Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

15 reviews

larns's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

chloebaboey's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

peskimo's review

emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War

toomie_12's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

I won't lie had to read the opening chapters 2x to understand fully what was going on but this is definitely a book I would recommend to everyone. The way it told the main characters story and how it is a story so many refugees also share made it so saddening. Be prepared!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

susannaobrien's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The characters of Nuri and Afra and the traumatic journey they experience felt very realistic, despite many scenes being written in somewhat of a trance-like state. The story felt both fast-paced and gripping at the same time as emulating the slow, warped sense of time that must be experienced as a refugee on the move. 

Writing two stories that eventually meet each other (one in the present, one looking back) and take surprising turns, supported the themes of memory and the lengths our minds go to block out trauma, the loss of home and stability and the healing power of family and hope. 

Christy Lefteri herself was never a refugee and instead is sharing the stories of those she has met, which raises some questions about who should tell these stories. Still, she absolutely writes with the respect and care these people deserve and has created a very poignant story that should hold a mirror up to the punitive and inhumane immigration policies enacted by the UK in particular.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse and Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Trafficking