Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

143 reviews

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0


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skye_era_books's review against another edition

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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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lesmotsdelivrants's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Ce livre m'a détruit.e et reconstruite en même temps. Je n'avais jamais lu de livre de ce type, qui raconte l'histoire de la Syrie et de la révolution, ce que les Syrien.ne.s vivent. Ça m'a bouleversé.e, c'est un livre à mettre entre toutes les mains parce qu'il fait prendre cknscience de ce qu'il se passe dans d'autres parties du monde et de ce que d'autres peuples endurent. 
La plume de Zoulfa Katouh est d'une douceur et d'une justesse parfaites, elle est touchante et marquante. 
L'histoire entre Kenan et Salama se tisse lentement mais sûrement, c'est la premiere romance halal que je lis et je l'ai trouvée tres émouvante. 
Tous les événements font l'effet d'un choc, le livre est empreint d'une tension qui ne noud lâche jamais vraiment et qui nous tient plongés dans l'histoire. 
J'ai adoré re-découvrir les couleurs avec Salama et Layla, pleurer et rire avec elles et m'imprégner de leur histoire <3
La personnification de l'esprit et de la peur de Salama donnait aussi une dimension supplémentaire à l'histoire, olus de relief, plus de teintes, plus d'émotions, plus de tout. 
Le focus particulier sur la dimension humaine du conflit, sur les familles, les martyrs, les blessures, la peur, tout ça projetait aussi l'histoire dans une autre dimension

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behindherpages's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

phenomenal. i truly have no words:

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ashleereadsbooks692's review

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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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eye_sabel's review

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challenging dark reflective sad 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

this book was so beautifully written, and i think it's a really important story to read. the depiction of grief and ptsd was so interesting to read, and i really liked the way the author shows the way these things have affected salama; she isn't a perfect victim, no one ever is. my only issue was
the twist with layla
but even though i personally didn't like it, i understand WHY it was added. overall, this was a really beautiful story, and given the current state of the world, it feels like a book everyone should read. 

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koalala1031's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

AAAAAAAAAAA

Admittedly I saw some spoilers of the book but that didn't stop me from enjoying it so much

It's very well written and the Indonesian translation actually did it justice, and it was a page turner from start to finish. It gave me many mixed emotions in a good way. The dark moments were dark and tense, but the romantic moments between Salama and Kenan were so wholesome and whimsical and it makes me smile a lot while reading.

It's just a really good book, I highly recommend  🍋

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bookswithlydscl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0


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historyoftape's review against another edition

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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.

-------------------------------

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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ladolcekate's review

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challenging 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

4.75


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