Inspired by real events, Songbirds is the story of Nisha who needing money for her family, left her home in Sri Lanka to become a domestic worker in Cyprus. One day she goes missing and the only people interested to find her are Petra, who she works for, and Yiannis, her lover. It is told from their alternating POV as they search for Nisha, reminisce of their time with her whilst also recounting their own personal struggles
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The author’s novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo was one of my favourite reads last year. I found it emotional, powerful and thoughtful and Songbirds is no different. The author has a lyrical and immersive style of writing, describing the beauty of the landscape, the creatures that inhabit it and the people that populate it. It is an easy book to get lost in, but it has an important story to tell
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Lefteri uses this novel to highlight the experience of migrant domestic workers, and the casual and systemic racism that they face, the failures of the system meant to protect people and the exploitation that the workers face. A lot of this is shown during Petra’s POV as she speaks to other woman in similar positions on her search for Nisha and in her experience at the police station as she tries to report Nisha missing. The language used against the women is cruel and prejudiced, and allows the reader to get angry on their behalf
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Petra barely knows the woman who has lived her in house for the past nine years. And it isn’t until she begins her search that she realises she knows nothing of Nisha’s life except for the work she does. As the story unfolds she starts to change her attitude, which allows the reader to know both woman more
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Readers also learn of Nisha through Yiannis. He knows Nisha’s past so readers too can learn everything she endured and lost to get to where she begins the novel. Through him we learn how strong Nisha has always been, how resilient she is. Their relationship is loving but bittersweet, as Nisha could lose her job should it ever be discovered. They have spent two years catching time where they can, and there’s a sadness to it, even in their moments of happiness
.
I would have liked to hear more from Nisha herself, to give more understanding of her and her situation, and of those who fight for freedom by leaving their families, children and homeland to enter into domestic service
.
The pace is slow, but the characters are engaging and the story is interesting, and like Beekeeper this book is heartbreaking, but there is light within it
.
Thank you to Readers First and Manilla Press for this copy
.
The author’s novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo was one of my favourite reads last year. I found it emotional, powerful and thoughtful and Songbirds is no different. The author has a lyrical and immersive style of writing, describing the beauty of the landscape, the creatures that inhabit it and the people that populate it. It is an easy book to get lost in, but it has an important story to tell
.
Lefteri uses this novel to highlight the experience of migrant domestic workers, and the casual and systemic racism that they face, the failures of the system meant to protect people and the exploitation that the workers face. A lot of this is shown during Petra’s POV as she speaks to other woman in similar positions on her search for Nisha and in her experience at the police station as she tries to report Nisha missing. The language used against the women is cruel and prejudiced, and allows the reader to get angry on their behalf
.
Petra barely knows the woman who has lived her in house for the past nine years. And it isn’t until she begins her search that she realises she knows nothing of Nisha’s life except for the work she does. As the story unfolds she starts to change her attitude, which allows the reader to know both woman more
.
Readers also learn of Nisha through Yiannis. He knows Nisha’s past so readers too can learn everything she endured and lost to get to where she begins the novel. Through him we learn how strong Nisha has always been, how resilient she is. Their relationship is loving but bittersweet, as Nisha could lose her job should it ever be discovered. They have spent two years catching time where they can, and there’s a sadness to it, even in their moments of happiness
.
I would have liked to hear more from Nisha herself, to give more understanding of her and her situation, and of those who fight for freedom by leaving their families, children and homeland to enter into domestic service
.
The pace is slow, but the characters are engaging and the story is interesting, and like Beekeeper this book is heartbreaking, but there is light within it
.
Thank you to Readers First and Manilla Press for this copy