Is there a scene in the novel that stood out for you? Why do you think it had such an impact?

Is there a scene in the novel that stood out for you? Why do you think it had such an impact?

The destruction of the beehives was disturbing as this was Mustafa's life's work and love as well as the bond between Nuri and Mustafa. It sets the stage for Nuri and Afra to survive as refugees to eventually reunite and resurrect the apiary.

It is a small scene that repeated a few times but always gave me hope for their future. When they found the bee that had lost it's wings and placed it on a flower in the courtyard, I thought it was a goner for sure, but instead it thrived in it's new home!

I agree with Lindac that the wingless bee scene stood out. The bee, like them, had lost its core reason for being--flight. But it learned to exist and thrive. They could too. Another scene that stuck with me was Nuri leaving Greece though Mohamed had disappeared. He did what was best for them despite missing the boy. This showed his first step in recovery, of recognizing that they had to keep moving toward the UK and his cousin, even if the child was gone. I think he knew subconsciously that the child did not exist and was a remnant of his son's memory. It was the first crack in that illusion.

Yes, the scene with the wingless bee. He was able to protect the vulnerable bee in a way he wasn't able to protect his son, his wife or his home.

I loved everything to do with the bees. Every sentence seemed magical, hopeful and deep. As I write this review, I’m sitting outside near a plant and fountain with bees buzzing near me. It gives me a whole new perspective on the magic of bees. Awhile that’s not really the point of the story, I will hold that comparison in my imagination a bit longer.

the scene near the end when Nuri reconnects with Afra. It impacted me because Nuri finally really saw Afra again.

The scene when Nadim slashed Nuris wrist stood out to me because I really visualized they madness that Nadim had in side of him and how it surprised Nuri even thought he knew something was wrong. It just caught me by surprise .

I think the destruction of the bees mirrored the destruction of the country of Syria. A formerly beautiful country destroyed by senseless violence. The devastation that Nuri feels when he sees the dead bees that were so carefully nurtured was very powerful. The author paints many vivid pictures, it made an unfamiliar topic feel real.

The scene where Afra has drawn a picture for Angeliki. Nuri says he could see Afra's soul in the lines of the paper, the way they appeared to move with light and life. This struck me as so beautifully written and said so much about his love for her.

So many of the scenes already mentioned were deeply moving. I think I was most impacted by the scene when Nuri and Afra had to leave the family shelter in Athens because they did not have a child with them. That particular shelter struck me as clean, safe, where there might be an opportunity for good food, medical attention, and mental health check-ins. They were escorted to an area that felt far away and hidden from view. There was no protection, no staff, no services. This showed me the heartbreaking reality of so many refugees. First, they were driven from their own homes. Then they are shuffled from place to place, often tucked out of sight and among some of the very worst of people on earth. I cannot image how people endure, suffering a new trauma almost daily. If Nuri had not asked questions or gone searching on his own- -if nuri had no money- - was living on a blanket among child abusers all there future held?

The destruction of the bees was in the back of my mind as I read the book.

The wingless bee because although the situation was hopeless, care was taken to protect and nurture.

When the boys were shot.

When Nuri returned to find Afra had been assaulted.