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spellbindingtomes's reviews
353 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
- 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
5.0
In this devastatingly beautiful novel set during the Syrian revolution, we follow 18-year-old Salama Kassab, once a pharmacy student with normal teenage concerns, now volunteering at a hospital in war-torn Syria while planning her escape with her pregnant sister-in-law. All the while, she's haunted by Khawf, the physical manifestation of her fear, and torn between survival and loyalty to her homeland.
From the very first pages, this book gripped my heart and refused to let go. Each chapter broke me anew. The love story between Salama and Kenan was seriously so cute. I loved their fated connection which brought moments of warmth and tenderness that felt especially powerful against the harsh backdrop of war.
The emotional power of this story cannot be overstated. The "might life" scenarios that Salama imagines throughout the novel absolutely crushed me. And though my heart shattered and repaired itself repeatedly throughout the book, I fell deeply in love with these characters and their resilience.
𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰.
Zoulfa doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of war-torn Syria, but she also celebrates the human capacity for love, courage, and resistance.
𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a compelling, soul-crushing, & profoundly moving story that will stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol