A Watermelon, a Fish and a Bible: A heartwarming tale of love amid war
£7.10£10.40 (-32%)
A moving novel of love and war by the author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo and Songbirds.
It is July 1974 and on a bright, sunny morning, the Turkish army has invaded the town of Kyrenia in Cyprus. For many people, this means an end to life as they know it. But for some, it is a chance to begin living again.
Everyone has always talked about Koki. They never believed she was her father’s daughter and her mother died too soon to quiet their wagging tongues. And when she became pregnant and there was no sign of a husband, her fate was sealed.
So she lives outside the town and hides from her neighbours’ eyes. But, held captive with the very women who have made her life so lonely, Koki is finally able to tell them the truth. To talk of the Turkish shoe-maker who came to the town and took her heart away with him when he left. And how she has longed for him all these years.
Meanwhile, Adem Berker finds himself back in Kyrenia, his former home, now as a member of the invading force. Here he left everything he ever wanted and, by cover of darkness, risking his life, he is searching every house, every cafe, every old pathway, for just a glimpse of the only woman he has ever loved.
For readers of The Island, The Book Thief and The Kite Runner.
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Additional information
| Publisher | riverrun (1 Aug. 2019) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 432 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1529405637 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1529405637 |
| Dimensions | 13 x 3.2 x 19.8 cm |
by Mrs Mac
I’ve been to Cyprus and seen the north of the island closed off and deserted so was interested to learn more about what happened here. Unfortunately the way the story went back and forth with different characters was confusing and I’m left with many questions. What happened to the other women? And Adem? We heard a shot?
I wanted to finish this as it was our book clubs pick but really I shouldn’t have wasted my time. Disappointed.
by Maria Eleni
Following the invasion of Cyprus 1974, the story focuses on the survival of a group of women that are held in now occupied Kyrenia. As the author switches effectively from past to present tense, we learn about past loves, heartbreak and turmoil through the eyes of the main characters. Whilst it was an enjoyable read, I found the ending quite flat – what happened to the other women? – the story moved on quite quickly and the ending felt rushed… what happened to Adem in the end (yes, a shot was heard I know) – could this have been expanded more? – a sequel to this book would be good to see!
by Stephen Scottskinner
An interesting fictional take on the arrival of Turkish forces in Kyrenia, in Northern Cyprus, told from a Greek Cypriot, understandably biased, perspective.
The story flows well at the beginning but loses some direction through the middle, and recovers towards the conclusion.
Not quite as good as ‘The Beekeeper Of Aleppo’ but close.
by Jodie Catherine bhondoo
Good read, love in so many ways , a bit confusing at first as to who is who and which time we are in x
by Anna
I feel that the reading of this book was slightly impacted by the fact that I was reading it in spurts, mainly while on various trains, and whilst really sleepy. Still, this goes to show that it wasn’t particularly exciting to me, because I’ve powered through books in the middle of the night whilst dead-tired because I really wanted to know what happens next. At any rate, I liked it enough despite the fact that it’s historical fiction and not fantasy, so *shrug*. I’d say it’s a tentative 3.5-star book, just because I’m not sure.
The best bits of this book are the beginning and the end. It starts off with this really fairy-tale like sequence, full of symbolism. It’s beautiful, and sad, setting you up to journey through war-torn Cyprus in 1974. Lefteri moves you through the capture of Kyrenia through several viewpoints: Maroulla’s childish innocence, Adem Berker’s loss and guilt, Richard’s longing, Commander Serkan Demir’s anger and hatred, Koki’s fear. Sometimes it’s too much–the core of this story feels like Koki’s, the way she’s caught between Greeks and Turks, an outcast to both groups as much as she is deeply tied to both. I loved the way Adem’s, Richard’s and Koki’s stories weaved in and out of each other, I didn’t care so much about Serkan or what his whole confusing interaction with the baby was about, and whilst I loved the thread of the rose and the petals and the innocent fairy tale of Maroulla that both starts and ends the novel, she wasn’t ultimately very important to the story. Whilst she acted as a sort-of impetus for Koki to keep moving, keep trying to survive, I kind of feel that she could have been replaced by anything (or anyone) else.
The middle dragged a little as events played out over the five days. There’s an immersion in memories of the past, both a sense of longing for what was as well as a lingering regret over how things played out over the years. Ostracism of the Other seems to be a key theme which recurs over and over again, both on a personal and a national level, with the microaggressions of the Greek-Cypriots against Adem and Koki seemingly representative the aggressions of the Greek-Cypriots towards the Turkish-Cypriots and the British in their midst on a national level. In retaliation, the Turkish soldiers rape the women and murder the men on a macro scale of revenge, even though these specific women have done nothing to them personally.
The ending (which I can’t say too much of because of spoilers? maybe?) is a beautiful execution of the classic race against time, leaving you braced in your seat with bated breath, hoping that yes, they will meet, yes, things will work out in the end, no, no, please don’t miss each other.
Yes, so I was hooked by the beginning, got slightly bored by the middle and then loved the ending, so overall, I’m not very sure how much I actually liked it.
by Melody Mix
Different type of book to my usual read, found it hard going,
by Moonrakerr
I really liked her personalisation of the events using believable people to tell the history. Good to know more about what happened even if only from a Greek Cypriot perspective. We forget that the war never ended and the island of Cyprus is still completely divided. Only the U.N. keeps the fragile peace.
by carolinecharles
Tragic story of the reality of the people of Cyprus at the hands of the Turks when they invaded in 1974. Carries through to some of the people who escaped.