Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

40 reviews

jacss's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

To say I enjoyed this book, may be a wrongful description. But I did appreciate it. It is a necessary book; both to make experiences of a war accessible, as well as humanizing people, and possibly especially teens and kids, in wartime. 

Considering accessible entry into a wartime book, I think that the author did a good job. It seems difficult to find middle ground between informing the masses about horrific events in a war, and at the same time creating characters that are lovable. It must be difficult to stay as true as possible to crimes of war, and not scaring off readers. In my opinion, this format works. Most people (maybe again, especially teens) will not likely pick up a history book on these wars. By making it into a wartime fiction, it becomes accessible, without it losing its power as a general source of information. For me, reading it while watching genocidal atrocities unfolding in Palestine, made it especially real. Although different places, and different wars, there are similarities in terms of desparation, and conveyed feeling of being alone. I also have to say that the description of the war crimes in the novel, were expected. It wouldn't feel true without to be honest. They aren't added for shock value; they fit expectations of war. 

The book was written from pov from traumatized child. About other teens and children in a war, having lost everyone. 

Also, I thought that the plot twist was great. I am hardly ever surprised by plot twists, but this one got me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, War, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse

saycheeze37's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought the author did a fantastic job bringing light to the fight for freedom in Syria. Very tragic truths with a strong sense of hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, War, Violence, Death, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death and Genocide

Minor: Rape, Torture, Physical abuse, and Police brutality

skye_era_books's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

I don’t know that I have ever read a book more heart wrenching than this. My heart broke and put itself together again many times throughout this story. And the fact that this is the reality of many Syrians absolutely kills me. I beg that we someday see a Free Syria, Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, and all those who are fighting for freedom. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Murder, Genocide, Child death, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Death, Gun violence, Body horror, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Torture, Islamophobia, Mental illness, and Misogyny

smailliweiluj's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

While I agree with some criticism about the author's politics, I think this is a very important book. In the author's note Katouh writes that the world focuses on the numbers and politics of Syria, and that this book serves to focus on the emotion and the stories of the individuals. Because of that I think it would be wrong to judge this book simply because I do not agree with the political affiliation. What do I agree with? Surviving. I agree that the people matter far more than the politics. I agree that we need to know their stories and remember that despite global conflict, our lives matter. Nobody should be condemned to torture, murder, and banishment because they were born somewhere that another country wants to claim or exploit. History and politics are very important but we cannot lose sight of the fact that history is defined by the people, not numbers. We must never allow a civilization to be reduced to statistics because in doing so we are condemning them to suffer and forgetting their humanity, while also forgetting our own.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Genocide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Pregnancy, War, Death of parent, and Torture

ashleereadsbooks692's review

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Blood, War, Mental illness, Child death, Cursing, Rape, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

historyoftape's review against another edition

dark 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

I think this book will sit with me for a long time. From Salama, to Layla, to Kenan, Yusuf, Lama, even Khawf-all of them people, beautifully fleshed out, all of them brilliant stars agains the harsh reality that this book portrays. My heart goes out not only to them, but to the whole of Syria. To the men, women & children for whom this is not merely a story, but an echo of their own life. 

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.

the romance was cute & not annoying. The hallucinations were well written and believable.The twist with Layla was completely believable,but also I did not see it coming at all.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Death, Murder, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, War, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Vomit, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Mental illness

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Pregnancy and Trafficking

This book is about the reality of living in a war zone. There is no sugarcoating what that means, and does to people. But that's why I think reading it is so important.

padancer's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Książka według okładki jest dla czytelników w wieku 14+. Uważam, że jednak dla starszych, ponieważ porusza bardzo trudne tematy związane z wojną, okrucieństwem, problemami psychicznymi. Czytając tę książkę, nie sądziłam, że aż tyle wydarzeń miało miejsce w rzeczywistości. Cieszę się, że mogłam się dowiedzieć tak dużo o Syrii i Syryjczykach, było to druzgocące, ale też inspirujące 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Pregnancy

isadowski's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

4.5

Dit boek heeft me laten huilen, geïnspireerd en zo veel geleerd over iets waar ik zo weinig van wist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Torture, Misogyny, Gun violence, Genocide, and Murder

Moderate: Rape

bagel_z's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Medical content, Physical abuse, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, and Blood

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

ash122's review

emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment