Songbirds is set in Cyprus where Nisha, a Sri Lankan immigrant, has worked for Petra as a maid and nanny since Petra's husband passed away. Nisha left her home country and daughter after being widowed and needing to earn money to pay for her daughter's schooling, whilst in Cyprus she met Yiannis, the tennant in Petra's upstairs flat and a poacher of songbirds, with whom she begins a secret relationship. One evening, Nisha disappears.
Having heard a lot about The Beekeeper of Aleppo, I was intrigued to read something by this author. As I have never read The Beekeeper, I was pleased to know that this was not a follow-up, but rather a standalone novel covering similar themes to The Beekeeper, mainly the injustice faced by people due to race and class.
The story centres around Petra and Yiannis' search for Nisha. It is during this search that Petra learns about Nisha's past last, her current life and the people Nisha has touched. Prior to this, Nisha was just seen as a maid by Petra - she could not see her for the woman, the life, she was. Petra finds that Nisha is not the only maid to have vanished, but the police won't do anything because she is 'just a foreign girl'.
The book exposes the barriers faced by people due to their perceived class and their race. It was predictable - I picked up very quickly that there was a voice within the story and that voice allowed me to predict the fait of Nisha. The author however, has such a beautiful talent with words, that I could forgive the predictability of the novel. The imagery was spectacular, allowing me to see the village, the lake and the animals.
Heart-strings are pulled by this novel and upon finishing it, I am of the belief that it will be a book that stays with me for a long time. Due to this being so good, I am now in the predicament of being unsure with what to follow it up with!
Having heard a lot about The Beekeeper of Aleppo, I was intrigued to read something by this author. As I have never read The Beekeeper, I was pleased to know that this was not a follow-up, but rather a standalone novel covering similar themes to The Beekeeper, mainly the injustice faced by people due to race and class.
The story centres around Petra and Yiannis' search for Nisha. It is during this search that Petra learns about Nisha's past last, her current life and the people Nisha has touched. Prior to this, Nisha was just seen as a maid by Petra - she could not see her for the woman, the life, she was. Petra finds that Nisha is not the only maid to have vanished, but the police won't do anything because she is 'just a foreign girl'.
The book exposes the barriers faced by people due to their perceived class and their race. It was predictable - I picked up very quickly that there was a voice within the story and that voice allowed me to predict the fait of Nisha. The author however, has such a beautiful talent with words, that I could forgive the predictability of the novel. The imagery was spectacular, allowing me to see the village, the lake and the animals.
Heart-strings are pulled by this novel and upon finishing it, I am of the belief that it will be a book that stays with me for a long time. Due to this being so good, I am now in the predicament of being unsure with what to follow it up with!