Some of my favourite books are those written by Khaled Hosseini because his books concentrate on the devastating impact war and conflict has had on a once beautiful country and community. I am never one to shy away from narratives that are heartbreaking and eye-opening, and I find books like these to be completely compelling in the way that they honestly depict the suffering of everyday people in countries that have been consumed by war.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows refugees, particularly a husband and wife, in their journey to the UK. For me, Christy Lefteri offers an important refugee story that focuses on a range of different experiences, with each story bonding strangers together through pain and understanding. We meet Nuri and Afra in a refugee safe house in England, and through Nuri, we learn about their journey to ‘safety’, from Syria to Europe.

Notice how I write the word ‘safety’ in quotation marks. This is because although they have made it to the UK in one piece, they are not exactly safe yet. They are seeking asylum and their application is yet to be approved. I found it astonishing to learn about the process of seeking asylum in the country I call home, is one that is unwelcoming and dismissive. The questions they were asked during the interview were completely random and I cannot see why these questions would need to be answered at all, never mind by someone who has undoubtedly seen the very worst of humanity.

The book really focuses on the devastating loss of life and the inhumane treatment of humans to other humans. I have to say that the story played on my mind for days after reading, and I couldn’t help but start noticing stories and treatment of asylum seekers in this country.