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thatszineb 's review for:
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
by Zoulfa Katouh
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-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
Ladies and gentlemen! Allow me to introduce the first 5 stars read of the year 2023!
I met As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow one Sunday, while browsing in my local bookshop, wanting so bad to get something. I didn't find anything that interested me at that moment ant this book, was sitting in one shelf, far from the shelf it was supposed to be. Probably someone was hesitant ant decided to not to get it. I hesitated too because my mood at that time, wasn't looking for this book. But I'm so glad the me of that Sunday, decided to get it nonetheless.
This was a much needed book. I finished it weeks ago and still can't form a coherent thought. My mind and my heart are so full of this book and I'm truly, utterly glad of the surprise it held.
This is a book about loss and love, about hope and and struggle, about the love of one's country and the fear of being forced to live it.
As a Moroccan, I was aware of the struggle of Syria and Syrians. I remember coming home from school and that's what the news was about. I remember a classmate who had to flee Libya for the same reason and thinking about it now, I realized that I can never fathom being forced to live a place I call my own, friends, family and being scared if decided to stay.
Zoulfa focused on Syrians more than the political background of Syria. She did an absolutely great job at portraying the suffering: you could tell that she knew what she was writing about, not only stunningly researched. The children, women, families... I could hear the voices of everyone. She also did a great job at showing how hope and perseverance can be the fuel of one's life, especially in contexts like these.
The portraying of PTSD through Khawf (a hallucination) made me think about the extent of the talent of the author. How in Arabic, the character's name literally means Fear and how it can shatter every dream and assurance one has about the future.
The romance? Wholesome and lovely. Something I needed as a reader and something the characters needed as well: a glimpse of light in the darkness they were living.
Also, the representation of Muslim Hijabi girls? Stunningly done.
To sum it up, please read this book. Read it and be ready for it to be a part of you because I for sure, can't stop thinking about it.
(TW: SA, war, PTSD, mental illness, death, starvation.)
I met As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow one Sunday, while browsing in my local bookshop, wanting so bad to get something. I didn't find anything that interested me at that moment ant this book, was sitting in one shelf, far from the shelf it was supposed to be. Probably someone was hesitant ant decided to not to get it. I hesitated too because my mood at that time, wasn't looking for this book. But I'm so glad the me of that Sunday, decided to get it nonetheless.
This was a much needed book. I finished it weeks ago and still can't form a coherent thought. My mind and my heart are so full of this book and I'm truly, utterly glad of the surprise it held.
This is a book about loss and love, about hope and and struggle, about the love of one's country and the fear of being forced to live it.
As a Moroccan, I was aware of the struggle of Syria and Syrians. I remember coming home from school and that's what the news was about. I remember a classmate who had to flee Libya for the same reason and thinking about it now, I realized that I can never fathom being forced to live a place I call my own, friends, family and being scared if decided to stay.
Zoulfa focused on Syrians more than the political background of Syria. She did an absolutely great job at portraying the suffering: you could tell that she knew what she was writing about, not only stunningly researched. The children, women, families... I could hear the voices of everyone. She also did a great job at showing how hope and perseverance can be the fuel of one's life, especially in contexts like these.
The portraying of PTSD through Khawf (a hallucination) made me think about the extent of the talent of the author. How in Arabic, the character's name literally means Fear and how it can shatter every dream and assurance one has about the future.
The romance? Wholesome and lovely. Something I needed as a reader and something the characters needed as well: a glimpse of light in the darkness they were living.
Also, the representation of Muslim Hijabi girls? Stunningly done.
To sum it up, please read this book. Read it and be ready for it to be a part of you because I for sure, can't stop thinking about it.
(TW: SA, war, PTSD, mental illness, death, starvation.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault