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The Book of Fire
In present-day Greece, deep in an ancient forest, lives a family: Irini, a musician, who teaches children to read and play music; her husband, Tasso, who paints pictures of the forest, his greatest muse; and Chara, their young daughter, whose name means joy. On the fateful day that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives, flames chase fleeing birds across the sky. The wildfire that will consume their home, and their lives as they know it, races toward them.
Months later, as the village tries to rebuild, Irini stumbles upon the man who started the fire, a land speculator who had intended only a small, controlled burn to clear forestland to build on but instead ignited a catastrophe. He is dying, although the cause is unclear, and in her anger at all he took from them, Irini makes a split-second decision that will haunt her.
As the local police investigate the suspicious death, Tasso mourns his father, who has not been seen since before the fire. Tasso’s hands were burnt in the flames, leaving him unable to paint, and he struggles to cope with the overwhelming loss of his artistic voice and his beloved forest. Only his young daughter, who wants to repair the damage that’s been done, gives him hope for the future.
Gorgeously written, sweeping in scope and intimate in tone, The Book of Fire is a masterful work about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy, as well as the universal ties that bind people together, and to the land that they call home.
Months later, as the village tries to rebuild, Irini stumbles upon the man who started the fire, a land speculator who had intended only a small, controlled burn to clear forestland to build on but instead ignited a catastrophe. He is dying, although the cause is unclear, and in her anger at all he took from them, Irini makes a split-second decision that will haunt her.
As the local police investigate the suspicious death, Tasso mourns his father, who has not been seen since before the fire. Tasso’s hands were burnt in the flames, leaving him unable to paint, and he struggles to cope with the overwhelming loss of his artistic voice and his beloved forest. Only his young daughter, who wants to repair the damage that’s been done, gives him hope for the future.
Gorgeously written, sweeping in scope and intimate in tone, The Book of Fire is a masterful work about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy, as well as the universal ties that bind people together, and to the land that they call home.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2023
About the author
Christy Lefteri
16 books1,758 followersChristy Lefteri was born in London in 1980 to Greek Cypriot parents who moved to London in 1974. She completed a degree in English and a Masters in creative writing at Brunel University. She taught English to foreign students and then became a secondary school teacher before leaving to pursue a PhD and to write. She is also studying to become a psychotherapist.
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July 3, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Life was idyllic in Irini Diamandis’s beautiful Greek village, surrounded as it was by ancient forest. That was until the fire. This terrible tragedy had such an impact on everyone she knew, and eventually, Irini felt the need to put it all down in writing. The journal was about her journey both before and after the fire. It was discovered that the fire was started deliberately by one person, but the repercussions were felt by everyone.
Irini would prefer to start the journal with “Long long ago “, however, it wasn’t long long ago, it was very recent - a raging uncontrollable fire that consumed her village, the fire spreading from the lush forests right down to the sea, swallowing up whatever and whoever stood in its way. The fire had life changing consequences for Irini’s family and friends leaving them hurt and lost and broken, and there were those who didn’t even make it. It also altered the landscape of her beautiful Greek island, and would do for many years to come, - the utter desolation, the many homes in ruins, wildflowers, the fir, olive and pine trees all gone, the wildlife destroyed, the smells of lavender and rosemary and thyme no longer filled the air.
Her daughter Chara was left badly scarred, something she will have to live with for life, and husband Tasso, who was a talented artist, his hands are now burnt and scarred, no longer able to paint his beloved forest - in addition, he’s been left deeply traumatised, frozen in time by the fact that he was unable to save someone - the guilt just too much to bear.
Irini too is consumed with guilt. It’s a guilt she shouldn’t really feel because it involved the man who actually started the fire - the one who has caused all the heartache and death and suffering - and yet she does feel guilt, as one human being to another.
The Book of Fire is a moving testament to the human spirit - to the powers of redemption and renewal after such a tragic event, with its ensuing pain, misery and hardship that makes one wonder at the fortitude and perseverance required to both live and survive such devastating consequences. There are scenes in the book that are silent, full instead of meaningful thoughts and observations, but they convey so much without words, and I don’t mind admitting that they left me tearful. Christy Lefteri is a magician when it comes to the written word, and although the story is about a devastating event, beauty pours forth from her prose, and this, and the storyline will stay with me for some time to come. Poignant, but extremely powerful and beautiful!
*I was invited to read ‘The Book of Fire’ by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Life was idyllic in Irini Diamandis’s beautiful Greek village, surrounded as it was by ancient forest. That was until the fire. This terrible tragedy had such an impact on everyone she knew, and eventually, Irini felt the need to put it all down in writing. The journal was about her journey both before and after the fire. It was discovered that the fire was started deliberately by one person, but the repercussions were felt by everyone.
Irini would prefer to start the journal with “Long long ago “, however, it wasn’t long long ago, it was very recent - a raging uncontrollable fire that consumed her village, the fire spreading from the lush forests right down to the sea, swallowing up whatever and whoever stood in its way. The fire had life changing consequences for Irini’s family and friends leaving them hurt and lost and broken, and there were those who didn’t even make it. It also altered the landscape of her beautiful Greek island, and would do for many years to come, - the utter desolation, the many homes in ruins, wildflowers, the fir, olive and pine trees all gone, the wildlife destroyed, the smells of lavender and rosemary and thyme no longer filled the air.
Her daughter Chara was left badly scarred, something she will have to live with for life, and husband Tasso, who was a talented artist, his hands are now burnt and scarred, no longer able to paint his beloved forest - in addition, he’s been left deeply traumatised, frozen in time by the fact that he was unable to save someone - the guilt just too much to bear.
Irini too is consumed with guilt. It’s a guilt she shouldn’t really feel because it involved the man who actually started the fire - the one who has caused all the heartache and death and suffering - and yet she does feel guilt, as one human being to another.
The Book of Fire is a moving testament to the human spirit - to the powers of redemption and renewal after such a tragic event, with its ensuing pain, misery and hardship that makes one wonder at the fortitude and perseverance required to both live and survive such devastating consequences. There are scenes in the book that are silent, full instead of meaningful thoughts and observations, but they convey so much without words, and I don’t mind admitting that they left me tearful. Christy Lefteri is a magician when it comes to the written word, and although the story is about a devastating event, beauty pours forth from her prose, and this, and the storyline will stay with me for some time to come. Poignant, but extremely powerful and beautiful!
*I was invited to read ‘The Book of Fire’ by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
December 9, 2023
Loved the idea but not the writing style
A village in Greece is reeling after a local real estate developer tries to clear a small patch of land, the fire quickly rages out of control, consuming most of the village, killing, maiming many people, destroying homes and lifetimes of irreplaceable possessions.
Irini discovers the man responsible for the fire, deceased in what is left of the forest. Should she help him? And what happened to him?
The Book of Fire is written in dual timelines told from mother Irini’s perspective.
Although I personally enjoyed many of the themes touched on in the book and found some of the scenes quite touching, this book seemed to really drag.
The paragraphs were too long, and the author got too carried away with the setting, too many descriptions.
Irini also really overexplained things to the point that it felt like YA. Also, why did Tasso spend only 1 day looking for his father? Moreover, the dialogue seemed off. Irini stated that the village had 500 people. I grew up in a village of about 2,500 people, and the first thing that happens when you meet anyone from the village is find out who you know in common.
