri is determined to find a better life and continually seeks survival, envisioning being reunited with his cousin Mustafa. 

This beautifully written, very visual book follows the couple as they embark on their journey across Turkey and Greece to their desired destination of Great Britain. They are faced with many challenges and memories a long the way. 

I would highly recommend this book to give us an insight into the lives of immigrants and how they are faced with the difficult choice to flee their homes, countries, cultures and often families for a better life but with this huge decision comes much anguish and pain.

Although this book is fiction, the author Christy Lefteri based the book on true events after she spent two month volunteering in Athens in a centre for women and children affected by war.

Read the link attached for more on this;

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo-fictionalising-the-refugee-crisis-from-personal-experience-1.3900869