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.

A small Greek Village has a forest fire destroying the lives of animals and the community. A music teacher, her artist husband and their daughter are not left unscathed physically and mentally. A novel about what it means to be well. An examination of how the careless actions of others reverberate. Consequences of actions and a reflection on global warming round it out Big themes told through the stories of other fires as well as this one. this will stay with you.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

This book was so beautifully written that I read it all in one sitting.
Irini, who teaches music, her husband Tasso, a gifted artist who paints the forest near their home, and their daughter live near the sea in Greece. One day their lives are forever changed when a forest fire races through the dried timber, forcing everyone from their homes and into the sea. Many people lost their homes as well as their lives. Irini and her family survived, but her daughter's back was horribly burned, as were her husband's hands. Plus Tasso blames himself for not finding his father in time, and sinks into a horrible depression. Their home was demolished, but they return to live in Tasso's father's house, along the charred remains of the forest.
The surviving villagers are furious when they discover that a greedy developer was responsible for the fire, which quickly got out of hand. One day when walking through the remains of the forest, Irini comes upon him, wounded, and sitting at the base of the tree. The actions that she takes that day will forever haunt her.
This author, who also wrote The Beekeeper of Aleppo, captures human culpability, grief, loss, resilience, and recovery in beautiful prose.

THE BOOK OF FIRE
Christy Lefteri

There are only two points in time for her. Before the fire and after. Everything and everyone is split in two. Grief is the distance between the two parts.

Irini lives in an almost magical forest in Greece. She lives a wonderful almost magical life with her husband Tasso, an artist, and her daughter, Chara which means Joy. She lives an almost magical life and her days are often filled with that that elicits peace and joy.

One day a destructive and deadly fire spreads through the forest. Claiming everything and everyone in its path. Displacing people, causing irreversible destruction, and changing the lives of the people of the forest forever.

Months after, the cause of the fire is known. It was caused by a local farmer, simply trying to clear a small patch of land. One day on a walk Irini stumbles upon the man who started a fire and she makes a decision that will confuse her by clarifying how she feels, who she is, and most importantly who she is not.

I love the themes in the book and the questions it elicits. This will make a fantastic book to discuss, and I could see it being a pick for a celebrity book club somewhere. There is a lot to discuss, and the discussion could get as heated as the fire in the book. You may feel one way about Irini’s decision, and I feel mine.

This is my first experience with Lefteri, and I found her writing to be absorbing and romantic. Fire plays a big role in the book but is not the point of conflict. I loved the role it played and the role it didn’t.

Upon reading THE BOOK OF FIRE I am inspired to read Lefteri’s backlist. I am a big fan. I gave THE BOOK OF FIRE four stars and can’t wait to discuss it with you in the comments.

Let’s chat!

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Audio, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ballantine Books for the advanced copies. It was a pleasure!

THE BOOK OF FIRE…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Book of Fire was such an impactful story. Set in Greece, the story follows the life of a family who has been traumatized by a major fire that wiped out the nearby forest and most of their village.

As I read this, I couldn’t help but think of the recent fire in Maui this year and how it devastated the area. As in the story, the residents of Maui escaped to the water and left in boats to save their lives.

Irini, the wife and mother of the family begins to write a book about the fire and their family’s struggle to heal. Through her words, readers learn of all the events that took place both before and after the fire.

The story is thoughtful and beautifully written. The authors note at the end explains why the story was written. I will be watching for more from author Christy Lefteri in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to give my honest review and recommend this to readers.

A fire has traumatized a village and a family; both trying to rebuild after the fire destroyed their peaceful existence. Told in the present and in the past in the form of a book, this novel deals with the grief of loss and trauma as well as the hopeful rebirth found in nature and love.  Irini’s husband Tasso's love of his village's forest leads to his life's work - he is a famous landscape artist who paints the trees and woods around him; his hands are burned during the fire.  A man who wants to commercially build on the land is the source of the fire and Irini finds him dying on one of her healing walks, she continues to walk and when she returns, he is dead.  Irina deals with her ethical dilemma, the mourning of her life before and her and her neighbors' hatred of the man who caused it all.
I found this book a bit slow but really good. There was a lot of symbolism but it didn't hit you in the head.  I thought the message was important and the story quite beautiful.  I enjoyed the inventiveness of how the author told the story of the fire; the way that Irina wrote it as a story/book and made herself a character was interesting - she almost took herself out of the experience in order to heal.  I do recommend this one, it is definitely a worthwhile read.  