If you enjoy books about climate change and lots of descriptions about Greece, you might really enjoy this read, but it was just okay for me.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Electronic copy of text – Free provided by publisher
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A village in Greece is reeling after a local real estate developer tries to clear a small patch of land, the fire quickly rages out of control, consuming most of the village, killing, maiming many people, destroying homes and lifetimes of irreplaceable possessions.
Irini discovers the man responsible for the fire, deceased in what is left of the forest. Should she help him? And what happened to him?
The Book of Fire is written in dual timelines told from mother Irini’s perspective.
Although I personally enjoyed many of the themes touched on in the book and found some of the scenes quite touching, this book seemed to really drag.
The paragraphs were too long, and the author got too carried away with the setting, too many descriptions.
Irini also really overexplained things to the point that it felt like YA. Also, why did Tasso spend only 1 day looking for his father? Moreover, the dialogue seemed off. Irini stated that the village had 500 people. I grew up in a village of about 2,500 people, and the first thing that happens when you meet anyone from the village is find out who you know in common.
If you enjoy books about climate change and lots of descriptions about Greece, you might really enjoy this read, but it was just okay for me.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Electronic copy of text – Free provided by publisher
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February 1, 2024
The element of Fire. At its fiercest, it can be a destructive force yet following its path can lead the way for renewed growth and expansion.
A small village in Greece is “accidentally” decimated by a fire. The wild life, the forest, the flowers all snuffed out and taking in its wake the villager’s spirits. What was once alive and blooming with colours is now a dull grey covered in ash.
Lefteri takes us on a journey of loss through her deliberate story telling and character of Irini. The enchanted forest before to the devastation after. The issue of climate change and environmental crisis not just the cause of one man…but many.
Once upon a Harry Lime….
5⭐️
A small village in Greece is “accidentally” decimated by a fire. The wild life, the forest, the flowers all snuffed out and taking in its wake the villager’s spirits. What was once alive and blooming with colours is now a dull grey covered in ash.
Lefteri takes us on a journey of loss through her deliberate story telling and character of Irini. The enchanted forest before to the devastation after. The issue of climate change and environmental crisis not just the cause of one man…but many.
Once upon a Harry Lime….
5⭐️
November 13, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
The Book of Fire is a reminder to the reader just how fragile life is and how, in the blink of an eye, everything can change.
Irini lives with her husband, Tasso, an artist, and their daughter Charo. One afternoon a fire sweeps through their town, burning almost everything in its path. A combination of incompetence and negligence, on top of climate change, combine to cost way too many lives, including Irini’s father-in-law. After the fire, walking through the charred remains of the forest, Irini comes across the body of the man responsible for the fire. A land developer, who attempted a controlled burn that got out of hand. It’s not an accidental death.
Written in alternating parts between Irini’s accounting of life after the fire and a story of the fire and its immediate aftermath. It tells of how everyone is altered by the fire. “The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts, it has turned to ashes the people we once were.” Lefteri captures all the shading of the human heart - the kindness, the love, the anger, the sadness and despair, the guilt, the hope. There’s even the bit of joy from watching animals play.
The writing is beautiful, almost meditative. The story is horribly sad but ends on a note of hope. Lefteri wrote in a way that transported me there, to that desolate landscape.
Make sure to read the Author’s Note where she spells out what inspired her, her research and her comments about human nature.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
The Book of Fire is a reminder to the reader just how fragile life is and how, in the blink of an eye, everything can change.
Irini lives with her husband, Tasso, an artist, and their daughter Charo. One afternoon a fire sweeps through their town, burning almost everything in its path. A combination of incompetence and negligence, on top of climate change, combine to cost way too many lives, including Irini’s father-in-law. After the fire, walking through the charred remains of the forest, Irini comes across the body of the man responsible for the fire. A land developer, who attempted a controlled burn that got out of hand. It’s not an accidental death.
Written in alternating parts between Irini’s accounting of life after the fire and a story of the fire and its immediate aftermath. It tells of how everyone is altered by the fire. “The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts, it has turned to ashes the people we once were.” Lefteri captures all the shading of the human heart - the kindness, the love, the anger, the sadness and despair, the guilt, the hope. There’s even the bit of joy from watching animals play.
The writing is beautiful, almost meditative. The story is horribly sad but ends on a note of hope. Lefteri wrote in a way that transported me there, to that desolate landscape.
Make sure to read the Author’s Note where she spells out what inspired her, her research and her comments about human nature.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 24, 2023
One of the things I love to discover when reading an author’s note at the end of a novel is the inspiration for the story I have just read. In this case Christy Lefteri, while in Athens saw a wildfire in a village nearby, where hundreds of people had to flee their homes. Several years later it was another fire on the island of Evia, Greece that prompted this novel. “Woods and meadows, pine forests, olive groves, beehives and livestock and houses — all gone.” That place was where her research began, listening to people tell their stories as she saw the devastation, and tried to imagine “the forest that existed before the fire.”
It is in this context that Lefteri stunningly brings that experience to the reader . Through the character of Irini, we try to imagine the forest as it was before the fire in this story, life as it was in this idyllic place for the people who live there. The writing is exquisite as in Lefteri’s other novels . There’s a story within the story, a telling of what happened when the fire began, a cathartic telling in a fairy tale like way, within the story of the present which is the aftermath of the fire. Gut wrenching and heartbreaking losses of family, of homes , of people’s identities are vividly portrayed. She has a way of allowing the reader to feel the pain and the loss her artist husband experiences, a way of letting us see through the eyes of her little girl what this was like.
This is certainly a warning message, not an in your face one, but a a story that definitely is thought provoking. Beautifully written.
I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
It is in this context that Lefteri stunningly brings that experience to the reader . Through the character of Irini, we try to imagine the forest as it was before the fire in this story, life as it was in this idyllic place for the people who live there. The writing is exquisite as in Lefteri’s other novels . There’s a story within the story, a telling of what happened when the fire began, a cathartic telling in a fairy tale like way, within the story of the present which is the aftermath of the fire. Gut wrenching and heartbreaking losses of family, of homes , of people’s identities are vividly portrayed. She has a way of allowing the reader to feel the pain and the loss her artist husband experiences, a way of letting us see through the eyes of her little girl what this was like.
This is certainly a warning message, not an in your face one, but a a story that definitely is thought provoking. Beautifully written.
I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley and Edelweiss.
February 10, 2024
4.5⭐️
A forest fire wreaks havoc in the lives of the residents of a Greek village located in the foothills of a mountain, close to the sea, wiping out homes and leaving a trail of death and devastation in its wake. Irina, a music teacher, her painter husband Tasso, and young daughter Clara, along with their dog, are among those who survive the fire. Irina decides to write about her experiences to help her cope with the trauma, her own “Book of Fire.”
“There is something about stories that allows us to process the present. We listen to tales of tribulations overcome so that we might imagine we can survive ours. Children listen to the same fairy tale time and time again because there is a puzzle in their hearts that they unknowingly need to solve.”
The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is a deeply emotional read that revolves around family, home and community, human resilience, and survival. The narrative moves between past and present with chapters from Irina’s “book” interspersed throughout the present-day narrative describing the events of the day of the fire and its immediate aftermath. The present-day narrative follows Irina and her family and their friends who chose to remain on the island and go about rebuilding their community while coming to terms with their losses.
“The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts. It has turned to ashes the people we once were.”
We share Irina’s journey as she and her family deal with their physical and emotional trauma from the fire, the destruction of their home, and the surrounding forest area in the aftermath of the tragedy. Irina also encounters the man responsible for the fire and struggles with her guilt over her reaction toward him in a critical moment.
