Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

141 reviews

luckykosmos's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a hard read, but when you get to it, it's deeply rewarding. It's about war and how it tears apart lives and pushes people to their limits, but it's about love and hope and finding beauty in the darkest corners. It's about how fear is ever present and how it keeps you alive, but how you can never submit to it. 

There's a tension from this book of knowing half of what's ahead, and not knowing if that's what's happening there. When it does, it isn't predictable; when it doesn't, the tension remains, because you're not out of the trenches yet. The author walks you through the horrors of living through war, how it doesn't really end, and you can't set it aside, but the love of the moment can be stronger. Katouh has just announced her second book, and I know I'll pick it up right away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Mass/school shootings, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Rape

ellent's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and War

theologize's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Child death, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War

gvstyris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Survivor's skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.

This book truly encapsulates the power of literature as a tool for empathy. It's clear that Katouh has poured years of love and care into every page, and it was a privilege to read Salama's story. She felt very real, which is a testament to Katouh's writing. 

I'm struggling a bit to give this book a rating because, despite my minor gripes with it, it is undeniably important. The Syrian Revolution is ongoing, and the themes are even more hauntingly relevant amidst the horrific genocide in Gaza and war in Ukraine. The representation of what Katouh refers to as a 'Halal romance' (aka a love story between her two main Muslim characters) is also so meaningful, and I was similarly struck by the portrayal of PTSD and survivor's guilt.

I had a few issues with the length, repetitive structure and cliche writing which have lowered this to 4 stars for me. I also -- totally my bad -- didn't realise this was YA before beginning, which I think hindered it somewhat. Nothing serious, though, and I'm still very glad to have read it. 

Also, the plot-twist shook me to my core...my heart fully broke for Salama there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Murder, Child death, War, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Genocide and Rape

witcheep's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I knew this book was going to become one of my new favourites even before finishing it, and that feeling only grew with every page I turned. Katouh's writing is uniquely beautiful and the story she tells captures the whole spectre of human emotion in a dire situation so breathtakingly well that my heart breaks for it. I can't possibly praise this book enough, everyone needs to read it.

I was especially intiqued by the character of Khawf, a personification of fear and survival instinct, and his existence being rationalized by the main character Salma's medical knowledge. Khawf' and Salama's evolving relationship is a creative and capturing way to picture the process of grief as well as handling the mental strain in a chaotic and unsafe situation.

Never before have I annotatated a book more just for me. This book is full of thoughts that struck a powerful message and left me reflecting them for a long while – and I'm still not done with it. I might return to add some of those thoughts and my favourite quotes to this review when - or if - I manage to pick only a few favourites.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Torture, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual assault

rosinawrites7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Clear motivations of characters made the plot satisfying. Descriptive memories really filled out the main characters. For my writing I wanna remember:

link between Layla’s painting and the sea scene at the end was cool. And can I use Khawl’s character for My Friend Anxiety?

 

Twist with Layla was great and never saw it coming

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Body horror, War, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Medical content, Death, Police brutality, Mental illness, Gore, Genocide, Death of parent, Confinement, Child death, and Blood

amberinpieces's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Genocide, Blood, Child death, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Bullying, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Minor: Torture, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

stindex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Rape, Torture, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Police brutality, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Death, Emotional abuse, War, Violence, and Trafficking

chelsea0694's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, War, Body horror, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Child death, Mass/school shootings, and Death

fazington's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Sexism, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Violence, and War