Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: Songbirds: The powerful, evocative Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Top positive review

Thought-Provoking & Beautifully Written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2022

After reading and loving The Beekeeper of Aleppo, I was looking forward to reading Christy's next novel. This one is about the disappearance of Nisha, who is a domestic worker, originally from Sri Lanka, working in Cyprus. The novel follows Petra, who Nisha works for and Nisha's secret lover Yiannis in their journey to discover what has happened to Nisha.

The novel is loosely based on factual events, which exposes the sad truths of the exploitations of domestic workers and the poaching of birds. Christy's writing is beautiful and the main characters are well drawn and developed. The themes of the book make it a worthwhile read but it is a bit of a slow burner, with the story being rather quickly concluded and it didn't keep me engaged as well as Christy's previous novel.

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LAURA B

Beautifully written for the most part but a little anticlimactic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2022

I feel a little unsure what to think of this. The style of writing is beautifully descriptive and it sheds light on important issues around migrant workers and the way they are treated. These issues were the main focus, however the actual storyline of the search for a missing woman was a bit flat - there was little to no progress until the big reveal at the end, but it was brushed over so quickly that it was a bit anticlimactic with no real answers. Hard to say more without spoilers.

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Laura

Thought-Provoking & Beautifully Written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2022

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LAURA B

Beautifully written for the most part but a little anticlimactic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2022

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One person found this helpful

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ALD12

Moving book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2022

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The author really bought the characters to life, exploring the life of foreign workers and the sacrifices many need to make.

Heartbreaking novel with a strong theme. Not my preferred style/ genre of reading but a book i couldn’t put down. A book that makes you really reflect on life.

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hep

Beautiful Truth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2022

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Highlights Entrapment through the plight of women who are conned into more or less slave labour as maids/servants through corrupt agencies with the promise of earning sufficient money to send back to their families. The story is also told through the plight of songbirds in Cyprus being lured to their deaths. Although sounds gruesome it is told in a language of love and enlightenment -

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Maria Tinawi

Amazing Story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2022

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I loved this book start to finish. I can't wait to see what more this author has. I've read The Beekeeper of Aleppo last year. And, as a Syrian myself who spent her teenage years escaping the war, that book was on point.
This book also resonated with me as the rights of domestic workers is also an issue in the Middle East. I like how this shed light on the problem. Hopefully something can be done to help the workers.

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Bibliophile

Sickening

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2022

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I was looking forward to this book but have regretted buying it. I found the descriptions of a barbaric practice that still goes on absolutely nauseous. If you love birds don't buy it. Wish I could see past this, but can't.

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MS J THOMAS

highly recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2022

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Time and time again you hear about female migrant workers being treated like slaves. I do not know which infuriates me more the agents employing these migrant workers and charging them extortionate agents fees, or the family's employing these workers and treating them like slaves. I wonder how the families would feel if they were treat in the same way.

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Suzie

Beautifully Written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2022

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This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I will certainly be reading her other novels. The story has been inspired by real situations and practices in Cyprus and so it is an education. The writing has a certain quality, and this book is a keeper. The story will remain with me.

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Bea

It’ll open your eyes on subjects you might not have considered

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2022

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This is already an international bestseller. I found it was a slow burner but stick with it because it’s highly informative on at least two subjects. The plight of foreign domestic workers and the criminal underworld of poaching wild birds on their migratory journeys. Sobering.

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caro

descriptions of animal cruelty unpalatable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2022

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I had no idea or warning that the graphic cruelty done to small beautiful birds by one of the characters was so pivotal to the opening sequences/chapter. Indeed I found it so deeply disturbing l could not read on. I don't even think l could give to a charity shop either, so will bin it

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