The writing is descriptive, and the author transports you to Irina’s world before and after the fire. The author focuses on important themes such as forced migration, climate change and environmental concerns, corporate greed and human negligence, trauma, and grief, among others.
Beautifully written, intimate, heartbreaking yet hopeful, this is the kind of story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. Do read the Author’s note where she discusses the places and the events that inspired her to write this novel.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 02, 2024.
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A forest fire wreaks havoc in the lives of the residents of a Greek village located in the foothills of a mountain, close to the sea, wiping out homes and leaving a trail of death and devastation in its wake. Irina, a music teacher, her painter husband Tasso, and young daughter Clara, along with their dog, are among those who survive the fire. Irina decides to write about her experiences to help her cope with the trauma, her own “Book of Fire.”
“There is something about stories that allows us to process the present. We listen to tales of tribulations overcome so that we might imagine we can survive ours. Children listen to the same fairy tale time and time again because there is a puzzle in their hearts that they unknowingly need to solve.”
The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is a deeply emotional read that revolves around family, home and community, human resilience, and survival. The narrative moves between past and present with chapters from Irina’s “book” interspersed throughout the present-day narrative describing the events of the day of the fire and its immediate aftermath. The present-day narrative follows Irina and her family and their friends who chose to remain on the island and go about rebuilding their community while coming to terms with their losses.
“The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts. It has turned to ashes the people we once were.”
We share Irina’s journey as she and her family deal with their physical and emotional trauma from the fire, the destruction of their home, and the surrounding forest area in the aftermath of the tragedy. Irina also encounters the man responsible for the fire and struggles with her guilt over her reaction toward him in a critical moment.
The writing is descriptive, and the author transports you to Irina’s world before and after the fire. The author focuses on important themes such as forced migration, climate change and environmental concerns, corporate greed and human negligence, trauma, and grief, among others.
Beautifully written, intimate, heartbreaking yet hopeful, this is the kind of story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. Do read the Author’s note where she discusses the places and the events that inspired her to write this novel.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 02, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
November 16, 2023
A forest fire destroys a Greek village.. leaves the population running to the sea to save themselves.
This story focuses on Irini, Tasso, and their young daughter Chara… trying to overcoming their injuries and losses and move past this trauma that has forever changed their lives.
This story was very good, had some beautiful characters, but was very sad.
By the author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC!
This story focuses on Irini, Tasso, and their young daughter Chara… trying to overcoming their injuries and losses and move past this trauma that has forever changed their lives.
This story was very good, had some beautiful characters, but was very sad.
By the author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC!
October 14, 2023
This is a story that slowly pulled me in, a story of family, of loss, of love in its many forms from love of place, of family, friends, art, music, animals, and more. It is a story of the flames that can burn within us, and how dangerous those can be, as well. It is a story of secrets, decisions made, and the danger they pose, as well as regret.
This story follows the lives of Irini who teaches music to children, Tasso, her husband, who is a painter who is drawn to painting the forest, and their daughter, Chara. A fire that forces them from their home, and how this changes their lives, as well as the lives of others.
It is a story of the memories that will haunt them, and the toll it took on so many. It is also a story of the kindness of strangers, and the healing that follows.
This is one I will be thinking about for a long, long time.
Pub Date: 02 Jan 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books
January 1, 2024
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that, like me, you were able to spend some time immersed in a good book! :-)
Kicking off the new year, I’ve been busy with my studies, but I did get the chance to squeeze in one of the January 2024 ARCs on my list, so I’m happy about that.
I chose to start my reading year with a new release from an author whose works I’ve loved since reading her debut novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo , a few years back. In my opinion, Christy Lefteri is an underrated and under appreciated author whose works everyone should be reading. She writes in a way that is atmospheric and poetic, with beautifully-rendered descriptions of time and place that make us, the readers, feel completely immersed.
Lefteri sets her third novel in a Greek village where a devastating wildfire has ravaged the once-idyllic forest, destroying nearly everything — living and non-living — in its path. A close and loving family used to live in that forest: Irini, a talented musician who could play the most beautiful songs with the instruments handed down over generations from her father and grandfather; her husband Tasso, an artist who could paint the forest so realistically that the sights and sounds of nature seemed to come alive just looking at the paintings; and their 10-year-old daughter Chara, a happy and playful girl whose name means “joy.” Along with their devoted greyhound Rosalie, the family lived in a picturesque environment surrounded by the beauty of nature. However, on a fateful day that starts off just like any other day, their paths cross with the fire and within hours, their lives are changed forever. Their bungalow in the forest is destroyed (along with all of Irini’s instruments), Tasso’s hands are burned to the point that he can no longer paint, Chara endures second-degree burns that leave horrific scars, and Irini’s father-in-law Lazaros goes missing (he’s presumed dead). Many of their friends and neighbors are either dead or missing, while those who survived are physically and emotionally scarred for life. As if that were not enough, everywhere they turn, they are forced to witness the charred remains of the destruction around them — the trees burned down to stumps, the barren ground where abundant plants and flowers once grew, and the pervasive, choking smell of burnt things. Months later, the family (and the village) haven’t completely come to terms with all they lost, but are actively trying to rebuild and move on with their lives. It is during this time that Irini inadvertently encounters the man responsible for destroying their lives — a land speculator she refers to as Mr. Monk, who had started the fire on a small piece of land he didn’t own in the hopes of acquiring it (illegally), not expecting it to rage out of control like it ended up doing. Mr. Monk is mysteriously injured and appears to be on the brink of death — when Irini finds out who he is, she makes a last minute decision out of anger, which follows her for the rest of the story. The investigation that follows will bring to light some painful truths about the community and its interactions with its surrounding environment.
As she did with her previous two novels, Lefteri once again delivers a hauntingly beautiful, emotional story that is at once heartbreaking and poignant, but also hopeful in its portrayal of humanity in the wake of tragedy. Lefteri has a gift for writing about real-life (often controversial and difficult) issues relevant to society in a way that is thought-provoking and meaningful, yet not heavy-handed or preachy — in The Beekeeper of Aleppo , it was immigration and refugees fleeing from the situation in Syria; in Songbirds , it was the exploitation of foreign domestic workers in Cyprus; now in The Book of Fire , she explores the relationship of humans with nature and the wide-ranging effects that our actions can have on our environment. I live in Southern California and remember the deadly 2018 wildfires that Lefteri mentions in her Author’s Note (which, by the way, is a must-read in and of itself) as well as the many other fires that have occurred in the region the past few years, so this story definitely resonated with me. The dilemma that Irini faces in the story is a difficult one and I will admit that if I were in her shoes, I would have probably struggled as well. I finished this book a few days ago, yet I’m still thinking about this story and its endearingly-drawn characters. Needless to say, I will definitely be on the lookout for what Lefteri comes out with next!
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
Kicking off the new year, I’ve been busy with my studies, but I did get the chance to squeeze in one of the January 2024 ARCs on my list, so I’m happy about that.
I chose to start my reading year with a new release from an author whose works I’ve loved since reading her debut novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo , a few years back. In my opinion, Christy Lefteri is an underrated and under appreciated author whose works everyone should be reading. She writes in a way that is atmospheric and poetic, with beautifully-rendered descriptions of time and place that make us, the readers, feel completely immersed.
