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The Pianist from Syria
The Pianist from Syria: A Memoir | Aeham Ahmad
4 posts | 4 read | 14 to read
An astonishing but true account of a pianists escape from war-torn Syria to Germany offers a deeply personal perspective on the most devastating refugee crisis of this century. Aeham Ahmad was born a second-generation refugeethe son of a blind violinist and carpenter who recognized Aeham's talent and taught him how to play piano and love music from an early age. When his grandparents and father were forced to flee Israel and seek refuge from the IsraeliPalestinian conflict ravaging their home, Aehams family built a life in Yarmouk, an unofficial camp to more than 160,000 Palestinian refugees in Damascus. They raised a new generation in Syria while waiting for the conflict to be resolved so they could return to their homeland. Instead, another fight overtook their asylum. Their only haven was in music and in each other. Forced to leave his family behind, Aeham sought out a safe place for them to call home and build a better life, taking solace in the indestructible bond between fathers and sons to keep moving forward. Heart-wrenching yet ultimately full of hope, and told in a raw and poignant voice, The Pianist from Syria is a gripping portrait of one mans search for a peaceful life for his family and of a country being torn apart as the world watches in horror.
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review
Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

The story is 5 stars, the execution is 3.5. There were abrupt shifts in the timelines and the threads of peoples‘ existence were just dropped but music was there through it all. I know very little about Syria so appreciated this.

review
Cinfhen
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Pickpick

“This is the story of a man in a green shirt, playing a piano amongst the rubble. The photo can never tell you about what came before and what came after.”
This.Book. 💔
I don‘t have enough adequate words. Simply inspiring.
“I am a pianist, not a political activist. My revolution is music.” 👇🏽#HooplaAudio

Megabooks You are knocking through these challenges girl! I thought it was good that I had six booked prompts done, but you are slaying these!! 4y
Cinfhen I‘m always a super star in January @Megabooks by March I‘m behind the pack 😜 4y
See All 14 Comments
Hooked_on_books This sounds like echoes of the Cellist of Sarajevo, which I thought was wonderful. 4y
Cinfhen Yes!!!!!! @Hooked_on_books I meant to include that reference in my review and forgot. Both books are wonderful and heartfelt. What gets to me, is the events in this book are less than 10 years ago😢 (edited) 4y
Hooked_on_books It‘s extraordinary and awful the events of our lifetimes. What inflicted horror we humans seem to like to prove over and over on one another. 😔 4y
Librarybelle I will definitely have to read this soon! 4y
TrishB I‘m assuming this is the same book? Great review ♥️ 4y
Cinfhen Oh wow!! Yesssssss @TrishB I guess UK version has a different title 4y
TrishB Not sure why- I‘m pretty sure people would recognise Syria more than Yarmouk. Kindle decent price 👍🏻 4y
Cinfhen I have a hunch the author, Aeham Ahmad probably wanted Yarmouk in the title as he doesn‘t really like giving the country of Syria any kind of attention / recognition @TrishB 4y
Kalalalatja I‘ll have to try and find the audio, your review has convinced me! 4y
Cinfhen I hope you find the audio @Kalalalatja it‘s really good and it knocks out a bunch of challenge prompts 😊😆 4y
TrishB Ah that makes sense. 4y
101 likes5 stack adds14 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
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Technology continues to blow me away ~ as I‘m listening to Aeham Ahmad recount his harrowing plight living in the Yarmouk Refugee Camp, I‘m able to view via YouTube his performances. For 4 years he plays piano in defiance. This book is beautiful and heartbreaking. I‘m so happy I found this memoir because of Litsy reading challenges. If you‘re interested go on YouTube. I won‘t watch ahead as I prefer to hear the story from Aeham. 👇🏼

Librarybelle I‘m glad you‘re really connecting with this! It sounds so beautiful and haunting. 4y
Texreader Is t that the beauty of Litsy? To make new friends and discover books we wouldn‘t have otherwise? 4y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa That sounds beautiful and moving! 4y
Kalalalatja Sounds like a beautiful book and performance 💕 4y
Cinfhen It‘s riveting, inspiring, devastating and heart wrenching @Kalalalatja @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Texreader @Librarybelle 4y
91 likes3 stack adds6 comments
blurb
Cinfhen
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Crazeedi Sounds like a good one 4y
BarbaraBB Great use of the prompts, especially something broken on the cover 💔 4y
Librarybelle I have to add this to my to read list 4y
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Cinfhen This memoir/audio is fantastic. I‘m glued. I‘m learning so much. Highly HIGHLY recommended @Crazeedi @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle (edited) 4y
Crazeedi @Cinfhen it sound excellent. I'll look for it, the audio is good?? 4y
Cinfhen Audio is AMAZING @Crazeedi I‘m listening from my library system on #Hoopla 4y
74 likes3 stack adds6 comments