The Beekeeper of Aleppo

What do the bees represent to the characters of the novel? Why is beekeeping so important to Nuri and Mustafa, both at home and abroad?

Nuri is a complex character, as he is capable of both deep kindness and callousness, even resorting to murder at one point in the novel. How does Nuri’s characterization illustrate the themes of the novel? What does his personality and actions reveal about his conceptions of war, home, and family?

How is the concept of “home” developed in the book? What does it mean to have and lose a home? Consider the ways in which Nuri, Afra, and Mustafa grapple with these questions, and what—if any—solutions they find.

To what extent does Nuri’s character change over the course of the book? What experiences and relationships help to inspire these changes?

How does the novel depict the refugee experience? Consider the ways in which different refugees recount their experiences, and the similarities and differences in their origins, journeys, and goals.

While Nuri, Afra, and Mustafa are all victims of similar traumas, they respond to their traumas in very different ways. How does trauma manifest itself in their lives and psyches? How do they cope?

“You think it’s me who can’t see.” How does Afra’s statement relate to the themes of the book, and the symbolic significance of her blindness more generally?

Who is “The Beekeeper” of the novel’s title? Why is beekeeping such a significant trait?