Reviews tagging 'Grief'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

100 reviews

stuckinatimeloop's review

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i loved this book, read it in a day. it's so true that the outside world, including me, is mostly ignorant about horrific civil wars happening in many countries like syria. we know there are refugees but do we really think about them?

the characters were all written well and the writing was so beautiful, especially the descriptions. definitely would read more from this author.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, War, Child death, Death of parent, Violence, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape

fanchera's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, War, Blood, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

hiraeth_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death

decie's review

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Sexism, Torture, Death of parent, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

emilily's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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

4.75

A gripping story of a young woman navigating trauma and grief in the context of the Syrian war. Overall, I loved this book

Spoiler

but I wish the author hadn't bothered with the epilogue; end on a cliffhanger in the sea was a huge missed opportunity to leave the ending up to interpretation

Spoiler

. 

I'd definitely recommend this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Gun violence

Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Child death, and Death of parent

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Genocide, Death, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and War

Moderate: Torture and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

bookishmagpie's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Blood, War, Murder, Death, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

Moderate: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Medical trauma

myths_reads's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I'm not the biggest fan of historical novels but this takes the win on so many levels. Given the topic of the book, I was a bit apprehensive about how someone would be able to make the necessary impact. Still, Katouh blew all of my expectations out of the water and left me teary-eyed throughout the book. I think the biggest win for this book is how easily the author is able to have a profound discussion on war, and the impact it has on people. She takes politics off the topic and shows that the people who suffer in war are the innocents caught in the crossfire. 

The story is real and heartfelt. It also doesn't shy away from difficult topics, from showing the horrors of war. But it also shows hope and shows that there is a silver lining in the horrible moments. The only reason why this book did not get a five star from me is because I never felt 100% attached to the characters. Obviously, this book is not targeted to my age-group so there's that.

I still think EVERYONE should read this book. Highly recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Grief, Blood, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

cthulhussy's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gun violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

eryn_gilbert's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Murder, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Child death, Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Torture, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical content, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail