3.5/5

I'm a big Christy Lefteri fan. I loved The Beekeeper of Aleppo and really liked Songbirds. So I was thrilled to get approved for a gifted eBook of her latest, The Book of Fire.

Set on a small island in Greece, this novel tells the story of a family suffering after an atrocious fire. A greedy developer purposely started the fire to clear some land, yet due to climate change it raged out of control, killing almost 20 in the community and harming countless others. Irini, a music teacher, is trying to bring her burned husband Tasso back from the brink, while also staying positive for her daughter Chara. While out for a walk, Irini encounters the developer who started the fire barely alive, leaning next to a tree. She runs away, but eventually comes back and he is dead. Did he commit suicide or did someone kill him? As the mystery plays out, Irini recounts the story of the flood and how she, her family, and the town are trying to heal.

The themes of the book and the prose were engaging, but for some reason the narrative didn't click for me. Irini is the main focus and we don't go much outside her immediate world (and thoughts). What does her husband feel? How is he suffering and what is the catalyst that will encourage him to heal? What does her daughter feel? Irini recounts the fire, which is compelling, but the rest is mostly her replaying over and over seeing the developer and him saying "the people," before he died.

I was moved by moments of this novel but the overall story didn't wow my like Lefteri's other books have. Still, she's a wonderful writer and her books are always thought-provoking, so I'm looking forward to her next one.

I finished this and 4 days later and had already forgotten what it was about. I had to read the description to refresh my memory to write a review. It just dragged on with too many pages of no dialogue, a huge pet peeve of mine. I originally decided to read this book because it takes place in Greece and I am not sure I have ever read a book set in Greece before. The concept of a village destroyed by a fire and its aftermath was timely and interesting. Was it climate change or greed or both? Unfortunately the execution just didn’t do it for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>The Book of Fire</i> in exchange for an unbiased review.

Set in Greece this moving novel recounts the aftereffects of a fast-moving and deadly wildfire. Not all characters have specific names; rather they are called by that quality that signifies their true nature - "The Mother", "The Kind Man." For this reader, the description of running into the sea to escape the flames was eye-opening and made me think of the terror of the Hawaii fire victims.

This particular fire had been started by a greedy, selfish man who wanted more land. Many landowners had started similar fires to clear the forest but severe drought, poor forest maintenance and inadequate emergency response made this fire a deadly inferno. For the mother, her artist-husband, and their daughter the fire altered every aspect of their lives. There was life before the fire and now this semblance of existence after the fire.

The mother comes across the nearly dead man responsible for the fire while chasing her dog in the burned-out forest. Suicide? Murder? She hesitates and does not immediately call for help. Her hesitation is a heavy burden.

Lefteri exposes all of the elements of a precarious environment and humans' role in weakening that environment. She does not, however, get didactic. Rather there is a sadness about our carelessness and selfishness that might encourage individuals and governments to alter our behaviors. The perils of global warming are personalized in this touching novel.

The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is a quiet book about a maddening fire that took out villages in Greece.
Told by the mother whose daughter's back has been severely burnt and whose husband's hands can no longer paint. It's about a missing grandfather and the toll the village takes after the fire.
It takes on global warming and the effects of it.

Links coming soon.

As someone who lives in California with its wild fires, I understand the horrors and devastation .affecting the people physically and mentally.. a beautifully written tragedy.. Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Pro:
* Rich emotional detail
* Lefteri has an amazing ability to slows time and recreates an event brilliantly
* Nuance of the “mystery”
Con:
* book within a book and back & forth timeline - I know the story within a story within a story is very trendy right now, but I very much prefer a straightforward narrative that lets us stay in the emotional attachment without all the intellectual gymnastics.
* Borders on the brink of too much philosophical commentary/moral contemplation. In places it becomes repetitive.
* The last chapter isn’t necessary.

Thank you to Christy Lefteri, Ballentine books, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that this book was fantastic. It had so many dreamlike qualities that were so vivid and very realistic. I really enjoyed it, more than I thought I would, in fact. It was. difficult to read at times, yet very rewarding,

Christy Lefteri can do no wrong. This is her best book yet and I hope that it finds a wide readership. The setting was stunning and the mystery gripping.

I was invited by the publisher to review an eARC of this novel. The premise intrigued me, and the dual timelines worked really well for me. It was beautifully written and is thought-provoking. However, there were parts of this book that dragged for me. The author's note at the end drew me in and gave me an overall positive review of this novel.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.

This cover is beautiful and I loved the idea of this book. The synopsis made me want to pick it up. However, the writing style just wasn't for me as a reader. I thought the whole storyline dragged for me as a whole. I really wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me.

The writing is so poetic and really evokes environmentally-conscious thought from readers. Fires are so devastating to cultures all around the world and it brings about the impact of global warming and how it can greatly affect our world. Although I found Irini's internal conflict to be a bit repetitious at times as well as her husband's complete detachment to be a bit annoying, it does reflect the effect trauma can have on the human disposition I suppose. Overall, this interests me to read more of the author's writing style in hopes another one of the plots is a bit stronger for my reading taste.

The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri

I had not read anything by Christy Lefteri before The Book of Fire, though The Beekeeper of Aleppo has been on my TBR list for a while. Now that I’ve finished The Book of Fire, I can see myself becoming a completist. This story has so many levels. First, the universal tragedy unfolding due to climate change, drought, and ensuing wildfires. Second, tragic history of people displaced from their homes because of governmental decisions, in this case Turks and Greeks sent to trade places with each other geographically. Finally, it is an intimate personal story of families in a small mountain village next to the sea and what they endure when their homes become popular escapes for city people who want to develop the land. Irini, the protagonist, her husband Tasso and their daughter Chara, all gentle, artistic souls, bear the consequences of carelessness of one such developer, an unforgiving forest fire. Not only the consequences of their physical lives, but their deep moral commitments also must be faced. It is a compelling read I found impossible to put down.
Lefteri’s prose is lyrical, and heartbreaking and her characters are unforgettable. This is not an easy happily ever after book, but literature that will serve as a caution, if not a record, of the hardest decisions of our time.

