Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

136 reviews

werdnamich's review against another edition

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dark hopeful informative 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? No

4.0


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cleverruhs's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5


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proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Salama is 18 and always busy at the hospital. Although she hasn't finished her education, the revolution has forced her to do work she's not ready for. She's promised her brother Hamza to take care of his wife Layla, who's also Salama's best friend. Layla and her unborn child is all she has left, but despite the life-threatening situation they’re in, Salama finds it hard to leave those who need her at the hospital. And even if she decides to flee, survival is not guaranteed. 

This is a sad and tragic story, but beautifully told. The fact that it shows Syria's own history is almost unfathomable, but also very real when faced with pictures of what's happening in G*za every day. My heart breaks, gets mended - and breaks again. 

"We don't have to stop living because we might die. Anyone might die at any given moment, anywhere in the world. We're not an exception. We just see death more regularly than they do."

Alongside all awfulness a love story grows. Maybe because it's a YA novel, but the contrast between love and war makes everything even more clear, and I needed those breathing holes. The author also has a skilled way of showing how PDTS can express itself, and it's a vital part of the story. 

I went through all kinds of emotions while reading, and I needed to take a break and read something else in between. Although it's partly hard to read I wish that many do. It will stay in my mind for a long time. 

"Everyone is dying. Nothing I do works. My brain hurts. I haven't slept well in over a year. I feel like I'm screaming into an abyss that just swallows everything up. Soon enough it will swallow me too."

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lucystolethesky's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.0


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vajaakirjahylly's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

No words. This was amazing. Sad and not easy to read, but at the same time it was so hopeful and romantic. I wanted to cry too many times. This book will leave a mark on me forever.

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lindsayst's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0


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gabriellegoldenhour's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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

5.0


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silversparkles50's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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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mamaofperfectpayton's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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? No

5.0


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bkern4's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0


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