Lefteri sets her third novel in a Greek village where a devastating wildfire has ravaged the once-idyllic forest, destroying nearly everything — living and non-living — in its path. A close and loving family used to live in that forest: Irini, a talented musician who could play the most beautiful songs with the instruments handed down over generations from her father and grandfather; her husband Tasso, an artist who could paint the forest so realistically that the sights and sounds of nature seemed to come alive just looking at the paintings; and their 10-year-old daughter Chara, a happy and playful girl whose name means “joy.” Along with their devoted greyhound Rosalie, the family lived in a picturesque environment surrounded by the beauty of nature. However, on a fateful day that starts off just like any other day, their paths cross with the fire and within hours, their lives are changed forever. Their bungalow in the forest is destroyed (along with all of Irini’s instruments), Tasso’s hands are burned to the point that he can no longer paint, Chara endures second-degree burns that leave horrific scars, and Irini’s father-in-law Lazaros goes missing (he’s presumed dead). Many of their friends and neighbors are either dead or missing, while those who survived are physically and emotionally scarred for life. As if that were not enough, everywhere they turn, they are forced to witness the charred remains of the destruction around them — the trees burned down to stumps, the barren ground where abundant plants and flowers once grew, and the pervasive, choking smell of burnt things. Months later, the family (and the village) haven’t completely come to terms with all they lost, but are actively trying to rebuild and move on with their lives. It is during this time that Irini inadvertently encounters the man responsible for destroying their lives — a land speculator she refers to as Mr. Monk, who had started the fire on a small piece of land he didn’t own in the hopes of acquiring it (illegally), not expecting it to rage out of control like it ended up doing. Mr. Monk is mysteriously injured and appears to be on the brink of death — when Irini finds out who he is, she makes a last minute decision out of anger, which follows her for the rest of the story. The investigation that follows will bring to light some painful truths about the community and its interactions with its surrounding environment.
As she did with her previous two novels, Lefteri once again delivers a hauntingly beautiful, emotional story that is at once heartbreaking and poignant, but also hopeful in its portrayal of humanity in the wake of tragedy. Lefteri has a gift for writing about real-life (often controversial and difficult) issues relevant to society in a way that is thought-provoking and meaningful, yet not heavy-handed or preachy — in The Beekeeper of Aleppo , it was immigration and refugees fleeing from the situation in Syria; in Songbirds , it was the exploitation of foreign domestic workers in Cyprus; now in The Book of Fire , she explores the relationship of humans with nature and the wide-ranging effects that our actions can have on our environment. I live in Southern California and remember the deadly 2018 wildfires that Lefteri mentions in her Author’s Note (which, by the way, is a must-read in and of itself) as well as the many other fires that have occurred in the region the past few years, so this story definitely resonated with me. The dilemma that Irini faces in the story is a difficult one and I will admit that if I were in her shoes, I would have probably struggled as well. I finished this book a few days ago, yet I’m still thinking about this story and its endearingly-drawn characters. Needless to say, I will definitely be on the lookout for what Lefteri comes out with next!
Received ARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.
November 19, 2023
Favorite Book of the Year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Fire is devastating. As I read this amazing book, I only think of the recent fire in Maui,Hawaii. I’ve been there many times. It is a beautiful place. I watched on the news the homes that were destroyed, and the people trying to find their loved ones, and trying to rebuild their lives.
It seems in recent times we are seeing more and more devastation.
Christy Lefteri flew to Greece in 2021 to write about this, while fires were raging in Greece, Spain France, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus.
This is her story.
Irini and her husband Tasso and their daughter Chara lived in a beautiful village surrounded by forests fig trees and olive grooves. Irini taught music to the children,. Tasso was an artist. Chara loved to play in the forest.
One day a quick moving wildlife approaches their ideal lives. Their lives will never be the same.
This is a captivating story of love loss, and the spirit to rebuild a life they once knew after the devastating fire. It is beautifully written, it draws you right in. It is very thought provoking.
A powerful novel not to be missed.
I was fortunate to revive an advance readers copy of this book through Goodreads and Ballantine Books.
Fire is devastating. As I read this amazing book, I only think of the recent fire in Maui,Hawaii. I’ve been there many times. It is a beautiful place. I watched on the news the homes that were destroyed, and the people trying to find their loved ones, and trying to rebuild their lives.
It seems in recent times we are seeing more and more devastation.
Christy Lefteri flew to Greece in 2021 to write about this, while fires were raging in Greece, Spain France, Italy, Croatia and Cyprus.
This is her story.
Irini and her husband Tasso and their daughter Chara lived in a beautiful village surrounded by forests fig trees and olive grooves. Irini taught music to the children,. Tasso was an artist. Chara loved to play in the forest.
One day a quick moving wildlife approaches their ideal lives. Their lives will never be the same.
This is a captivating story of love loss, and the spirit to rebuild a life they once knew after the devastating fire. It is beautifully written, it draws you right in. It is very thought provoking.
A powerful novel not to be missed.
I was fortunate to revive an advance readers copy of this book through Goodreads and Ballantine Books.
June 13, 2024
The Book of Fire is my first taste of Christy Lefteri’s writing. It’s absolutely beautiful! Her descriptions of such a terrible event are so vivid and colorful.
It begins with a situation that puts the MC in a great moral dilema. Irini, while walking through the remains of a forest destroyed by fire, comes across the man who started it. From there, Irini, a wife and mother, begins the story of the fire in a then and now format. It is exquisitely told. Her words painted the most incredible pictures in my mind.
The story brings you through the fire itself, fleeing with Irini and her family as they try to reach safety, their plight at being rescued and the aftermath and uncertainty of not knowing what you’ve lost or who is dead or alive. The story shares the physical and mental anguish the family endured.
One of the main things that stayed with me from the story is that the fire changed and devastated their lives in a way that can never be “ fixed.” It will forever overshadow their future outlook on life and its decisions.
Although it is a sad story, it helped me imagine what the victims went through and showed how they held on to hope through the love and care shown by others.
I highly recommend this book and I am interested in reading her other books as well.
Many thanks to Christy Lefteri and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine for the ARC via NetGalley!
It begins with a situation that puts the MC in a great moral dilema. Irini, while walking through the remains of a forest destroyed by fire, comes across the man who started it. From there, Irini, a wife and mother, begins the story of the fire in a then and now format. It is exquisitely told. Her words painted the most incredible pictures in my mind.
The story brings you through the fire itself, fleeing with Irini and her family as they try to reach safety, their plight at being rescued and the aftermath and uncertainty of not knowing what you’ve lost or who is dead or alive. The story shares the physical and mental anguish the family endured.
One of the main things that stayed with me from the story is that the fire changed and devastated their lives in a way that can never be “ fixed.” It will forever overshadow their future outlook on life and its decisions.
Although it is a sad story, it helped me imagine what the victims went through and showed how they held on to hope through the love and care shown by others.
I highly recommend this book and I am interested in reading her other books as well.
Many thanks to Christy Lefteri and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine for the ARC via NetGalley!
February 7, 2024
Christy Lefteri is a beautiful and poetic writer. Irini, Tasso, her husband, and their daughter Chara love the beautiful village they live in, set in the forest. Irini, narrates the story, and there are lovely descriptions of this village in Greece. The elements of nature matter so much to them and everyone in this small community. The gorgeous trees, walkways, animals, gardens where fig trees, lemon trees and Olive trees grow are so vibrant. Tasso, is an artist and most of his paintings are of this village. It captures how tranquil life can be.
