Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

58 reviews

arieslofi's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

i really wanted to love this but the writing was juvenile and abrupt, with many short chapters and short sentences that don't allow yourself to be fully immersed in the story; the characters felt one dimensional (notably the side characters, but also salama and kenan); the plot twist fell flat and made me laugh from how just downright dumb it was; khawf made no sense at the end (you have ptsd induced psychosis, your hallucinations don't magically disappear); the romance aspect did absolutely nothing for me and felt extremely rushed (mentioning that they were supposed to get married felt such a cheap trick to excuse this); the studio ghibli references, the repetition of "a might life" as well as green eyes, smelling like lemons, and the pace being horrid proves that the editor failed at their most basic job.
there were parts i enjoyed and overall it is a story that should be told, but it is just not the book for me, ya hater and all.
also, as a the book thief lover, this book is nothing like it in any way, shape or form apart from the fact it takes place in the middle of a genocide. you expect me to believe that this ya written juvenile shit is even comparable to one of the most beautiful pieces of written fiction? fuck off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Child death, and War

haleyisamess's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• 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

This book was on my TBR for a long time and I was so excited to finally get around to it. It was even better than I thought it would be and the book just got better and better.  Katouh did an amazing job educating and engaging her audience. The twist made my jaw drop and I found myself so incredibly attached to the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gun violence, War, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood

Minor: Grief, Miscarriage, Genocide, Torture, Death of parent, Misogyny, Vomit, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Trafficking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

tubbinsmcgee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Torture

dee_j8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Both beautiful and sad but very necessary story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and War

Moderate: Sexual assault

hiraeth_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death

bookishmagpie's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Medical trauma

sara_b_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

You have to read this.

This book was absolutely devastating, heartbreaking, soulwrenching, and yet through all of that pain was such a beautiful silver lining with hope and love that shone through the entire book. The writing was beautiful. This story explores oppressive governments in a thoughtful way, and taught me so much about the Syrian revolution that I hadn’t known about. What has stuck with me most since I finished this book is the heartfelt depth in Salama’s relationships and the tension she feels about the actions she takes. And then don’t get me started on the last third of the book. I was on the edge of my seat and then absolutely sobbing in the middle of the night as I finished the book. I couldn’t stop until I knew how this book ended and was up until almost 3am finishing it. This book will stay with me.

A few favorites:
- Morally grey MC and her internal monologue and relationship with herself
- Kenan and his love for his country and his family
- Mental illness representation
- Finding hope in a terrible time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Vomit, War, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Rape

cthulhussy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gun violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

eryn_gilbert's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Murder, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Child death, Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Torture, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical content, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

kassidyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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: Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, War, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, and Torture