Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

24 reviews

chiara_dose's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Self harm, Trafficking, and War

laurenkimoto's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

A well written book, you can definitely tell the author knows about creative writing.  I feel like the style of writing shifts with the mindset of the characters when looking at the past/present. 


One thing that is constantly lurking in the back of my mind, especially after reading Yellowface, is who gets to tell which stories. I do like that the author acknowledges who they spoke to and what experiences they have related to the topics of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Blood, Gore, Addiction, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide

amyvl93's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I definitely went into The Beekeeper of Aleppo with some unjustified snobbery, and I'm now eating some humble pie, as I found this book to be incredibly moving and an excellent portrayal of the refugee experience.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows the journey of Nuri and Afra as they attempt to journey from war-torn Aleppo in Syria, to join their family in relative safety in the North of England, where they have found comfort teaching beekeeping to fellow refugees. Lefteri draws a heartbreaking portrayal of Aleppo, as Afra in particular struggles to leave their home and the place they have experienced unimaginable loss - but this portrayal becomes all the more challenging as we begin to follow the couple through Turkey and into Greece. The novel shines a brutal light on the desperate refugee experience, on the constraints related to safe routes and those who benefit from the desperation of fellow humans to reach a place of safety. Lefteri also shows the reality of the asylum process for people when they arrive in England, which is far from the gold-plated, benefit-recieving experience that certain newspapers would have you believe.

Against this, it would be unsurprising if the characters within the novel became mere ciphers for Lefteri to get her points across - but this is not the case. All the people that Nuri and Afra meet are given human complexity - as do Nuri and Afra as they struggle to adapt to a life having seen and lived the things they have.

Some of the imagery and metaphor used in the novel was a little too on the nose for me, but overall I really enjoyed and appreciated The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, and War

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Self harm, Trafficking, and Xenophobia

Minor: Deportation

vanessaeco's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

It took me a long time to finish this book. When I get home from work, I try to read at least 1-2 chapters, and I find myself identifying with the characters and hoping for their safety. My heart broke for them. There are days when I don't want to read because I'm afraid something may break my heart. I don't usually read this genre, but I'm slowly getting into it since the prose is so amazing and real that I was moved from beginning to end. I'm at a loss for what to do now that I've finished reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Self harm, War, and Rape

sadiaa's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

auri_underthing's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

Very well written and terribly sad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Addiction, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Deportation, and Rape

thebankofbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, War, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Self harm, Medical content, Drug use, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

nick13's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

This novel is truly beautiful and it harnesses that beauty, taking the reader to some of the darkest depths to suffocate them within its pages. The trail for a refugee is rough, tortuous even, and yet no matter how hard the road gets, the characters find some sort of hope to cling on to. Sure, not one of these characters has power, nor even are a hero, but they are so human, so hopeful, that it is impossible for me not to love them more than any hero. 

5/5: some of the best characterization, the best portrayal of grief I've ever read, and an impactful story that will make you feel...not great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual violence

Minor: Self harm

mirajuliee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Child death

Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Blood, and Grief

leoniefnk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The last quarter of the book saves the slow/confusing beginning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Self harm, War, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child abuse