As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

I picked up this book with the intention of learning more about the devastation of what was occurring and still remains of the unrest in Syria. Now I Find myself emotionally transfixed on the characters and the humane context instead of politics! I loved every minute and every word written. I fell in love with the rich history., the family dynamics, the strength and ferocity of the People!! Salameh, Kenan, the kids and the twists!!!! The Doctor. Am, and even Khawf. It hit so hard I found myself in tears more times than I can count. Heart wrenching! The vulnerability. All of it reminds us we are truly on human. God I just love this author!!! A must read hands down!!! And now I’m in a reading slump lol.

4 tragic stars!! This book touches your soul. These characters grab your heart and don’t let go. This was a good book. It really takes place in just one town for majority of the book but the terrors and tragedies they face are enormous. There is a twist in the book that you definitely don’t see coming until the author spells it out for you. That broke my a little bit. The end was beyond words. This is a read that I think everyone should read at some point in their life.

Wonderful book with a nice story. Very catching and tells you how lucky we all are living with all the amenities, while there are still who fight everyday for survival.

First off, the language is poetic and gorgeous. One neat device is how the main character sees the world through her pharmacy eyes - she defines and describes in technical, medical detail. This style of voice gives you such a rich feel for the character’s personality, and how that personality is navigating the horrors of her life and the sweet awkwardness of young love. The descriptions of war, the fear, hunger, loss experienced by every day Syrians was powerful. I loved the love story that blossomed in the midst of all that tragedy. It was sweet, the chemistry and emotions were so well done. It was relatable for anyone dealing with long-term grief and trying to salvage some joy and meaning out of life anyway. Did not see the twist coming! It was also not gratuitous, but added layers and depth to the character and her experience. Overall, I might have shied away from this book for the heavy overarching subject matter, but I’m so glad I didn’t! This was a book that spoke to me, changed me, and opened my eyes. Definitely recommend. I would reread this.

Oof. This author grabbed my heart she ripped out, sqaushed it, tossed it then said “oh let’s put it back to see if it still works.” And does it? No. It does not. This book was so beautiful and amazing and it became on my top list of books. I felt so connected to Salama and Layla and rooted the entire book for them to make it away from syria and its horror. ***SPOILER*** I sobbed when we realized that layla had died and our girl salama hadnt accepted her death. The entire time I also felt like i was there seeing the horrifying parts of the Syrian war without being censored. I may not be well informed of it but I can say that this book had me googling and reading up on the syrian war. It just felt like I knew these characters as friends/family and damn if i’m not crying writing this review. So now every-time I see a lemon tree I will think of this book and syria and the atrocities that have happened because of war.

This story took me on an emotional journey. From awestruck, to angry, all the way to bringing me to tears. The anguish of the Syrian people. I also didn't even suspect that twist. I mean she was so alive, so real! This is a must read.

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is not an easy book to read - emotionally. It’s beautifully written, but the story is heavy and unforgettable. It opened my eyes to the reality of what Palestinians - and people in other countries facing war and oppression - are truly going through. This book reminds us not to take peace for granted. It made me cry, reflect, and feel deeply connected to the people whose pain we often overlook. It’s a story of love, grief, survival, and impossible choices - and it left a lasting impression on my heart.

I was interested due to the reviews but was waiting and waiting for the twist and the story became repetitive to me. I struggled u til the good part and then it was a very predictable ending for me. That being said, I enjoyed reading about the plight of the displaced. There were some valuable moments.

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow ist ein Buch, das man nicht einfach liest, man fühlt es. Die Geschichte gibt einen erschütternd ehrlichen Einblick in den Krieg in Syrien und zeigt, was er mit jungen Menschen, ihren Träumen und ihrer Hoffnung macht. Die Hauptfigur Salama ist unglaublich stark und gleichzeitig zerbrechlich, was sie sehr real wirken lässt. Besonders berührend ist der innere Konflikt zwischen Überleben, Schuldgefühlen und dem Wunsch nach Freiheit. Der Schreibstil ist poetisch, emotional und bleibt lange im Kopf. Viele Szenen gehen unter die Haut und lassen einen auch nach dem Lesen nicht los. Ein wichtiges Buch, das Empathie schafft und zum Nachdenken anregt. Das Buch hat mich so bewegt, dass ich sogar eine Collage dazu erstellt habe, um meine Gefühle und Gedanken nach dem Lesen auszudrücken. Ein wichtiges, emotionales Buch, das man nicht vergisst.

Good read

Me encantó la historia, de principio a fin. Entiendes puntos de vista que normalmente no se muestran en producciones de Oeste. 100% recomendado 💕

The quality of book is so good I like it so much thank you ! Im probably order again 🫶🏻🌷

Da non perdere