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valkyrie1's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Gun violence, War, Violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit, Trafficking, Dysphoria, and Xenophobia
bookishaddictions's review against another edition
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My initial reaction: wow. I found that Katouh left me with more emotions than I could possibly process as I read the novel. Salama and Kenan’s story is heartbreaking yet inspiring; it follows there journey as they fight for life in revolution-torn Syria. While I had heard about the civil war occurring there in the press, Katouh is right that we needed to hear a more human than statistical telling of what is occurring. We’ve spent our lives watching news of war (between nations, civil, etc.), and that has made it too easy for many people to look away because the casualties become another number in a never-ending list; As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is a reminder that those numbers are real people with real lives. Katouh’s Salama is strong, smart, and loving; I found myself rooting for her from the start. Kenan is protective, loyal, and kind; I love that he shows people a prime example of how a person can love their country while still believing it needs to be rebuilt. The romance is light, the heartbreak is strong, but hope is alive. This novel would be a great way to begin forming empathy for the people experiencing the painful struggles of revolutions and lack of civil rights around the world; I would highly recommend this novel as something to read as one learns about what the Syrian revolution and its people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Child abuse, War, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
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