Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

78 reviews

stindex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

florafauna16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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? No

4.0

Whilst a work of fiction, this book really humanises the refugee crisis and should be read by all, but certainly by those who fail to empathise with refugees.

The story follows Nuri and Afra fleeing Syria  through split timelines, which can be difficult to follow, but does not take away from the beautiful writing. 

This is a book of love, hope and determination in the face of extreme hardship and loss.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

chanatova's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Deportation

bluelien's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I loved this book a lot!! I appreciate Christy taking the time to show the mental impact of having come from a war zone and having gone through the fleeing experience as the trauma refugees go through is often overlooked. I also liked the artistic style, she ended a scene and started the next using the same verb in a different tense. Furthermore, I loved that it showed their sorrows but also their hopes and will to live because refugees are very strong people! It was a wonderful and emotional read

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder

kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

A fictionalised story, told in a narrative that sounds so close to reality, mentions of grave events in real life that makes one realise the horrors taking place around the world.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a brilliant piece of work that is heavily regarded in temporal distortion as the timelines shift after every chapter. But unlike other works where such skipping of timelines makes the plot difficult to visualise and piece together, Christy Lefteri has done an incredible job in the pacing and sequencing the plot, readers can be gratified by following the plot without having to give thought to the timelines despite the lack of linearity. 

Apart from the various sensitive topics discussed, what one could find most appealing about the novel is the characterisation of Nuri, the protagonist and narrator and his mental health struggles. After losing his son to war, Nuri suffers with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as he tries to distance himself from the trauma he has suffered by making illusions of various sorts to cope with the distress. 

I could not point out flaws as the plot and characterisation of the novel does a wonderful job at portraying the tragedies of violence in an apolitical manner. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Police brutality, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Xenophobia

sandysmith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  In January 2021, I kick-started my reading journey having put reading on the  back burner whilst bringing up the children only reading when on holiday, having previously being an avid reader.  This is a great read giving the reader empathy for refugees.  It is about Nuri and Afra fleeing Syria. Whilst it is a work of fiction it was also informative and I found myself reading more widely about Syria. It does look at difficult subject areas including post traumatic stress disorder, grief, losing a child and depression. Sad but fascinating stuff. Well worth a read

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Murder, and War

eahhhhh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and War

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

arayo's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and War

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Violence, and Murder

kfawcett's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Rape