4.25 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC to review

3.5 stars rounded up (because rounding down would be an inaccurate reflection). Gorgeous prose, but depressing topic. This is both an intimate story of a family trying to deal with tragedy and grief, and a sweeping saga about the destruction of land and people's connection to their land.

"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."

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

A beautiful, beautiful novel. A Greek woman, raised in London, lives in a forest on the edge of the coast of Greece. A horrendous fire rips through her community, leaving the forest - as well as many lives - devastated. The woman witnesses the death of someone thought to be responsible for the fire, and she struggles to come to terms with what she saw. She struggles with injuries suffered by her husband and daughter as well.

Told from two points in time, the novel chronicles both the timeline of the fire and of the woman's discovery of a dying man and her response to this death. Both timelines come together beautifully at the end. The pacing of the book was perfect, and I couldn't wait to pick up the storyline each day as I read it. Although the book hints at human involvement in devastating fires around the world, the author only hints at this concept, following research she did in preparing to write this book.

This was unlike any other novel I've read. I loved it.

This book is like nothing I have read before - definitely one of my favorite recent novels. The book is written in a very interesting way. Parts of the book are narrated in first person by Irini, a music teacher who lives with her husband, Tasso, a painter and their daughter, Chara. Irini gives her account of the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that destroyed their home, killed many people, including her father in law, and left Tasso and Chara scarred both physically and emotionally. Irini herself is
also experiencing a moral dilemma around her lack of action involving the death of the man who set the fire. The alternate parts of the book consist of Irini writing "The Book of Fire" in which she tells of the actual events of the tragedy in third person, referring to herself as “the mother". Side note - I couldn’t help comparing the details of this event to the recent tragedy in Maui.
There are so many things that I loved about this book although it's certainly not a happy, feel good story. The author has such a beautiful way to tell the story - her writing is very good and she definitely has a style that I enjoy. The story unfolded very slowly but was so intriguing, making me want to keep reading. I really liked the subtle nuances included in Irini's story, such as referring to herself in third person when she told the actual story of the fire, as if shielding herself from the trauma that she experienced while being strong for her family. Also, Irini’s moral dilemma was so emotional and the author is so talented at making the reader feel every emotion. This book would make excellent book club discussion.
#NetGalley #RandomHousePublishing-BallantineBooks

I really enjoyed this book! The imagery is beautifully written and I feel like I was there (in the forest, in the sea, in the city, in the hospital, in the kind man's house...etc) with the main characters every step of the way, which doesn't always happen in the novels that I read. I appreciate the author's weaving in the primal, absolute beauty of Nature, and how humankind has not respected the importance of Nature for many years.

The characters were lovingly drawn and I felt connected to each of them, even "Mr. Monk," who started the fire. I also liked the mystery of why the fire was started and what really happened to Mr. Monk, and why.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for giving me an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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.

"The Book of Fire" by Christy Lefteri dives into the complex dynamics of a family dealing with trauma as they struggle to establish a sense of normalcy in the aftermath. Admittedly, the premise grabbed my interest right away, and I found the overall narrative compelling. However, there were a few aspects that kept me from really embracing this book.

In "The Book of Fire," we follow Irini, a woman who must cope with the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that decimated her mountain town in Greece. The trauma of the fire is terrifying on its own, but things become even more problematic when Irini crosses paths with the man responsible for starting the fire. As a result, she must grapple with her role in helping her family heal and confront the murky ethics of human nature.

There was a lot to enjoy about this book; however, the pacing felt more like a meditation on the aftermath of trauma than the gripping narrative I expected. And in my opinion, Christy Lefteri's fondness for lengthy descriptions sometimes went on too long and overshadowed the plot as a result.

"The Book of Fire" is a compelling exploration of family, trauma, and moral dilemmas. Despite its occasional slow pacing and a penchant for excessive description, it's a thought-provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

#TheBookofFire
#NetGalley

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published January 2, 2024.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, who wrote the highly popular and highly rated the Bees of Aleppo.

We follow a family in Greece as fire breaks out. The father Tasso leaves his family to look for his father but then lives with guilt. The wife Irina and daughter escape to the ocean but then they can’t find Tasso in the hospital.

There’s a plot twist when Itina discovers a man dying in the woods, the man who started the fire. It’s a bit of o mystery what happened and she’s called into the police station to explain her involvement.

There’s also a book with this book, The Book of Fire, that describes the incidents from Irina’s perspective.

