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  • The Beekeeper of Aleppo

  • A Moving Testament to the Human Spirit
  • By: Christy Lefteri
  • Narrated by: Art Malik
  • Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (14,612 ratings)

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The Beekeeper of Aleppo

By: Christy Lefteri
Narrated by: Art Malik
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Summary

Shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year - the British Book Awards 2020.

Moving, powerful, compassionate and beautifully written, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit. Told with deceptive simplicity, it is the kind of book that reminds us of the power of storytelling.

In the midst of war, he found love.

In the midst of darkness, he found courage.

In the midst of tragedy, he found hope.

Nuri is a beekeeper, his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.

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 the bravest of souls. Above all - and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face - they must journey to find each other again.

©2019 Christy Lefteri (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK
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Critic reviews

"This is a novel of international significance. Courageous, provocative, haunting, it will open our eyes." (Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz)

What listeners say about The Beekeeper of Aleppo

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Brilliant

One of the best books I’ve ever listened to, heartbreaking yet hopeful, Christy manages to capture horror in events without being graphic and shows how important kindness and love are, it was really interesting listening to her talk at the end about how the book came about. I thought Art’s reading was perfect as it seemed to evoke an almost deer in the headlights description of their journey without truly understanding what was happening from the protagonist when as I listener you can sense the crash about to happen.
It made me angry at the world for not having open boarders and allowing people to trade in others pain and devastation but didn’t leave me feeling bereft although I cried a lot whilst listening to it.

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134 people found this helpful

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Weeping

This is a very special book and I think everyone should read it to gain an insight into the lives of those forced from homes and family in the deepest distress through no fault of their own. It is a beautifully written book, full of empathy and love and I’m tearful even as I write this. I think Art Malik was moved as he read it because I could hear it in his voice. Thank you Christy for revealing these beautiful people to us. Let us open every gate to show them kindness and grace.

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41 people found this helpful

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Both beautifully written and narrated

A moving story with powerful imagery and symbolism. Art Malik gives life to the troubled, soulful Nuri.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Humanity and inhumanity

I cried through much of this book, not for any bad reason, but because I felt the truth of the stories.

This is wonderfully written and narrated. I think more people should read this and understand how some of us, by a chance of geography, are incredibly privileged.

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really enjoyed this book, sad but hopefully.

an insight and now an understanding of sorts into what some poor people have to go through to find a place to call HOME.

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One of the best books I've read!!

Beautifully written and narrated. Absolutely entranced all the way all the way through. A heart rending glimpse of the truth ......

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Thought provoking

An amazing book that enables you to have empathy with refugees fleeung war torn areas of the world.

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Incredible

This is one of those books that never leaves you. Beautifully written and performed by Art Malik. Highly recommend.

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Incredibly moving from start to finish.

I found this book to be a riveting listen form start to finish. It is actually the first fictional audiobook that I have listened to and that in itself, took me back to my childhood days in South Africa when there was no TV ( it was the mid 1970s) and only radio- which itself was state- run but which would have serialised novels at times.
The story is beautifully and intelligently narrated by Art Malik, whose voice was soothing and easy to listen to, he definitely was Nuri to me. It is the tale of an escape from Syria. To tell anymore would spoil the story. It is full of emotion and sadness but with light as well!! I loved the descriptions about the bees, especially the bee without wings... It certainly made me think about the plight of refugees, not just the journey, but the reasons behind the decision to leave.
I now need to read more by Christy Lefteri. I highly recommend this book!!!!

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Recommended

A tragic story beautifully written and read. Difficult to put down. I would thoroughly recommend

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