The Beekeeper Of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri Book Review

 

The Beekeeper Of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri Book Review 

We are all scared of cannons. The cannon that scared many people and killed many more... The cannon eventually falls prey to the saliva of a crow. Time has flown. In the same way Sudara Ramaswamy in his book "Puliyamarathin Kadhai" is a secluded building within walking distance of his place. The spot was used for hanging people. 

The author talks about crossing a spot which has managed to withstand the test of time. The book Beekeeper of Aleppo has two main characters -A husband and wife Nuri and Afra. One thing about our country would surprise them. 

There are perfect buildings over here. Won't the buildings be destroyed by bombs? Won't families be separated? Is there a conflict between a husband and wife? Isn't it a blessing to have a husband and wife who are there for each other. 

If their child was killed by a bomb, our world would shock them. This is because they reside in war-torn Syria. They had to escape the atrocities happening in Syria. Though their child had died, if they moved to London their lives would be good. So, they escape from Syria. 

They had to cross countries like Turkey and Greece along the way. The things they see while crossing these countries as refugees and the things that remind them of their country. This book is all about that. The description of their job is not written just like that. 

The protagonist and his friend indulge in Honey Bee Farming. So, they are very much aware of the lives of honey bees. If a honey bee spots nectar in a flower which is in a particular direction. it will dance to the other bees. 

The angle of the dance helps figure out the direction in which nectar is available. and the other bees fly towards that direction. This information is part of the story. Their hometown is destroyed. The place in which they nurtured honeybees also got destroyed. 

They come across a beetle which is injured. It is there on the ground in their refugee camp. He places the beetle on the leaf daily which reminds him of what he was doing. People from various countries found shelter in refugee camps. They communicate in different languages. 

The one common factor was all of them had lost things that were familiar to them. The couple go in search of something new. Will it give them something new to cherish and make them forget the old? They develop a friendship with a person in the place where they are staying. 

Nuri keeps looking at bees daily. So, the friend gives him a place filled with bees. Now the honey bee won't be able accepted by the other honey bees as it has lost its wings. and can't fly. The bee won't be able to survive and will die soon. 

He gives the bee a new place hoping that it grows and it does grow in a new place. The honeybee can walk from one plant to another without having to fly. The set-up is so beautiful. The friendship between the two men and the things they share is on one side. 

After they had lost everything including their child they decided to escape from Syria. His friend Mustafa taught him how to look after the bees. 

He leaves Syria and the two of them have mail conversations about how Mustafa reached London. Afra had no intention of leaving Syria as she was still recovering from the loss of her son. She was even willing to stay back in Syria and die. 

She was blind and didn't show any emotions or express her hardships. Whenever Nuri went out Afra would ask details about the places he went and the people he saw. Maybe it was Afra's way of visualising things. 

The things that he sees every day are ordinary So, Nuri feels a bit of anger towards Afra. He can see her. But she can't see him which makes her feel that she is not the wife that he knows. He misses his wife though she is with him. 

He doesn't realise that he misses his son and creates an imaginary son of his own. He regularly interacts with this imaginary son and Afra knows about it. This highlights the behaviour after a trauma. The people in refugee camps have their own trauma, so they exhibit different types of behaviour. 

While narrating a particular day's incident to his wife he cries. He overhears two guys talking about target practice. The target is an 8-year-old boy. This breaks Nuri's heart. The boy is eventually shot dead. 

The mother comes to take the dead body and tells Nuri "Take the gun or be ready to die because of the gun." Afra reacts for the first time as Nuri's life is in danger. Nuri tells Afra that they had to leave the place as it was more of a line of dead bodies of their favourite people. 

There is no life in that place though Afra likes it. There is nothing in that place to make them stay back. They can't even feel closer to their son as he is gone. As they get ready to go, intruders invade their space. So, they hide downstairs. 

There is no light in that hiding place which makes Nuri feel that he is experiencing darkness with his wife. Even if Afra breathes a little, they will be caught and shot dead. But he doesn't know whether he has to close her mouth. 

Staying alive is her choice and Nuri doesn't know whether Afra wants to live. So, she can breathe though it might lead to their death. 

But she holds her breath making Nuri realise that she wants to live. He wants to fart. On hearing this Afra hugs him and laughs her heart out. 

This makes him feel that she still has life in her and there is still a desire to live. The book is all about Nuri's efforts to understand his wife and also his efforts to go to the UK. These are small incidents without spoilers. 

Because this is a long journey which feels too stretched at times. Once while crossing a river, they see a Dad sending off his daughter. He assures the daughter that he will see her soon.

 Even as the daughter boards the boat the father cries. For he knew that he wouldn't meet his daughter again. With the money he had only one person could be saved. On the other hand, Nuri is with his wife though they have lost their child and there is that assurance of having a friend in the UK. 

The lives of refugees are explored with all of them facing different kinds of hardships. When you are related to someone... Then who will you be when the person is no more? Do Nuri and Afra reach the UK? They are things they see along the way. 

They have been in the UK and Turkey for a long time. giving us the feeling that we were there. His friend Mustafa tells him that the honeybees are maintained differently in the UK. while Nuri talks about honeybees to his fellow passengers. 

Even now the situation in Syria doesn't assure safety. People leaving their identity behind when they leave Syria is a painful experience. But there are tiny sparks of hope sprinkled throughout the book. 

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