Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

54 reviews

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

kdepuy's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical trauma, Child death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Sexual violence

bejf's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Violence, War, Torture, Death of parent, and Blood

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

serena_andherstories's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

Gosh, this was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Hate crime, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Child death, and Genocide

mald626's review

challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Medical content, Torture, Murder, Gore, Child death, Violence, War, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, and Pregnancy

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Trafficking, and Xenophobia

gvstyris's review

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

 Survivor's skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.

This book truly encapsulates the power of literature as a tool for empathy. It's clear that Katouh has poured years of love and care into every page, and it was a privilege to read Salama's story. She felt very real, which is a testament to Katouh's writing. 

I'm struggling a bit to give this book a rating because, despite my minor gripes with it, it is undeniably important. The Syrian Revolution is ongoing, and the themes are even more hauntingly relevant amidst the horrific genocide in Gaza and war in Ukraine. The representation of what Katouh refers to as a 'Halal romance' (aka a love story between her two main Muslim characters) is also so meaningful, and I was similarly struck by the portrayal of PTSD and survivor's guilt.

I had a few issues with the length, repetitive structure and cliche writing which have lowered this to 4 stars for me. I also -- totally my bad -- didn't realise this was YA before beginning, which I think hindered it somewhat. Nothing serious, though, and I'm still very glad to have read it. 

Also, the plot-twist shook me to my core...my heart fully broke for Salama there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Murder, Child death, War, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Genocide and Rape

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

this book was beautifully written; i highlighted so many passages. the story was beautiful as well, it told the reality for so many, and is a really important piece of modern literature as to the syrian war and the struggles of those who leave their homelands, everything they know, after countless unimaginable loss, living in inhumane conditions, seeing monstrous acts, living under the constant threat of death and worse, and then risking their lives and spending all they have, being taken advantage of for the chance of a safer life, only to often arrive in countries where they are seen as a nuisance.
this book is so important and everyone should read it!
aside from the real-world connotations, the fictional story was beautiful

i fell in love with salama and kenan and their loved ones. when we found out that layla wasn’t real: i have not been that shocked by a twist in i don’t know how long, i had not seen it coming at all and it was genuinely heart-wrenching. i appreciated that the ending was “happy” but it didn’t shy away from the long lasting effects of the everything they had been through

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Mental illness, Genocide, Child death, War, Islamophobia, Blood, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Torture

rosinawrites7's review

adventurous 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Clear motivations of characters made the plot satisfying. Descriptive memories really filled out the main characters. For my writing I wanna remember:

link between Layla’s painting and the sea scene at the end was cool. And can I use Khawl’s character for My Friend Anxiety?

 

Twist with Layla was great and never saw it coming

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Body horror, War, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Medical content, Death, Police brutality, Mental illness, Gore, Genocide, Death of parent, Confinement, Child death, and Blood

cmbohn's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

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

2.0

Most depressing book I've read in a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy and Sexual assault

chelsea0694's review

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, War, Body horror, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Child death, Mass/school shootings, and Death