Thanks to the publisher, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this advanced review copy.

The Book of Fire is an absorbing and poignant book about a fire in Greece that turned into a raging wildfire destroying an entire forest and the lives of the surviving villagers who lived there. "The fire burnt our souls, our hearts. It has turned to ashes the people we once were."

The story of the fire, the days before, and the days after, is told by Irini, a musician, married to artist Tasso. They have a ten-year-old daughter, Chara. Their life is a very happy one until the day that changed everything forever. Through Irini, we get an intimate view of the horror of the day of the fire, and the many repercussions left in its wake.

Lefteri's writing left me breathless. Her powerful descriptions place the reader into the story so expertly that I felt the heat of the fire and the anguish of those trying to escape it; the despair of the victims and their rage when they learned the fire had been purposely set by a developer for personal gain. She captures the struggle to try to comprehend and deal with what has happened and the hardships of having to rebuild everything beautifully. I found it impossible not to relate to the inner turmoil and moral issues faced by the survivors.

This is not a book to be read quickly. There is much food for thought provided. Beautifully written and a powerful read. I'm already looking forward to the author's next book!

My thanks to Ballantine Books for providing me with a DRC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Book Review: The Book of Fire
by Christy Lefteri



Christy Lefteri, the author of The Beekeeper From Aleppo, brings us another heart wrenchingly beautiful story. Irini, a musician and teacher, lives with her husband, an artist, Tasso and their young daughter Chara. They are a tight knit family living contentedly in their home in the primeval forests of Greece. The forest is their home, shelter and insipiration. Until the calamitous day a fire ravages the forest, their community and everything in its path. A land speculator makes a decision, a father makes a decision, a daughter makes a decision, a wife makes a decision, a mother makes a decision, a village makes a decision. In a split second, the cascade of events that follow, will forever change in a flash.

Ultimately, this is a novel about the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy, the ties that bind, and how things can change in the blink of an eye. The Lefteri delivers a story that will break your heart, and piece it back together again. The Book of Fire a timely tale, one not too unfamiliar to us given the numerous accounts of recent wildfires. In her author’s note, Lefteri states she was inspired by actual events and interviews with survivors of the wildfires that swept through Europe. Readers will not be able to put this book down.

My sincerest thanks to the author @LefteriChristy @RandomHouse and @NetGalley for the privilege of reading this gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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What a way to start off the new year! I absolutely loved this beautifully written book! The descriptive scenes and wholesome characters pull you right in. The story centers around a tragic forest fire in Greece but is filled with hope, love, kindness, and self-reflection. It’s definitely a “feel good” book, but not at all the sappy kind. I highly recommend it. I have a copy of her critically acclaimed “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” unread in my bookcase – based on how much I enjoyed this one, it will now be moving towards the top of my to read list so that review will be coming out this year as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

Interesting premise that highlights the danger of Climate Change in a small village in Greece. After the ravages of fire, the town must rebuild and mourn those its lost. The Book of Fire is told from duel times lines from Irini's perspective. She has experienced incredible loss, and her husbands injuries are stressing their family especially their young daughter. On a day she escapes the confines of home, she comes across the arsonist dead in the woods. Was it suicide or murder?

Part mystery as the readers learns about the motivations of the fire and exploratory on the human casualty of environmental catastrophes, this book ultimately moved bit slow for me. It got wrapped in its setting rather than the story. This book was missing something to enjoy throughly.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for complimentary copy.

A powerful and moving tale of disaster and the aftermath. The scars both physical and mental. And the community that comes together.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am finding it very difficult for me to express my varied feelings about The Book of Fire. The book tells a haunting story about a devastating fire and it’s lasting effects on the village, particularly with Irina, her husband Tasso, and their daughter, Chara.
The descriptive writing during passages was so exceedingly beautiful and truly made me want to visit this magical village…before the fire. The passages telling the story of Irina, Chara, their dog, and the old woman in the sea escaping the fire were so very very moving. At other times the descriptions almost seemed to overtake the storyline.
Although I was not drawn to any particular character I became fascinated with the dynamics between Irina, Tasso, and Chara. The way that Irina and ultimately Tasso dealt with Irina’s guilt was very touching.
Narrated by Irina, in a dual timeline fashion, the reader is immersed in the rush to escape, finding paths blocked, the interference of police, the frustration and exhaustion of trying to stay alive in the sea while hoping to be rescued, dealing with horrific injuries caused by the fire, anger against Mr. Monk who caused the fire, guilt over finding his body, and then comes the gradual healing of hearts and souls.
Living in southern CA where fires have also been devastating, the message about global warming and its effects came through loud and clear.
This is a read that will long be lingering in my thoughts.
Many thanks to Christy Lefteri, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published gem.

Another beautifully written book by Christy Lefteri. I have to say that it took me a few chapters to get into the book because of the writing style, I was a bit confused at first but then realized it was a story within a story. And once I had it figured out, I became totally immersed in the book. It is a tragic story about the aftermath of a devastating wildfire and how it impacts the lives of the people affected by it. Within the beauty of this book, there is also sadness and heartbreak but also a bit of hope at the end. This story and its characters will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the review copy.