Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra, an artist, live happily with their son in beautiful Aleppo. They enjoy a quiet and peaceful life and value the friendship of close friends and extended family. Suddenly, their lives are turned upside down by war and, out of desperation, they make a decision to flee Syria. What Afra has experienced and seen causes her to go blind, complicating their journey through Turkey and Greece to get to Britain. On this risky and uncertain journey, they must learn to survive in unpredictable situations, to deal with their loss, to trust each other, to depend on the kindness and compassion of strangers, and to keep their hope alive.
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Wow! This was my initial reaction upon finishing #thebeekeeperofaleppo . Although this is not an easy read, it is a memorable and emotional read filled with poignant themes.
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Tenderly told, in present-day timeline and flashbacks and from one point of view, the writing is graceful and beautiful. It reads like a memoir. From reading the author’s notes, I learned that she has a background of serving refugees at the UNICEF supported Faros Hope Centre in Athens. It’s evident her time with refugees has informed her writing in this story as she creates realistic circumstances and likable characters who seem like real persons.
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In this heartfelt story, the characters deal with so much: loss of a child, loss of a dream, a lifestyle, and a livelihood, a risky journey, an uncertain future, and PTSD. Through it all, they persevere and find a way to hold onto hope. I grew to care about Nuri and Afra and felt like I was experiencing the life of a refugee alongside them.
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In addition to themes of grief, loss, hope, PTSD, survival, starting again, etc, there is an overarching theme of love between husband and wife, parent and child, family members, and love of county and bees.
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Content warning: the death of children, war dangers and atrocities.
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I recommend The Beekeeper of Aleppo for fans of histfic, for readers who appreciate stories about survival and inspirational individuals, and possibly for book clubs looking for heavier reads. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Full review on blog (Link in bio)
In this retelling of Little Women, the March family home is in North Carolina, U.S.A. The girls are young adults and living on their own. Meg is married to John and they have young twins; Jo is working as a sous chef in New York and writing an anonymous food blog; Beth is taking a break from school and trying out for a musical; and Amy is working in the fashion industry and traveling abroad. Mr. March is an absentee husband and father who cares more about his ministry and charity work than caring for his family. As the holidays approach, Mrs. March is suddenly hospitalized and the sisters rally around to help and support each other, their mom, and her business.
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Thanks, #netgalley #berkleypub for the free e ARC of #megandjo in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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With the movie Little Women coming out on Christmas Day in the U.S., readers might be interested in a contemporary Little Women retelling!
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Do you enjoy retellings? I think they’re tricky! Meg & Jo is especially tricky because it’s attempting a retelling based on a dearly loved classic. Having a familiarity with Little Women will enhance your reading experience, but it isn’t critical.
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The characters in the retelling share definite personality traits with the characters in Little Women. Meg is reliable and focused on family and Jo is independent and trying to make it on her own in New York City. The sisters strive to be close but have some typical sisterly tension. The story is told from their alternating points of view. Beth’s and Amy’s installment is expected soon!
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The writing is engaging and page-turning with a definite chic lit vibe. A few of us in a buddy read thought that parts of it could have been even more modernized.
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Themes in Meg & Jo reflect the strength of family and complicated but loyal sibling relationships.
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Fans of retellings and especially Little Women might enjoy Meg & Jo. Readers who are looking for chick lit with strong female characters and a side of romance will also appreciate this retelling. It might be a great selection for book clubs who are looking for something entertaining, discussable, and light, with a small amount of steam. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl: Top Ten Tuesday: Character Freebie.
