As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

at every reading session i was on the cusp of crying. every piece of imagery carries weight and imbeds itself in you with every word and every sentence. i really want this to be translated to vietnamese so i could recommend it to more people.

I wanted to love the book, I really do. The depiction of war and destruction in Syria is heartbreaking, but the overwhelming romance takes over the story in a way that doesn't quite work for me. Some parts of the writing also feel too cringeworthy. I think the romance doesn’t quite fit with the serious themes the author is trying to convey, which is probably why I can’t love it more than three stars.

painfully beautiful, so much love in it. not quiet sure why i need longer to finish it but i suppose i'm not ready for any heartbreak greater than the ones i've read in the previous chapter.

How do we go on living when somewhere out there someone is suffering and dying from tyranny?

bawling my eyes out.

the twist hello? i didn't expect it at all (which makes me cry even harder)

Ein sehr schönes und emotionales Buch. Fand es sehr schön geschrieben und an Spannung hat es auch nicht gefehlt. Man hat viel über den Krieg erfahren und das Leid der Menschen ist so ein Vergleich wie in Palästina.

Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen den beiden war auch sehr schön (gescheit und m7tarem xd)

Ein must reed!

this is a really incredibly difficult book to read, but also incredibly timely. it’s so tenderly written with so much love about an eighteen year old girl finding love and life in syria during the syrian civil war.

One of the best books I have read this year.

It's crazy how this book can be both heartbreaking and full of hope at the same time. The plot twist left me flabbergasted, and I felt empty as I closed the last page. Every part is beautifully written, and each character has taught me something. Salama, for instance, shows incredible courage in standing up to whoever or whatever stands in her way. Kenan, I admire his fierce nationalism and willingness to fight for Syria, even at the cost of his own life. For Layla, I can imagine how bright and joyful she is.. But I swear to God "that" part is so unfair and break my heart into pieces. And so does the other incredible characters, I’ve learned something valuable from them too. I've come to realize that many people out there are still fighting for their lands and their rights, and we shouldn't ignore that. May Allah always be on the Syrian side, fighting for their rights. This is the first book I've ever given an immediate 5-star rating. Please be aware of the trigger warnings. Here are my favorite parts in this book! “Don’t focus on the darkness and sadness,” “If you do, you won’t see the light, even if it’s staring you in the face.” “Auntie-don’t cry-when I go to Heaven - I’ll tell God - everything.” “It might be difficult at first. The world might be too loud or too silent. It might be neon bright or pitch black, but slowly, it’ll put itself back together. It will resemble something normal. Then you’ll see the colours, Salama.” “Aren’t you scared?” “Always. But I’ve got nothing to lose.” “There’s life in the smallest, simplest of things. I see why this is happening. Freedom was never an easy price; it’s paid with blood. More than we ever thought possible.” Fate has his strings, but we’re the ones who twist them together with our actions. My belief in what’s meant to be doesn’t make me a passive player. No. I fight and fight and fight for my life. Layla fought for hers. Kenan fights for his. And whatever happens, we accept the outcome, knowing we did everything.

There are no words I can say that can explain the unconditional love have for this book. This book gives me hope, peace and a new outlook on life that I never had before. It’s not everyday that a book makes you actually want to be a different person. I will never stop recommending this book.

Reread (8/4/24): I need this book in every single building and in the hands of every single person alive. This is by far the most powerful and beautiful piece of literature I’ve ever read.

A book that made me sob as hard as this one did is deserving of 5* A powerful story of love, hope and what it takes one girl to survive against all odds. Read alongside the playlist made by the author, it is well worth it!

did i finish this book or did this book finish me

5 ⭐️ Wow, this is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. I really, really struggled to put this one down. If I had it my way, I probably would have read it in one sitting. The characters are complex, the plot is tragic, immersive and imaginative and I couldn’t get enough. I was bawling my eyes out multiple times throughout this book I must admit. Kenan and Salama are absolutely everything to me, they are so so special. Please, do yourself a huge favour and read this book.

this book was so painfully beautiful. it made me realise how much we take our homeland for granted.

'as long as the lemon tress grow, hope will never die.' so beautiful.... so full of hope and tenderness and love.... quite honored and thankful that i was able to read this book at all. through my tears but yes thank you, zoulfa katouh, for writing this love letter of a novel and for enforcing that survivors are NOT their trauma

5/5 I’m speechless. It was absolutely amazing. I finally found a book that I could proudly recommend to everyone if they asked me for a book recommendation. This is this type of story which will stay with you for a long time, and I simply think that everyone should read it. The main character Salma which deserves the whole world and more, Kenan and his siblings, the powerful message this story carries, the astronomical amount of tears I shed while reading it. Seriously, I cried at almost every chapter, but it was so worth it at the end. A very satisfying end. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we’ll be okay. Even if…” He takes in a deep breath and presses his forehead against mine. “Know that even in death, you’re my life.” “It doesn’t hurt for you to think about your future. 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.” I don’t even know what else to say, it was just beautiful. I can't wait for this book to get the more recognition it deserves.