Then, in an instant, life completely changes. I huge fire breaks out and burns down the village. Many people die and the survivors carry both physical and more importantly emotional damage. Life will be forever changed. Tasso, is lost, can’t be present with his family. His hands were badly burned. Chara also is badly injured and has scars on her back, Irini describes to her as looking like the branches of a tree.
When horrific environmental disasters happen, we look for someone to blame. In this case, there is someone, Mr. Monk. He was a corrupt developer and looking to build a hotel in the village. He started the problem. Also, the police action and government intervention the villagers decide did not do a sufficient job. This is a natural feeling, when you are in emotional trauma. An answer is wanted and if one is then this will not occur again.
Yet, on a deeper level, the villagers and all of us know that Climate Change is Occurring. We often can’t address that, but we know. We know our world has changed and will continue to change. So, yes addressing the current culprits is quite important, but the conditions for fires is already set that more will occur and the damage will be worse. This is a difficult message, but it is also true.
I had both the book and the audio 🎧 for this. I loved the combination of listening and also reading the gorgeous descriptions as well as after the fire the very sad and sole crushing feeling of displacement and pain. This was an excellent book that I loved. 5 Stars ⭐️.
Then, in an instant, life completely changes. I huge fire breaks out and burns down the village. Many people die and the survivors carry both physical and more importantly emotional damage. Life will be forever changed. Tasso, is lost, can’t be present with his family. His hands were badly burned. Chara also is badly injured and has scars on her back, Irini describes to her as looking like the branches of a tree.
When horrific environmental disasters happen, we look for someone to blame. In this case, there is someone, Mr. Monk. He was a corrupt developer and looking to build a hotel in the village. He started the problem. Also, the police action and government intervention the villagers decide did not do a sufficient job. This is a natural feeling, when you are in emotional trauma. An answer is wanted and if one is then this will not occur again.
Yet, on a deeper level, the villagers and all of us know that Climate Change is Occurring. We often can’t address that, but we know. We know our world has changed and will continue to change. So, yes addressing the current culprits is quite important, but the conditions for fires is already set that more will occur and the damage will be worse. This is a difficult message, but it is also true.
I had both the book and the audio 🎧 for this. I loved the combination of listening and also reading the gorgeous descriptions as well as after the fire the very sad and sole crushing feeling of displacement and pain. This was an excellent book that I loved. 5 Stars ⭐️.
October 28, 2023
How do people recover from a devastating disaster that touches an entire community and leaves death and heartbreak in its path? That is what this book deals with - the grief and the recovery and how to find a path to begin again.
Description:
In present-day Greece, deep in an ancient forest, lives a Irini, a musician, who teaches children to read and play music; her husband, Tasso, who paints the forest, his greatest muse; and Chara, their young daughter, whose name means joy. On the fateful day that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives, flames chase fleeing birds across the sky. The wildfire that will consume their home, and their lives as they know it, races toward them.
In the smoldering aftermath, Irini stumbles upon the body of the man who started the fire, a land speculator who had intended only a small, controlled burn to clear forestland to build on and instead ignited a catastrophe. He is dead, although the cause is unclear, and in her anger at all he took from them, Irini makes a split-second decision that will haunt her.
As the local police investigate the mysterious death, Tasso mourns his father, who has not been seen since before the fire. His hands were burnt in the flames, leaving him unable to paint, and he struggles to cope with the overwhelming loss of his artistic voice and his beloved forest. Only his young daughter, who wants to repair the damage that’s been done, gives him hope for the future.
Gorgeously written, sweeping in scope and intimate in tone, The Book of Fire is a masterful work about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy, as well as the universal ties that bind people to each other, and to the land that they call home.
My Thoughts:
Thsi book is well done and, although it is very sad, gives you hope for the future. I liked how clearly the author made me feel the grief and pain, the guilt, the loss of hope, and the beginning of hope again. It is a very emotional book that left me gutted. I liked the way people came together to help each other. The author's prose is beautiful and descriptive. The characters came alive on the page. This is a story of survival. There are a couple of moral dilemmas presented in the book that will make you think how you might handle the same situation and whether you agree on the justice presented.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 2, 2024.
Description:
In present-day Greece, deep in an ancient forest, lives a Irini, a musician, who teaches children to read and play music; her husband, Tasso, who paints the forest, his greatest muse; and Chara, their young daughter, whose name means joy. On the fateful day that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives, flames chase fleeing birds across the sky. The wildfire that will consume their home, and their lives as they know it, races toward them.
In the smoldering aftermath, Irini stumbles upon the body of the man who started the fire, a land speculator who had intended only a small, controlled burn to clear forestland to build on and instead ignited a catastrophe. He is dead, although the cause is unclear, and in her anger at all he took from them, Irini makes a split-second decision that will haunt her.
As the local police investigate the mysterious death, Tasso mourns his father, who has not been seen since before the fire. His hands were burnt in the flames, leaving him unable to paint, and he struggles to cope with the overwhelming loss of his artistic voice and his beloved forest. Only his young daughter, who wants to repair the damage that’s been done, gives him hope for the future.
Gorgeously written, sweeping in scope and intimate in tone, The Book of Fire is a masterful work about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy, as well as the universal ties that bind people to each other, and to the land that they call home.
My Thoughts:
Thsi book is well done and, although it is very sad, gives you hope for the future. I liked how clearly the author made me feel the grief and pain, the guilt, the loss of hope, and the beginning of hope again. It is a very emotional book that left me gutted. I liked the way people came together to help each other. The author's prose is beautiful and descriptive. The characters came alive on the page. This is a story of survival. There are a couple of moral dilemmas presented in the book that will make you think how you might handle the same situation and whether you agree on the justice presented.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on January 2, 2024.
April 5, 2024
The Book of Fire is told in two timelines: during and after the fire. As you would expect, this devastating catastrophe has a huge impact on the community. They find themselves suddenly thrusted into unexpected and terrifying circumstances.
This masterpiece of a book tells a story of human emotion on all levels. It explores guilt, fear, depression, loss, but also joy, forgiveness and relief. Simply and beautifully written.
"...and it breaks my heart to think that Chara is so innocent and so full of love, having to live in this world that we have made for her."
This masterpiece of a book tells a story of human emotion on all levels. It explores guilt, fear, depression, loss, but also joy, forgiveness and relief. Simply and beautifully written.
"...and it breaks my heart to think that Chara is so innocent and so full of love, having to live in this world that we have made for her."
August 17, 2023
3.5 stars
I was initially quite conflicted by this novel. It couldn’t be a more timely novel with its main story being a wildfire in Greece started intentionally that was then spread by hot temperatures and wind. Irini, Tasso and their daughter, Chara, are one of the families caught up in the disaster.
It sat a little uncomfortably with me how the man who started the fire was made to pay for his crime. But after a little thought, I think this is partly what the author hoped to achieve, that we would consider the moral implications of retribution?
This is a fairly quick read, it is a straightforward novel with no complicated twists or turns. Simply a story of greed and it’s extreme & devastating consequences.
I was initially quite conflicted by this novel. It couldn’t be a more timely novel with its main story being a wildfire in Greece started intentionally that was then spread by hot temperatures and wind. Irini, Tasso and their daughter, Chara, are one of the families caught up in the disaster.
It sat a little uncomfortably with me how the man who started the fire was made to pay for his crime. But after a little thought, I think this is partly what the author hoped to achieve, that we would consider the moral implications of retribution?
