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A review by aliyahreadsbooks
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
4.0
This is one of the hardest reviews I have ever written, and it is because I have so many thoughts and for so long I felt overwhelmed at the task of transcribing it all. Well I have tried my best so here you all go :)
This book is heartbreaking and beautifully written. Truly a modern classic. The book is set in Syria, depicting the main character Salama, and her life through the war. Salama's story represents the stories of millions of Syrians suffering every day. Everyone should read this book.
I loved how raw and deep we see Salama's trauma. It was heart wrenching to read and so eye opening. Zoulfa adding a deeper personality to the characters more than just their struggle was a great part of the characters. For example, the characters are obsessed with Studio Ghibli, and that aspect of their personalities was constant.
Khawf is such an amazing character. As Salama's fear incarnate, he helps the reader truly see the deeper affects her trauma has had on her and how it is these things become apart of who she is and who she ends up becoming. I was obsessed with the idea of Khawf and the position he posed in the story, and while it was fascinating to read for most of the story, I found that later on, about halfway through the book, his character started to change.
He became more personified, which I found disappointing and a little frustrating. What I loved about Khawf was how he was so inhuman and when he started to have more humanizing aspects it was dismaying. He was such a good character because he represented, in its capacity, not just pure fear, but also the savagery of the war and oppressors. So when he started to develop humor, etc. it was a downside to me.
Other than that, this book was amazing. Salama's story is one of struggle and hope, and I loved how the story focuses on Salama's hope for a better life and stubbornness/will to achieve it. I felt that her relationship with Kenan served as a way to bring that hope into Salama's life. Without him she wouldn't have been able to become the person she was.
The ending was perfect (epilogue made me happy, for many reasons), but don't even get me started on that plot twist. I had my theories, but my goodness that hit me out of nowhere. I would say it was the last thing I expected, but y'all it was not even on the list.
If you've read this book I would love to hear your thoughts, and if not this is your sign to!
This book is heartbreaking and beautifully written. Truly a modern classic. The book is set in Syria, depicting the main character Salama, and her life through the war. Salama's story represents the stories of millions of Syrians suffering every day. Everyone should read this book.
I loved how raw and deep we see Salama's trauma. It was heart wrenching to read and so eye opening. Zoulfa adding a deeper personality to the characters more than just their struggle was a great part of the characters. For example, the characters are obsessed with Studio Ghibli, and that aspect of their personalities was constant.
Khawf is such an amazing character. As Salama's fear incarnate, he helps the reader truly see the deeper affects her trauma has had on her and how it is these things become apart of who she is and who she ends up becoming. I was obsessed with the idea of Khawf and the position he posed in the story, and while it was fascinating to read for most of the story, I found that later on, about halfway through the book, his character started to change.
He became more personified, which I found disappointing and a little frustrating. What I loved about Khawf was how he was so inhuman and when he started to have more humanizing aspects it was dismaying. He was such a good character because he represented, in its capacity, not just pure fear, but also the savagery of the war and oppressors. So when he started to develop humor, etc. it was a downside to me.
Other than that, this book was amazing. Salama's story is one of struggle and hope, and I loved how the story focuses on Salama's hope for a better life and stubbornness/will to achieve it. I felt that her relationship with Kenan served as a way to bring that hope into Salama's life. Without him she wouldn't have been able to become the person she was.
The ending was perfect (epilogue made me happy, for many reasons), but don't even get me started on that plot twist. I had my theories, but my goodness that hit me out of nowhere. I would say it was the last thing I expected, but y'all it was not even on the list.
If you've read this book I would love to hear your thoughts, and if not this is your sign to!