Book review - Songbirds - Christy Lefteri
‘Songbirds’ by Christy Lefteri is about a migrant worker called Nisha who left Sri Lanka for Cyprus nine years previously so she could support her daughter and mother back home. She works as a servant for Petra, six days a week, 6pm to 7pm, combining domestic duties with looking after her daughter Aliki, who is nine. She is close to Yiannis, a poacher who rents the floor above them. And one day, as the opening line tells us, she just vanishes.
Petra and Yiannis
The story is told via alternate chapters by Petra and Yiannis, with the occasional short insert of a section whose significance becomes clear later, but which I felt at the time was a bit jarring. The imagery of the songbirds works well, but it felt a bit clunky at times. I found the first half quite slow but the sense of mystery does build and the prose is often lyrical and the writing clear. There are parts that are difficult to read, especially in relation to animals. And you can’t help but be moved by the lengths that the migrant workers like Nisha will go to to support their family.
I know why the book ended why it did, but I found it unsatisfying in terms of the storytelling. I realise others will disagree, but parts of it just didn’t work for me. A book can be both a mystery and tackle major issues, but I felt here it was a bit lopsided. The first half was too slow but when it did get going it was a thought provoking book about real life issues. I haven't read Lifteri’s other book, ‘the beekeeper of Aleppo,’ but I’ll give it a go at a later date.
Migration
‘Songbirds’ is based on a true story and as Christy Lefteri says herself, ‘it is a story about migration and crossing borders: it is about searching for freedom, for a better life, only to find oneself trapped. It is a story about the way in which systematic racism exists often unquestioned, relying upon prejudice and nationalistic ideas to survive. It is a story about learning to see each and very human being in the same way we see ourselves.’
It has modern issues so definately a popular book club book.
Book review - Songbirds by Christy Lefteri
336 pages, Hardcover
August 3, 2021 by Ballantine Books