This is a fairly quick read, it is a straightforward novel with no complicated twists or turns. Simply a story of greed and it’s extreme & devastating consequences.
February 6, 2024
this is the best book of 2023, hands down.
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
Beyond heartbreaking and sad story about the affects of climate change and the destruction and devastation left behind after a forest fire in present day Greece.
December 11, 2023
Irini Diamandis and her family survive a devastating wildfire in rural Greece that destroys 300,000 acres of forest, plus homes and businesses, and takes many lives, including the paternal grandfather's. It has left both her husband and daughter with painful wounds which will likely heal but can they recover emotionally? 'The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts. It has turned to ashes the people we once were.'
In the aftermath, it is learned that the fire was started by a wealthy man who just wanted to burn five acres of forest on the cliff top where he planned to build a boutique hotel. But the climate has become so dry and the winds so fierce that the fire quickly became an inferno, racing towards the sea in a path of destruction.
Weeks later, while walking her dog in the dead forest, Irini discovers the hated man under an ancient chestnut tree. She quickly realizes he is dying from an attempted hanging. Irini runs for help but makes a quick decision that will alter who she believes she is as a person.
Part of the story is told in the present day as the people of the village try to put their lives back together. But the other half of the book consists of Irini's journal entries as she details exactly what happened in her Book of Fire.
These kind of fires are happening more frequently in the world at large due to climate change but it seems people need someone personal to blame: the man who lit the fire, the police who blocked escape routes, the fire brigades' ineffective attempts to control the conflagration. What good does it do when the lives of lost loved ones cannot be restored? A compelling and evocative novel, told simply, with well-drawn characters.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
In the aftermath, it is learned that the fire was started by a wealthy man who just wanted to burn five acres of forest on the cliff top where he planned to build a boutique hotel. But the climate has become so dry and the winds so fierce that the fire quickly became an inferno, racing towards the sea in a path of destruction.
Weeks later, while walking her dog in the dead forest, Irini discovers the hated man under an ancient chestnut tree. She quickly realizes he is dying from an attempted hanging. Irini runs for help but makes a quick decision that will alter who she believes she is as a person.
Part of the story is told in the present day as the people of the village try to put their lives back together. But the other half of the book consists of Irini's journal entries as she details exactly what happened in her Book of Fire.
These kind of fires are happening more frequently in the world at large due to climate change but it seems people need someone personal to blame: the man who lit the fire, the police who blocked escape routes, the fire brigades' ineffective attempts to control the conflagration. What good does it do when the lives of lost loved ones cannot be restored? A compelling and evocative novel, told simply, with well-drawn characters.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
November 28, 2023
Last summer we vacationed along Lake Superior, kept indoors by the heavy smoke from Canadian wild fires. We know climate change has lead to more wildfires. And we know that climate change is rooted in human folly and greed, our inability to implement needed change to alter our impact on the earth.
The Book of Fire was inspired by a real fire in Greece and the stories of survivors. Lefreri’s novel imagines a family with deep roots in Greece who lose their home and a loved one after a real estate developer sets a fire to a woods, hoping to get the land for development.
The mother and wife tells the story of the fire in a journal, how she and her daughter survived by fleeing to the ocean, the hours they were in the sea waiting for rescue, the burns her daughter and husband suffered, the lose of a beloved family member. When she discovers the developer in the decimated forest, a rope around his neck, and near to death, she faces a moral crisis of decision.
Has this man killed himself, unable to live with the lives his rash act has taken? Or did survivors lynch him?
The artist husband’s burned hands and loss of the beloved forest drives him into depression, leaving his wife without his support. Meanwhile, the daughter encourages him to rejoin the living, and draws the burned forest as he had painted it in its glory.
This story of community and individual trauma and recovery asks who is guilty and what are the just deserts of guilt.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
The Book of Fire was inspired by a real fire in Greece and the stories of survivors. Lefreri’s novel imagines a family with deep roots in Greece who lose their home and a loved one after a real estate developer sets a fire to a woods, hoping to get the land for development.
The mother and wife tells the story of the fire in a journal, how she and her daughter survived by fleeing to the ocean, the hours they were in the sea waiting for rescue, the burns her daughter and husband suffered, the lose of a beloved family member. When she discovers the developer in the decimated forest, a rope around his neck, and near to death, she faces a moral crisis of decision.
Has this man killed himself, unable to live with the lives his rash act has taken? Or did survivors lynch him?
The artist husband’s burned hands and loss of the beloved forest drives him into depression, leaving his wife without his support. Meanwhile, the daughter encourages him to rejoin the living, and draws the burned forest as he had painted it in its glory.
This story of community and individual trauma and recovery asks who is guilty and what are the just deserts of guilt.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
September 16, 2023
Topical story about the aftermath of a disastrous fire that destroys a whole Greek village and the surrounding forest killing people, wildlife and trees.
Irini and her family manage to survive, but they carry with them the mental and physical scars of that horrific day. Who is to blame? Is it the greedy property developer who set fire to the land to try and clear it, or the authorities who didn’t react quickly enough? Or was the whole thing as a result of global warming?
The story is narrated through Irini and it vividly captures the loss and trauma, but I found her endless anxiety too repetitious. She constantly agonises over the same issues and it became very tiresome. Overall I didn’t feel ‘connected’ to the characters and the story was long and drawn out with no mystery or drama. I found myself skim reading the final few chapters as I wanted it to end.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a powerful, heartbreaking book that delivers emotional impact. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about The Book of Fire. Disappointing.
Irini and her family manage to survive, but they carry with them the mental and physical scars of that horrific day. Who is to blame? Is it the greedy property developer who set fire to the land to try and clear it, or the authorities who didn’t react quickly enough? Or was the whole thing as a result of global warming?
The story is narrated through Irini and it vividly captures the loss and trauma, but I found her endless anxiety too repetitious. She constantly agonises over the same issues and it became very tiresome. Overall I didn’t feel ‘connected’ to the characters and the story was long and drawn out with no mystery or drama. I found myself skim reading the final few chapters as I wanted it to end.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a powerful, heartbreaking book that delivers emotional impact. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about The Book of Fire. Disappointing.
February 8, 2024
"They demonize each other, he had said. The 'other' is always to blame and it fuels people and groups and governments with fire. This never leads to any good on this earth. And right here Vassilios could see that they were all their own enemies, that they were all human, all in pain, all hurting each other from hatred and fear."
"But the fire was lit before Mr. Monk lit the fire."
This was a difficult book to read. With the recent mega-fires devastating so many areas...California, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Greece, and even our own Pacific Northwest (a region known for its usual excessive rain), knowing of the tremendous loss of environment, animals and people made this so much more powerful. So much more gut wrenching. I heard the voices of so many lost echoing in the pages. Whether you believe in "climate change" or not, there is no denying we've had some enormously tragic fires, as well as other natural disasters with what appears to be escalating frequency. We've lived in the same home for 30 years and it's only been the last four years (in a row) that fire has threatened our area to the point of us being in "go now" status. The terror is real, and I relived it while reading this book.