All of this is a bit clunky but the story was still compelling. Thebes include trees, art, music, kindness of strangers and a pet jackal. Random, I know.

The writing is beautiful and descriptive. Her portrayal of the trees before the fire, the land after the fire, running to the ocean to escape the flames was so realistic and compelling.

The author”s note at the end is important. It talks about her inspiration to write about wildfires and the effect climate change had on our world.

Trigger warning if you have ever lived through a fire or have significant burns.

This book covers the aftermath of a horrendous fire that destroys an entire Greek village. I was curious about this book, but I was quickly discouraged by the pace and the way it was written. This book just wasn't for me. Thank you, NetGalley.

This atmospheric story about resilience was a lovely way to transition from warm weather to colder, darker days. A family deals with the ramifications, socially, psychologically, financially, and legally of a forest fire that destroyed their home, injured their daughter and husband, and killed many in their small village. I enjoyed the back and forth between the actual event and six months past (which is current times). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A beautifully written heart wrenching novel of a family who loses everything when a fire set by a developer destroys their small perfect corner of Greece. Irini tells the story- both in the present and in "the book of fire" which more or less a novella within the novel that details the horror of the day, the horror of fleeing with her small daughter Chana to the sea as her husband Tasso headed off to find his father. In the present, Irini, Chana, Tasso, and the awesome dog Rosalie are living in the aftermath when Irini, out for a walk with Rosalie, finds Mr. Monk, the man who set the fire, in the woods with a white rope around his neck. There's a mystery here, a twisty one but this is best when it focuses on the family. Irini's memories of life with her father, of her early days with Tasso, as well as the family's struggles will make you ache. What is truly hard though are the pages from the book of fire while Irini, Rosalie and Chana are in the sea. There's a great deal of kindness here. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. An excellent read.

The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri is such a moving and powerful book.
I thought this was a well written story with a very interesting storyline.
I’ve enjoyed reading Lefteri’s previous titles and this was no different.
The emotions this story had me feeling was insane. But in a good way.
Thought-provoking, emotional, sad, devastating, hopeful….. all rolled into one.
The writing style was captivating and I really enjoyed our characters journey.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House & Ballantine Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

US pub date: 1/2/24
Genre: contemporary fiction
Quick summary: A Greek town is upended by a wildfire set by a land speculator. This is the story of how the fire haunts Irini, her husband Tasso, and their daughter Chara as they work to rebuild.

I finally read Lefteri's THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO earlier this year, so I was excited to add another book by her! Like BEEKEEPER, this is an emotional read exploring trauma and healing. Each character's experiences and reactions were distinct, and I liked that we got both to see both the immediate fire and its aftermath. Irini's feelings of guilt and regret due to her interactions with the firestarter were a major plot point. Tasso's loss of his hands and painting ability felt quite dark at points but was balanced by the hope for the future seen in Chara's character. The ending to the book felt quite fitting.

I ended up reading this one in one day in the airport/on a plane, and I think the quick read helped me stay immersed in the world of the characters. This is a quiet, contemplative book, and I think readers looking for a thoughtful read to start 2024 will enjoy it!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The aspects of this book will touch all the emotions. A fire can damage material things, but leave a far greater psychological scar on the people affected. The setting is in an ancient village in Greece. When a fire ravished the land, homes and forests were destroyed and the loss of lives challenged their spirit. Valuables that can never be replaced with the beauty of Greece's landscape changed forever.

The perspective is told in duel timelines with Irini's voice as the lead. Her and her husband Tasso are talented people with her gift as a music teacher and his love for art. After the fire, so much has been lost. Their daughter Chara and Tasso left scarred with his hands unable to paint now. Depression sinks in with so much at stake. We watch the human spirit rekindle with pain and hardship taking a toll on so many as they try to heal.
Irini finds the man, who started the fire as a controlled burn, which swept out of control. He is deceased and she weighs her grief with the guilt to help him and live with her choice. His greed to destroy the land as a real estate developer burns deeper in the people of the village.
You will not find a mystery or unexpected circumstance, but a literary fiction written in the purest form of testing the callousness of others, while seeping into your heart of compassion. I felt so much love for the people and their struggles. You will weep for these characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was powerful in the subject matter and how people with the aftermath of a natural disaster that ends in tragedy. I thought it was beautifully written and the characters were interesting and well fleshed out. The way the author chose to tell the story was unique and compelling. If you've lived through wildfires, this might not be the book for you as it is very realistic in descriptions. Great story and highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely