My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the invitation to read and review. I found myself drawn to this novel because it’s different from everything else I have read. I’m fairly sure that I have never read a book set entirely in Greece; then there’s the fire, and the way that the forest interacts with the rural community living in and around it; many people have relied upon it, in one way or another, to make a living. The Book of Fire is an interesting read, and it’s available to the public now.

Having said this, my first 25% or so of the story finds me with buyer’s remorse (or, reader’s remorse?) The thing is sorrow, grief, and more sorrow. I begin to think maybe I’ll abandon it, because eventually one disengages when there’s no hope of any kind for a brighter outcome. But just as these thoughts begin to crystalize, there is a subtle shift, and then the whole thing becomes more toothsome.

The story is told in alternating timeframes, with the current day being told to us in the first person, while the past is told as if it is a fairytale, and so in it, our protagonist, Irini, is referred to most of the time as “the mother,” her spouse is “the husband,” and their child is “the girl.” It took me a long time to figure out the protagonist’s name, but then there is dialogue, and that helps.

Initially, the protagonist confides to us what she has done. She found the arsonist in the burnt forest; he was on the ground beneath a tree with a rope around his neck. The branch above him is broken, so it’s either a botched lynching or a botched suicide, but not entirely botched, because he’s in bad shape. She begins to try to help him, but then she remembers what he has done, and she walks away from him. When she returns the next day, full of remorse, he’s dead. And so already we have this fact thrown in there along with the man’s own crime. We don’t know whether he did this or it was done to him until nearly the end.

In time more details emerge to muddy the waters of responsibility, so then she has a hundred little ethical questions to examine, and these are joined with a powerful environmental message. Because of this, I think this novel would be terrific for book clubs, and also for the high school classroom. There’s no sex in it, and the vocabulary is accessible. And despite my early fears, the entire book is not a portrait of grief and misery.

Recommended to those that enjoy literary fiction.

The Book of Fire is the story Irini writes after her family suffered from a fire set by a man in their village. In alternating chapters, readers jump back and forth from the present day to the day the fire started in their idyllic Greek Island village. After the fire, Irini writes The Book of Fire to record all the details of how this affected their family.

Irini, her husband, Tasso, and their daughter Chara were enjoying the beautiful, yet hot summer day when a fire races through the forest and into the village. As the villagers flee their homes, many, including Irini, Chara, and their dog Rosalie must jump into the sea to survive while Tasso runs to find his father. After hours of treading water and floating Irini, Chara, and Rosalie are finally rescued. They have no idea what has happened to Tasso, his father, or the rest of their village.

"Since the fire, her love has become delicate: she lives life as if she is holding a butterfly in her palm afraid that it will die."

After the investigation, it is revealed that Mr. Monk started the fire to make way for a new property he was hoping to build, obviously not intending for the fire to get out of control. Irini comes across Mr. Monk’s path after the fire and what happens between them will forever alter her life. Tasso and Chara must deal with their injuries and losses while Irini must deal with hatred for the man who started the fire.

"The dog licked the tears from the girl’s face, and a clear note of laughter escaped from her mouth and flew up to the black sky like a free bird."

The author, Christy Lefteri, also wrote the much-loved book, THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO. While working at a refugee center in Athens in 2017 (which inspired her previous book), she awoke one morning to a fire in a village not too far from her. Hundreds were forced to flee their homes and it made her feel vulnerable, which led her to write this story.

She believes the fires that are happening here, in Australia, in Greece, and in other countries are becoming more common and more intense due to exceptionally dry conditions which makes them beyond control. There is an underlying current in the novel warning about the dangers of climate change and neglecting the land. It doesn’t take away from the story, but it does feel like there is an agenda to the story. Readers will find themes of guilt, trauma, loss, and anxiety in all the characters. The descriptions of the village, the people recovering after the fire, and how bleak the village appears were all easily imagined due to Lefteri’s emotionally evocative storytelling.

As you can imagine, this is a tough story to read. There isn’t a lot of happiness until you get pretty near the end of the novel. But, as Mr. Rogers says, find the helpers in tragedy. Irini has a close friend who helps her through the struggles after the fire. A family takes in Irini, Chara, and Rosalie when they are rescued from the sea and helps them immensely. There is so much sadness on the pages of this novel but it does eventually lead to a hopeful ending full of healing and fresh starts. Like the chestnut tree that survives the fire with one side charred, this family survives and comes out stronger, even though there are lasting scars.

In the heart of present-day Greece, a family's world is set ablaze, both metaphorically and literally in a poignant narrative that unfolds in "The Book of Fire." The book explores the profound impact of tragedy on the lives of Irini, Tasso and their daughter Chara, as they deal with the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that engulfs not just their home but the very essence of their existence.