Fire drives the narrator of this story from her home, daughter in tow, separated from her husband as he tries to find his father. We live through the fire and the immediate aftermath with them. We are shown the physical and emotional scars, the struggle with anger towards the man who deliberately set the fire, the niggling sense that somehow the "world" is complicit in what happened, and the effort to regain some sense of "normal" within the decidedly abnormal that now exists. Lefteri creates a detailed and heartbreaking picture of the devastation left in fire's wake, the problems it poses and the questions it can raise. My main "criticism" is that it became a bit repetitive in the narrative, which slowed the pace a bit. That said, I'm sure it did accurately represent the mental circling we do when faced with the incomprehensible. My second "criticism" was the language used by Chara, the child, which seemed overly advanced for her age, and was difficult for me to believe as her "voice".
Overall, I was very invested in reading this story, even with all it dredged up inside me. I think the author and I share a love of forests, and that was evident in the tender care she offered in those descriptions, and the awful sense of loss. I remember clearly driving through what was left of our local forest after an out-of-control fire took so much in its way. There are no words.
4.25
"But the fire was lit before Mr. Monk lit the fire."
This was a difficult book to read. With the recent mega-fires devastating so many areas...California, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, Greece, and even our own Pacific Northwest (a region known for its usual excessive rain), knowing of the tremendous loss of environment, animals and people made this so much more powerful. So much more gut wrenching. I heard the voices of so many lost echoing in the pages. Whether you believe in "climate change" or not, there is no denying we've had some enormously tragic fires, as well as other natural disasters with what appears to be escalating frequency. We've lived in the same home for 30 years and it's only been the last four years (in a row) that fire has threatened our area to the point of us being in "go now" status. The terror is real, and I relived it while reading this book.
Fire drives the narrator of this story from her home, daughter in tow, separated from her husband as he tries to find his father. We live through the fire and the immediate aftermath with them. We are shown the physical and emotional scars, the struggle with anger towards the man who deliberately set the fire, the niggling sense that somehow the "world" is complicit in what happened, and the effort to regain some sense of "normal" within the decidedly abnormal that now exists. Lefteri creates a detailed and heartbreaking picture of the devastation left in fire's wake, the problems it poses and the questions it can raise. My main "criticism" is that it became a bit repetitive in the narrative, which slowed the pace a bit. That said, I'm sure it did accurately represent the mental circling we do when faced with the incomprehensible. My second "criticism" was the language used by Chara, the child, which seemed overly advanced for her age, and was difficult for me to believe as her "voice".
Overall, I was very invested in reading this story, even with all it dredged up inside me. I think the author and I share a love of forests, and that was evident in the tender care she offered in those descriptions, and the awful sense of loss. I remember clearly driving through what was left of our local forest after an out-of-control fire took so much in its way. There are no words.
4.25
September 8, 2023
*Life Changing Decisions*
**4.5 Stars**
This is a story of love, loss and survival.
Irini, her husband Tasso and their daughter Chara were a tight knit family. Then in the course of a day everything changes. Some one has lit a fire 🔥🔥🔥 the motivation was greed due to him wanting the land. This very act gets out of hand as the fire grows and grows and almost obliterates most of the beautiful Greek village
While some are running for their lives Tasso is running back towards it to find his father. This decision means that Irini and Chara are left to fend for themselves. Will they ever see him again? Irini and Tasso both make decisions that will haunt them.
This story is mesmerising and weaved together so beautifully. We get to witness the aftermath of the fire and I could literally feel the flames as it is described so vividly. There is also the author’s note at the end.
**4.5 Stars**
This is a story of love, loss and survival.
Irini, her husband Tasso and their daughter Chara were a tight knit family. Then in the course of a day everything changes. Some one has lit a fire 🔥🔥🔥 the motivation was greed due to him wanting the land. This very act gets out of hand as the fire grows and grows and almost obliterates most of the beautiful Greek village
While some are running for their lives Tasso is running back towards it to find his father. This decision means that Irini and Chara are left to fend for themselves. Will they ever see him again? Irini and Tasso both make decisions that will haunt them.
This story is mesmerising and weaved together so beautifully. We get to witness the aftermath of the fire and I could literally feel the flames as it is described so vividly. There is also the author’s note at the end.
August 28, 2024
Such a moving story of a devastating fire and many of those affected by it. It was intriguing to follow alongside the FMC's journey. It was heartbreaking at many moments but such a great read. I'd suggest to get your tissues ready when reading this one. Moving, raw, shocking and deep!
August 21, 2023
The fabulous author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo takes us to Greece in a harrowing and unforgettable novel.
We meet a small family - Irini, Chara and Tasso living in the forest along the coast of Greece. A terrible fire consumes their small village and take away their home and sense of security. Lefteri takes us through the fire itself and the aftermath. Throughout the novel she paints bold picture of the family members and villagers. Toward the end of the novel Irini meets up with the man who began the tragic fire, she is faced with a decision that changes her life forever.
Gorgeous and truly unforgettable Lefteri presents a perspective on how people would react after a tragedy. I found it truthful and poignant and much easier to believe than your typical adventure novel.
Read this book! It mirrors the current state of affairs in Greece and Hawaii and many other places.
#RandomHouse #Ballantine #TheBooksOfFire #TheBeekeeperofaleppo #ChristyLefteri
We meet a small family - Irini, Chara and Tasso living in the forest along the coast of Greece. A terrible fire consumes their small village and take away their home and sense of security. Lefteri takes us through the fire itself and the aftermath. Throughout the novel she paints bold picture of the family members and villagers. Toward the end of the novel Irini meets up with the man who began the tragic fire, she is faced with a decision that changes her life forever.
Gorgeous and truly unforgettable Lefteri presents a perspective on how people would react after a tragedy. I found it truthful and poignant and much easier to believe than your typical adventure novel.
Read this book! It mirrors the current state of affairs in Greece and Hawaii and many other places.
#RandomHouse #Ballantine #TheBooksOfFire #TheBeekeeperofaleppo #ChristyLefteri
September 23, 2023
Whilst the prose is beautiful there is excessive repetition. Extremely tiresome
October 16, 2023
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this!*
At this point I don’t need to read the synopsis of a Christy Lefteri book to decide whether I’m interested in it, I blindly trust her to write something amazing I’ll enjoy reading regardless. And it is no surprise, she has managed to do it again.
There is just something about her style of writing that gets me emotionally every time and pulls me in. Usually, it takes a whale to settle into a book and for it to really have any sway of your feelings, but she manages to do it within a few pages for me with every book she puts out. Her characters honestly don’t feel fictional, this book felt like it was truly coming to life and off the page with how authentic and genuine it came across. The emotions were very high and it was so easy to get swept away in the heaviness of the narrative. This is a book that’s going to be very unforgettable.
The different chapter styles at play here was also a really engaging narrative tool. It allowed us to really go back to the traumatic day that Irinis family had to endure, while also allowing us to sit with them in the present and reflect on the innumerous ways in which it has changed the trajectory of the rest of their lives. It was an awfully hard book to read at times, Lefteri really doesn’t hesitate to really paint a vivid picture of the truth regardless of how hard it is to stomach. This is the book of hers I’d say that strikes closest to Aleppo for me, and the way I felt reading that book. Just very heavy emotionally start to finish, but a really valuable read for opening your eyes and your heart to an issue and trying to grasp a wider scope of understanding and empathy. It was really well done.
I think this book was also really good at exploring the themes of morality and forgiveness, and looking at how people react and overcome scenarios of tragedy. There were actually several layers to this story, and the things that unfold within it, that make a really interesting book for discussion. I think it was explored really well through the different characters we come across, and it allied for a wide scope of perspective to be brought forward that was really thought provoking. It made you consider individual and collective responsibility, grieving, and trying to find life and new beginnings after tragedy.
