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Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Xenophobia, Vomit
Minor: Genocide, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Classism
《Kisah ini tentang mereka yang tidak punya pilihan kecuali meninggalkan rumah mereka.》 -p.463
Sebuah kalimat pembuka dari catatan penulis. Benar, buku ini bercerita tentang Salama yang terjebak dalam situasi bertahan di negaranya dengan menolong orang-orang yang terkena bom dan tembakan, tetapi ia pun bisa menjadi salah satu korban. Atau pergi dari negaranya, bisa jadi ia tertembak dan dilecehkan saat keluar pos perbatasan atau mati di Laut Mediterania atau mungkin selamat dan menghirup kehidupan baru di Jerman. Segala kemungkinan itu, Salama hadapi. Namun, ia tak sendiri. Ada Kenan yang sangat mencintai Suriah membuat Salama berkali-kali ragu akan keputusannya.
Buku ini bercerita dari sudut pandang orang pertama yaitu Salama. Betapa frustasi—dan depresinya dia yang baru tingkat 1 kuliah farmasi, namun menjelma menjadi ahli bedah di rumah sakit. Setiap hari ia melihat korban-korban perang dari kediktatoran pemerintah. Banyak yang ia selamatkan, namun tak sedikit yang berakhir dengan kematian.
《Protes dalam bentuk apa pun, baik yang disampaikan secara damai ataupun tidak, adalah ancaman bagi pemerintah diktator.》 -p.109
Salama yang menderita PTSD tanpa ia sadari, Salama yang membangun bayangan imajiner bernama Khawf. Salama dan Layla, it broke my heart so much. Terlebih adegan seorang anak bernama Ahmad. It really really broke me into pieces.
❝ ... kalau aku masuk Surga-aku akan menceritakan semuanya kepada Tuhan ... ❞ -p.72
Pengalaman membaca buku ini pun rollercoaster. Perasaan sedih, putus asa, geram, dan juga marah. Semua peristiwa di buku ini begitu dekat dan nyata. Ketika kematian menjadi hal yang terlalu sering ditemui, hingga setiap hari, setiap jam, setiap menit, bahkan setiap detik menjadi berharga karena nyawa bisa hilang begitu tiba-tiba. Padahal mereka yang mati bukanlah angka. Mereka adalah anak, cucu, ayah, ibu, teman, saudara, suami, istri, kekasih, dari orang-orang yang menyayanginya. I wish THEM who make these rooting in hell.
Penulisannya baik dan rapi. Diksinya cantik. Lugas. Dan tidak ada pembahasan yang repetitif. Plot twist-nya pun membuatku terhenyak. Romansa Salama dan Kenan di tengah revolusi bagaikan oase di panasnya gurun. Kenan Aljendi resmi masuk ke dalam list laki-laki fiksi nan hijau—versiku♡
Sebagai karya debut, buku ini sangat bagus menangkap peristiwa di Suriah sehingga bisa menceritakannya ke seluruh dunia. Buku ini must read terutama bagi penyuka historical fiction.
Luvv.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
Graphic: Death, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War
Moderate: Child death, Rape
Minor: Self harm
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
It takes tremendous amount of time and strength to write a well-written book, and seeing this author not only thank the people important in her life, but also thank all the other authors, creators, and artists that helped them on the way. All of these works of art really added to the story and truly made this book so beautiful.
Firstly, I want to discuss how well-written the characters are. With unique personalities, interests, skills, and dreams. Layla with her personality, Knawf with his twisted ways of keeping Salama alive, Kenan with his joy, Hamza with his determination, and Salama with her strength. Life was breathing in all those characters(even the ones who were not alive). Even the villains had a depth of humanity to them that made me even more furious with them.
The plot itself was beautifully written, although the author changed the timeline of the events, I really like how she tried to keep the depiction and the story of Syria as realistic as possible. Knowing that this fictional story has so much pain and truth makes it so much more than a story. But an urgent light of hope and strength. I also liked how mental health and its presence in the revolution was portrayed. The plot twists were very well-written, and some scenes left me sobbing with the beautiful (and terrifying) imagery.
I love this book. I hope its message spreads.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Torture
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Vomit
Minor: Confinement, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking
As long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die. This book has planted a seedling in my heart, and I am willing to see it grow.
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Now that it's been a few days, I'm ready to go into more detail on why I liked this so much. The characters all had strengths and flaws, grew and developed. There was no sugarcoating of what it means to live in a war zone.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Trafficking, Pregnancy
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War
Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Bury me before I bury you.
I'm still incapable of forming the words that captivate my feelings perfectly after reading this book. I don't think my review would ever do the book justice. This is easily the best written story I read this year 😭🍋💛
When I go to heaven, I'll tell God everything.
A book about striving, surviving, loving, and sacrificing. A book about humanity with all its fractured souls and bones. Woven from the bloody Syrian soil, it captured sharply the trauma felt by the innocences, hospital buzzing with new victims everyday, and the inevitable choice between helping or leaving. Staying or trying to be alive.
In a historic city plagued by bombs, life has persisted.
Told through the eyes of a 18yo girl named Salama, the story evolved itself into her daily routine as a pharmacy student turned doctor. Her coping mechanism of losing. Her hallucinations. It was so often torn my heart in pieces. Admist all those, sassy jokes were thrown, an angel disguised doctor, and found a love meant to be. A possibility of new life. And it was blend perfectly.
There are enough people hurting you. Don't be one of them.
Lots of Ghibli references that I don't mind at all. A cute banter. An understanding heart. Halal romance at its best. Siblings love so strong it hurts.
This is a book of hope. It ripped my heart appart and stich it back together. I don't know what else to say than do yourself a favour and read this masterpiece.
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting