 |
BG1 - September 30th 2022 - Review
A small but lively group joined the September 30th discussion of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, a 2019 novel that deals with the plight of refugees from Aleppo in Syria to Europe during the 2011 Syrian Civil War. Nuri, a beekeeper and his wife, Afra, an artist, are living a simple life, rich in family and friends in the city of Aleppo until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war they are forced to escape, and the book takes us on this harrowing journey with many touching moments. Whilst it is a piece of fiction, the author worked at a UNICEF refugee camp which brings a different angle to the book. The discussion centered around the themes of bees and certain character traits to our personal experiences in volunteering with refugees both in and outside of Malaysia. The ending of the book makes readers feel hope for the future through the eyes of the characters.
Although initially we were reluctant to read another book on a similar topic as previous, this one was different for us due to the author’s personal experiences as a volunteer. It was heartwarming to hear how everyone has helped in one way or another.
Meredith Tomkovitch |
