Scan barcode
A review by heartbrekker
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
“It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die.”
On September 13, ALATLTG releases into the world, and I strongly urge all of you to pick it up immediately. It isn’t even out yet, and I’m certain it’ll be a classic for all the years and decades to come. Zoulfa created a poignant story about love and loss, violence and freedom, hope and strength.
"Empires have collapsed throughout history. They rise, they build, and they fall. Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain."
Now Zoulfa is a genius when it comes to her raw prose and lyrical descriptions, which is even more impressive because this is her debut book! I can’t count the number of times I cried while reading, and the stark portrayal of grief, mental health, and—most importantly—hope is one of the most powerful that I have ever read. This entire book is simply a necessity for people to read. Her characters have to make some hard, upsetting decisions for their own survival, so it's going to be a tough book for readers to get through. Make sure you have a carton of tissues on standby. Don't be like me and think you can deal with your tears without a box.
"We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival... The world is not sweet or kind. The ones outside are waiting to eat us and pick their teeth with our bones."
The novel follows Salama Kassab, an eighteen year old pharmacist turned doctor, during the Syrian Revolution. She lives with her pregnant sister-in-law/ best friend Layla because that’s the only family she has left. To make matters worse, a physical manifestation of her fear embodies an imagined figure named Khawf. He haunts her relentlessly, especially as the violence and bombs worsen around their household and the hospital, so Salama must decide whether to leave Syria as Khawf demands or stay to continue helping patients and fellow Syrians. Then a chance meet with a fateful boy may throw everything into chaos..
"Time is the best medicine to turn our bleeding wounds to scars, and our bodies might forget the trauma, our eyes might learn to see colors as they should be seen, but that cure doesn't extend to our souls."
I’m not going to say anything more because I do think this book is best told by its own words. Again, I urge you all to grab it on release day and read it.
Thank you to NOVL for sending me an ARC to review. I feel very honored that I got to review this book before release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
On September 13, ALATLTG releases into the world, and I strongly urge all of you to pick it up immediately. It isn’t even out yet, and I’m certain it’ll be a classic for all the years and decades to come. Zoulfa created a poignant story about love and loss, violence and freedom, hope and strength.
"Empires have collapsed throughout history. They rise, they build, and they fall. Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain."
Now Zoulfa is a genius when it comes to her raw prose and lyrical descriptions, which is even more impressive because this is her debut book! I can’t count the number of times I cried while reading, and the stark portrayal of grief, mental health, and—most importantly—hope is one of the most powerful that I have ever read. This entire book is simply a necessity for people to read. Her characters have to make some hard, upsetting decisions for their own survival, so it's going to be a tough book for readers to get through. Make sure you have a carton of tissues on standby. Don't be like me and think you can deal with your tears without a box.
"We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival... The world is not sweet or kind. The ones outside are waiting to eat us and pick their teeth with our bones."
The novel follows Salama Kassab, an eighteen year old pharmacist turned doctor, during the Syrian Revolution. She lives with her pregnant sister-in-law/ best friend Layla because that’s the only family she has left. To make matters worse, a physical manifestation of her fear embodies an imagined figure named Khawf. He haunts her relentlessly, especially as the violence and bombs worsen around their household and the hospital, so Salama must decide whether to leave Syria as Khawf demands or stay to continue helping patients and fellow Syrians. Then a chance meet with a fateful boy may throw everything into chaos..
"Time is the best medicine to turn our bleeding wounds to scars, and our bodies might forget the trauma, our eyes might learn to see colors as they should be seen, but that cure doesn't extend to our souls."
I’m not going to say anything more because I do think this book is best told by its own words. Again, I urge you all to grab it on release day and read it.
Thank you to NOVL for sending me an ARC to review. I feel very honored that I got to review this book before release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Grief, Child death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Death, and War
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual assault