The Beekeeper of Aleppo Book Review

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The Beekeeper of Aleppo concerns Nuri and his wife Afra. Living in Aleppo, Syria, Nuri is a beekeeper who finds the act of looking after his hives rewarding. Then everything around them suddenly becomes affected by the brutal war in Syria so they are forced to flee. Nuri’s cousin has already made it to England and urges him to do the same. Left broken from the tragic death of their son the couple must not only find their way across Europe to safety, but must find their love for each other again. Witnessing more tragedy and violence during their journey Nuri is horrified at the things people are capable of, but will he find the beauty in the world too? And what will they find when they make it to the place which will supposedly provide their safety?

I’d heard a lot about this book before reading it, so I’m very glad it lived up to the hype. Switching between the present in England and the journey Nuri and Afra had to make to get there, its hard not to feel their trepidation and anxiety as they tackle each part of the momentous journey. For me the most heartbreaking part of this novel is their lost son, Sami. Sami symbolises the forgotten love between the pair, but not only that, he personifies all that is wrong with a world that would allow a war to kill innocent children. There is a lot of hope and beauty in this book but it also gives an eye-opening perspective on what those who were simply born in a certain place must endure just to be safe – and even then the safety they need isn’t always guaranteed.

It’s hard not to be moved by this story and I really hope it’s read by people who may not know much about the refugee crisis which is still ongoing in Syria and other parts of the world. This book does a fantastic job of showing just how difficult it is for refugees; from the interview process, paperwork, meetings – even seeing a doctor is an ordeal. It’s moments like this, tasks which I take for granted, which makes this book so important. It’s giving a voice to those otherwise unheard.

Having recently read The Ardent Swarm (a book I urge you to read if you loved this one) I once again found myself finding beauty in nature. Bees don’t feature quite as heavily in this as they did in TAS, but the beauty Nuri sees in them is evident and they symbolise prosperity and stability both in Aleppo and England. It also beautifully juxtaposes the nasty stereotypes placed on refugees – how can a man portrayed as violent be so kind to such a small and mostly defenceless creature?

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Throughout Lefteri does not shy away from showing the desperation of our protagonists as well as those they meet along the way. As I said before, these people don’t ask to be in this position and the ordeal they have to go though just to get out of it is truly heartbreaking. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an essential read and one that will open many people’s eyes for the better.