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The Beekeeper of Aleppo
- A Moving Testament to the Human Spirit
- Narrated by: Art Malik
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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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.
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)
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What listeners say about The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Belle
- 25-07-19
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.
134 people found this helpful
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- Claris, Grays, Essex
- 29-06-19
Wonderful!
If there was one book that the world needs to read it's this one.
This book was so moving I cried when it was finished. So absorbing. It gave an insight into the terrible world of refugees and how people become asylum seekers.
Art Malik's performance was brilliant. He became Yuri.
84 people found this helpful
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- Emma
- 13-08-19
Beautiful Book
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The story was sad but beautiful. The struggle to not only leave your home and country to fight for survival. To take what you can and hope and pray you make it to a better life. This book was a wonderful hope filled read. 100% recommended.
53 people found this helpful
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- M Golesworthy
- 13-08-19
Five stars aren't enought
Best book I've resd/listen to in years. So beautifully written and heartbreakingly sad I think it will stay with me forever.
44 people found this helpful
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- Hattie
- 20-07-19
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.
39 people found this helpful
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- Seklof
- 12-08-19
Fabulous story, beautifully written
I loved this book from start to finish. Heart rendering and beautifully told. and read.
36 people found this helpful
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- Poppy S
- 21-09-19
Profound & moving
Opened my eyes to the suffering of Syrian (& other) immigrants and changed my perception of them in this country
27 people found this helpful
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- Rita Horner
- 24-07-19
Such a moving story!
Really brought home the plight of refugees, their incredible bravery amid great traumas.
A sensitive reading by Art Malik .
27 people found this helpful
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- Tracey
- 25-05-19
Moving, Realistic, Touching...
Moving from the first page. Knowing that it was based on people's real experiences was eye-opening and made every step of this epic journey so realistic with great attention to detail told sympathetically. I have had huge sympathy for these people and all people who have ever had to flee their homeland because of a war they never wanted. The Beekeeper of Aleppo, however, has touched my heart with a great sadness for those who will never be free.
The performance was well suited to the story. Overall five stars for an excellent story.
35 people found this helpful
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- Greenfly
- 20-06-19
Wow, what a book!
Eye's open to the plight of exploited fleeing refugees, extremely haunting & a very dark journey in places. How lucky are we in the UK? As Nuri says"Why does everyone laugh when I say we want to go to England". Very topical & narrator Art Malik superb. Everyone should read this book!
31 people found this helpful
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- gerardine lynch
- 18-02-20
Tears in the rain
As I walked in storm Denis I was not sure whether it was tears or rain falling down my face. Such horrors amid such beauty, I can never consider refugees in the same way again. Behind each lies a life lost and maybe a little hope.
1 person found this helpful
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- Leonora Watts
- 30-06-22
A must read book.
Heartwarming and beautiful. I loved every bit and was sorry when it ended. Good narrator.
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- Emjay
- 23-06-22
Poignant story
I found this story made me think beyond the tv images of the plights of refugees. I started to think about the loss, sacrifices, and devastation some of these people most face. It expanded my horizon .
I would recommend
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- Anonymous User
- 22-02-22
Excellent
Moving story, told beautifully. Highly recommended. Insightful and emotional look into the plight of refugees.
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- Lesley
- 13-10-21
An eye opener to real reality
I found the story absolutely wonderful! And where the overload of media cover makes you lose the humanness of refugees, this story gives each refugee a face, each is a human being with a spirit of hope or hopelessness and all the other aspects in between.
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- Janet
- 09-07-21
Excellent
Brilliantly written and such an insight into the lives of refugees. I enjoyed it immensely, even though there are such sad parts that I will never forget. Although it’s fiction it could so easily be a true story. It’s still a story of love, hope and human strength.
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- LCCS
- 06-03-21
Excellent novel
What a moving, heart-wrenching story! Artfully interweaving the past and the present, it kept me enthralled the whole way through. The narrator read beautifully, bringing the characters and the story to life. I highly recommend this book; it will help you to appreciate the terrible experiences refugees face on their quest for a better life.