The narrative takes an intense twist when the family confronts the man responsible for the catastrophic fire, a land speculator whose recklessness sparks a tragedy of colossal proportions. Fueled by anger and grief, Irini is faced with a moral dilemma that will haunt her and make her explore the consequences of her impulsive decision.

I really enjoyed Christy Lefteri's beautiful writing style. She skillfully navigates the character's inner turmoil, allowing readers to empathize with their pain and celebrate their moments of resilience. The book captures the essence of the human spirit in the face of adversity. "The Book of Fire" explores the far-reaching consequences of one man's actions but also paints a vivid portrait of the enduring strength found within the bonds of family and the landscapes that shaped their lives.

I would recommend buying this book. I would like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of "The Book of Fire" in return for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheBookofFirev #christylefteri

I got 30% of the way into this book and had to DNF. I couldn't get invested in the story, and felt myself thinking "get to the point" too often while I was reading it.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. The Book of Fire is a novel about the aftereffects of a wildfire that burned down a forest. It is centered around Irini, her husband, and her daughter. A fire borns down their home and the forest. The story is told in dual timelines, with the present, and the past in the form of journal entries written by Irini, recounting the experience of the day and days after the fire and all the loss the people of the village faced. I absolutely loved Christy Lefteri's writing style, it was evocative and made you really feel and empathize with the characters. The story is sad and poignant. The descriptions were really detailed, and though I have never visited Greece before, I could picture the setting and the fire very clearly in my mind. The story is slow paced, but I feel the pace really conveys the feeling of grief and loss, as well as addressed the complexity of the wildfire really well. Overall, this was a lovely book, and I need to go cry a little now.

Moving, this story is one that will stick with you for a while. The Book of Fire is about a fire that rages through a village and how it changes everyone in its path. I loved how the author approached the problem and showed all sides of the issue. After reading this book you might look at things differently. These are the types of books I appreciate the type that stretch your thinking and force you to look at things a little differently. I think this is a book everyone should pick up and read.

This was beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. I couldn’t put it down and I couldn’t stop crying either.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

Reminding me of the recent fire in Hawaii, this book tells the story of a fire in Greece. At times, I had to remind myself it was current day (but I would get reminders of that with technology and such), but for some reason, maybe just culture differences, it did feel different to me (the vet and others coming to their home, etc).

This is a story about a family who escapes during a fire. The mother and daughter end up in the ocean and they are missing the father and grandfather. The mother finds the man who caused the fire and has trouble reconciling her thoughts about him as a person and what he did.

The first lines of the book:
“This morning, I met the man who started the fire.
He did something terrible, but then, so did I.
I left him.
I left him, and now he may be dead.”

The story rotates between a current day timeline of the family moving on and “the story of the fire” in which they are described as the mother, the wife, etc.

“Maybe I can write it down. Maybe, that way, I can allow myself to remember without burning. Remember it as if it is a story from long, long ago. A fairy tale with a happy ending, like one of those in the beautifully illustrated books on the shelf in Maria’s Kafeneon. I will call it The Book of Fire.”

The author’s note is worth reading, as always. Lefteri mentions seeing a fire when she was in the area and thinking about how fires have gotten worse due to environmental changes. She contemplates who is responsible for them.

“How many wildfires are there every summer? How many start on their own, and how many are started by morons like Michael? Why was it different this time?” Ch

The writing is beautiful. I had about 20 quotes I loved.

“There is something about stories that allows us to process the present. We listen to tales of tribulations overcome so that we might imagine we can survive ours.”

“The fire has burnt our souls, our hearts. It has turned to ashes the people we once were.”

“Isn’t it strange how memories come back to us again and again? Like fairy tales we hear a million times until something is resolved and our heart is safe.”

“The sensitive ones always have secrets in their hearts, and if they are talented, they will find the means to reveal those secrets. Because they are secrets that must be told.”

Irini, Tasso, and their daughter, Chara, are enjoying a beautiful day in their backyard, enjoying the weather, the food, and each other’s company. In the blink of an eye, that is destroyed by a roaring fire that rips through the forest in which they live. After catastrophic death and destruction, Irini is walking through what is left of the forest when she stumbles upon the man who started the fire, slowly dying on the forest floor. She knows that if she doesn’t seek help, he will not survive, but when considering everything she has lost as a result of his actions, she makes the decision to do nothing. Nothing at all. Except walk away. As Irini struggles with the aftermath of this decision, as well as what appears to be the insurmountable task of obtaining some sort of normalcy after the fire, Lefteri takes the opportunity to remind the reader that while only one man set the fire, our collective actions allowed it to burn.

I highly recommend this book. Beautiful writing, strong focus on family and home, as well as an underlying warning that we would all do well to heed.

Thanks to Christy Lefteri, Ballantine and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

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.