This week I’m reading The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri.

“It’s impossible not to be moved” said The Observer.

Here’s the blurb on the back:

Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live happily in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens and they are forced to flee. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain.

As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their 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.

Published in 2019, I’d heard nothing but good things about this book but hadn’t had opportunity to read it until now. I’m only halfway through and it is already a beautiful and powerful work. This story really stays with you and is worthy of all the praise.

It’s one of those books where you want to find out what happens next but you don’t want the story to end.