The Beekeeper of Aleppo

A Novel

De: Christy Lefteri

Narrado por: Art Malik

This unforgettable novel puts human faces on the Syrian war with the immigrant story of a beekeeper, his wife, and the triumph of spirit when the world becomes unrecognizable.

"A beautifully crafted novel of international significance that has the capacity to have us open our eyes and see." (Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz)

• Winner of the Aspen Words Literary Prize
• Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize
• Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Real Simple

Nuri is a beekeeper, and Afra, his wife, is an artist. Mornings, Nuri rises early to hear the call to prayer before driving to his hives in the countryside. On weekends, Afra sells her colorful landscape paintings at the open-air market. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the hills of the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they love is destroyed by war, Nuri knows they have no choice except to leave their home. But escaping Syria will be no easy task: Afra has lost her sight, leaving Nuri to navigate her grief as well as a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece toward an uncertain future in Britain.

Nuri is sustained only by the knowledge that waiting for them is his cousin, Mustafa, who has started an apiary in Yorkshire and is teaching fellow refugees beekeeping. As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss but dangers that would overwhelm even the bravest souls. Above all, they must make the difficult journey back to each other, a path once so familiar yet rendered foreign by the heartache of displacement.

Moving, intimate, and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a book for our times: a novel that at once reminds us that the most peaceful and ordinary lives can be utterly upended in unimaginable ways and brings a journey in faraway lands close to home, never to be forgotten.

Praise for The Beekeeper of Aleppo

"This book dips below the deafening headlines, and tells a true story with subtlety and power." (Esther Freud, author of Mr. Mac and Me)

"This compelling tale had me gripped with its compassion, its sensual style, and its onward and lively urge for resolution." (Daljit Nagra, author of British Museum)

"This novel speaks to so much that is happening in the world today. It’s intelligent, thoughtful, and relevant, but very importantly it is accessible. I’m recommending this book to everyone I care about." (Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Refugee Boy)

©2019 Christy Lefteri (P)2019 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"[Christy] Lefteri sensitively charts what it’s like when war comes home, alert to the subtle effects of trauma and grief. Nuri and Afra are not broadly sketched as victims, but rather suffer in different and complex ways from PTSD.... By creating characters with such rich, complex inner lives, Lefteri shows that in order to stretch compassion to millions of people, it helps to begin with one." (Time)

"Beekeeper Nuri and his wife, Afra, are devastated by the Syrian civil war. After violence claims their child and Afra’s eyesight, the couple is forced to flee Aleppo and make the fraught journey to Britain - and an uncertain future." (USA Today Five Books Not to Miss)

"In recounting the daily brutality as well as the glimmers of beauty, this novel humanizes the terrifying refugee stories we read about in the news. Lefteri explores questions of trust and portrays what trauma and loss can do to individuals and their relationships.... A beautiful rumination on seeing what is right in front of us - both the negative and the positive." (The Boston Globe Pick of the Week)

Incredibly moving

This story was both painful and beautiful to hear. It moved me to tears at the end and I feel more aware and understanding of the journey many have made from Syria or Afghanistan. It has made me look again and appreciate the people I love and the stability of my home. It has also inspired me to think more about how to support refugees in my city. Thank you for this inspiring and captivating book.

A painful story that I hate to love

A deep dive into the tragic journey of a refugee. Having read only news stories regarding the civil war in Syria, this story introduces the pain of that war with numerous gut punches. Awash in the human suffering I was torn between wanting to look away while still being compelled to continue.

Humanity at a horrid Condition

Awful & painful things humans face, surviving to live and move to safer places.

Beautiful, lyrical and totally engrossing!

I will shout from the hilltops to recommend this book! What a beautiful, engaging story that takes us deeper into one of the biggest human crises of our modern history. The characters are so rich and complicated and real… The descriptions of the scenery so vivid. And I will say how happy I am that I listened to this book on audible… Art Malik’s narration added a depth to the story that would have been missed if I had read it myself. Make time to listen to this book!

Beekeeper

Very interesting story and very well written. This is not the story we heard in the news!

Poetic, Surreal, Heartbreaking

Perhaps my favorite part about this book (other than the story itself) is it’s fragmented, non-linear style, reflecting the PTSD that shapes her characters’ experiences and memories. This story has carved out a place in my mind such that I will not soon forget it.

Amazing

A very heartfelt story. Every right wing person should be forced to read it. Then they will understand immigrants.

Excellent

Excellent!!!!
Everyone should read this and know that so many came from a similar experience.

Eye opening

So much I didn’t know about! what happened to so many people in Syria. It is heart breaking to read and terrifying to think of the conditions so many have had to live through.

Immigrant’s story

Beautifully and compassionately written . Excellent rendition of Middle Eastern immigrants’ ordeals. I highly recommend it.