A poignant narrative depicting the horrors of war in Syria with also telling the beauty of a halal romance. This book has raised my standards for men even higher, unfortunately..

Easily adding this to the top of my must-read reccomendations list! Read this with a heavy heart and eyes full of tears while acknowledging the genocide happening to this day and the plight of all the oppressed who are still having to fight for freedom every day.

The book describes the ongoing trauma within the strong characters that HAVE to fight for freedom and justice in order to survive, portraying real-life emotions from people who have no choice but to leave the country. While also beautifully explaing their profound love they hold for their country despite the suffering they endure…AAAAa💔

(also i loved the taylor swift and BTS shoutout Zoulfa did at the acknowledgments part loll)

great, heart-wrenching story

lots of corny/cheesy writing. even the “good” writing wasn’t that good

bad writing is a pet peeve of mine but i stuck it out with this book because the story is interesting and so sad

4.8

- Aku setuju kalo banyak orang yang bilang buku ini buku bagus - Bahasa yang dipakai itu loh, hasil terjemahan aja seindah ini apalagi yang eng version. Terimakasih banyak buat ka Berliani dan ka Esti yg sdh menerjemahkan buku ini dengan sangat baik, membuatku mudah masuk ke dalam cerita dan menyelami kisah para tokohnya dengan baik. - Karena pakai POV orang pertama serba tahu, bikin kita saat baca tuh bisa merasakan apa yang Salama rasakan, latar tempat, dan suasanya bener2 digambarkan dengan detil membuat pembaca bisa merasakan berada di Homs, Suriah secara langsung 😭 - Kisah di buku ini aga relate sama kehidupan sekarang, jadi selama baca sering nyesek gitu 😭 - Kisah romansanya bener2 indah, kek manis, bikin senyum2, tetep halal, walaupun kadang sakit juga kalo membayangkan mereka berkasih di tempat penuh konflik 😭 - Rasa suka penulis dengan Studio Gibli yang kemudian dia sisipkan di dalam cerita tuh bikin aku enjoy saat membacanya. - Terlepas dari ilmu medis yang dituliskan di dalamnya, (aku gabisa berkomentar benar/salah karena bukan bidangku) aku suka cara penulis yang banyak menceritakan keadaan rumah sakit, orang2nya, harapan2 para korban yang muncul didalamya, hingga tragedi yang ada. - Plot twistnya bikin menganga, kek ga disangka loh 😭 - Menuju epilog, rasanya sakit, entah berapa tisu yang kuhabiskan :) - Dari buku ini jadi paham dengan "Anda boleh mengeluarkan warga Suriah dari Suriah, namun Anda tidak akan pernah bisa menghilangkan Suriah dari hati warga Suriah." - Endingnya aku rasa fair meski aku pribadi masih bertanya-tanya bagaimana kisah lanjutan orang2 terdekat mereka di Homs Mungkin aku akan membaca ulang keseluruhan buku, takut ada beberapa hal yang terlewat 😅 Overall suka banget sama buku ini Gimana kita diajak buat menyelami kisah korban konflik Suriah, kisah romansa halal yang indah, sampai ke ajakan untuk menciptakan harapan2 besar untuk tetap melanjutkan hidup, banyak kalimat indah quotable juga di sini. Super recomended!!

"Every lemon shall bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.”

Everyone is allowed a life that does not end in tragedy. I was ready for this book to shatter my heart to pieces, but I was not ready to see so much of myself in a girl who is much too young to have experienced the terrors she has. She loves Ghibli movies, is a hopeless romantic, passionate and ambitious. The people you see die in the news, ones you belittle calling "refugees", they are just like you and me, not more, not less. They have lost so much, they have met with so much cruelty, but they too hope and dream of a better life, to one day reclaim their land, and come back home, to their Syria.

This is a read where you will be holding your breath throughout the book, knowing fully the characters you began loving might end up dead any second. Because this is not fiction, this is Salama's reality, this is Syrian people's reality. And that's why it's so important for so many people to read it, and remember the weight each of their lives hold, to feel the shame and guilt that you will inevitably feel. It's up to the rest of the world to protect their dreams.

May tomorrow bring peace and freedom to Syria, to Palestine, to everyone who is putting up a fight for their land, their freedom, their family.

May you return to a home that welcomes you with open arms.