This one is quite a difficult ride, but the end product was stunning.
At this point I don’t need to read the synopsis of a Christy Lefteri book to decide whether I’m interested in it, I blindly trust her to write something amazing I’ll enjoy reading regardless. And it is no surprise, she has managed to do it again.
There is just something about her style of writing that gets me emotionally every time and pulls me in. Usually, it takes a whale to settle into a book and for it to really have any sway of your feelings, but she manages to do it within a few pages for me with every book she puts out. Her characters honestly don’t feel fictional, this book felt like it was truly coming to life and off the page with how authentic and genuine it came across. The emotions were very high and it was so easy to get swept away in the heaviness of the narrative. This is a book that’s going to be very unforgettable.
The different chapter styles at play here was also a really engaging narrative tool. It allowed us to really go back to the traumatic day that Irinis family had to endure, while also allowing us to sit with them in the present and reflect on the innumerous ways in which it has changed the trajectory of the rest of their lives. It was an awfully hard book to read at times, Lefteri really doesn’t hesitate to really paint a vivid picture of the truth regardless of how hard it is to stomach. This is the book of hers I’d say that strikes closest to Aleppo for me, and the way I felt reading that book. Just very heavy emotionally start to finish, but a really valuable read for opening your eyes and your heart to an issue and trying to grasp a wider scope of understanding and empathy. It was really well done.
I think this book was also really good at exploring the themes of morality and forgiveness, and looking at how people react and overcome scenarios of tragedy. There were actually several layers to this story, and the things that unfold within it, that make a really interesting book for discussion. I think it was explored really well through the different characters we come across, and it allied for a wide scope of perspective to be brought forward that was really thought provoking. It made you consider individual and collective responsibility, grieving, and trying to find life and new beginnings after tragedy.
This one is quite a difficult ride, but the end product was stunning.
March 8, 2024
Atmosféra tejto knihy je ťaživá. Opisuje niečo, čo vieme, že existuje, že je aktuálne, ale zároveň si to nevieme reálne predstaviť. Tie dopady. Dopady masívnych požiarov, ktoré so sebou strhnú všetko živé aj neživé, všetko čo sa nestihne uhnúť.
Atmosféra tejto knihy je ťaživá, no téma je veľmi dôležitá. Koniec síce dáva akú takú nádej, ale ako napísala autorka v poznámke - náš svet sa mení. A to je fakt. Táto kniha je založená a vystavaná na reálnych príbehoch ľudí. Aj preto je taká dôležitá. K písaniu autorky mám síce pár výhrad, no toto nedlhé dielko čitateľa rozhodne obohatí.
Atmosféra tejto knihy je ťaživá, no téma je veľmi dôležitá. Koniec síce dáva akú takú nádej, ale ako napísala autorka v poznámke - náš svet sa mení. A to je fakt. Táto kniha je založená a vystavaná na reálnych príbehoch ľudí. Aj preto je taká dôležitá. K písaniu autorky mám síce pár výhrad, no toto nedlhé dielko čitateľa rozhodne obohatí.
May 31, 2024
Told in a quiet voice, The Book of Fire is about a Greek village destroyed by a wildfire and the aftermath for one artistic family.
Musician Irini, her painter husband Tasso, and their young daughter Chara are separated during the horrific events of an otherwise ordinary morning. Told in two timelines with the day of the disaster always prefaced with "The Book of Fire," Irini takes us with her through her daughter's medical recovery, her worry for Tasso and her father-in-law, and all the chaos of the other villagers who run for safety and are missing their own loved ones.
My biggest nit is the unnecessary global warming insinuation, since . Otherwise, Christy Lefteri reminds us that in the midst of unimaginable tragedy, there are people - usually strangers - who don't hesitate to extend kindness and charity to those in need. If you like tragi-dramas that are less exciting and more character-centric, The Book of Fire would be a good choice.
Musician Irini, her painter husband Tasso, and their young daughter Chara are separated during the horrific events of an otherwise ordinary morning. Told in two timelines with the day of the disaster always prefaced with "The Book of Fire," Irini takes us with her through her daughter's medical recovery, her worry for Tasso and her father-in-law, and all the chaos of the other villagers who run for safety and are missing their own loved ones.
My biggest nit is the unnecessary global warming insinuation, since . Otherwise, Christy Lefteri reminds us that in the midst of unimaginable tragedy, there are people - usually strangers - who don't hesitate to extend kindness and charity to those in need. If you like tragi-dramas that are less exciting and more character-centric, The Book of Fire would be a good choice.
January 9, 2024
3.5 star
‘While you live, shine.
Have no grief at all.
Life exists only for a short while.
And time demands its toll.’
Once upon a Harry Lime, there was a small village near the forest, by the sea. It was burnt down due to the fire of greed and lives of people was upended.
Irini is a music teacher and is married to Tasso who happens to be an artist. He loves the forest around which he grew up, he fell in love with Irini and where his daughter played around the trees. But all is lost when Mr. Monk, a greedy builder wants a part of the forest to build a small hotel and starts a forest fire. The forest fire kills and dislocates many in her village causing a communal hatred towards Mr. Monk.
Irini is consumed by guilt after she leaves a Mr. Monk to die just because the dying man is a man of greed and the reason for the forest fire. Irini mourns the loss of her husbands' liveliness and her daughters' innocence. The story oscillates between the past events on and after the fire broke and the present, the aftermath. The struggles to find a balance after the loss, to find the essence of what is lost is picturized perfectly through words. The story mainly focuses on the emotions of Irini and the view from her point.
Narration is very descriptive, captures every detail on emotions and relationships. As if we can see the forest in front of us, see the characters play around in front of us.
Happy Reading!!!
‘While you live, shine.
Have no grief at all.
Life exists only for a short while.
And time demands its toll.’
Once upon a Harry Lime, there was a small village near the forest, by the sea. It was burnt down due to the fire of greed and lives of people was upended.
Irini is a music teacher and is married to Tasso who happens to be an artist. He loves the forest around which he grew up, he fell in love with Irini and where his daughter played around the trees. But all is lost when Mr. Monk, a greedy builder wants a part of the forest to build a small hotel and starts a forest fire. The forest fire kills and dislocates many in her village causing a communal hatred towards Mr. Monk.
Irini is consumed by guilt after she leaves a Mr. Monk to die just because the dying man is a man of greed and the reason for the forest fire. Irini mourns the loss of her husbands' liveliness and her daughters' innocence. The story oscillates between the past events on and after the fire broke and the present, the aftermath. The struggles to find a balance after the loss, to find the essence of what is lost is picturized perfectly through words. The story mainly focuses on the emotions of Irini and the view from her point.
Narration is very descriptive, captures every detail on emotions and relationships. As if we can see the forest in front of us, see the characters play around in front of us.
Happy Reading!!!
February 14, 2024
Several years ago I read The Beekeeper of Aleppo, a book that affected me deeply not only because of its content, but also its provenance. Christy Lefteri, in her acknowledgement of the influences behind that book as well as this one, has looked behind devastating news reports and incorporated her personal history as well. Deeply affected by the devastating fire on the Greek Island of Evia, she has set this book in a town that experiences a similar fire, the result of a supposed controlled burn by a land speculator that runs out of control destroying a way of life for many. As with her previous novel, she tells the large story by way of an intimate one, putting a face on disaster. Her deep love for animals is apparent, particularly for dogs in that the family pet is a significant character himself. As with her other books, highly recommended.
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