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As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
- Narrated by: Rasha Zamamiri
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a speculative novel set amid the Syrian Revolution, burning with the fires of hope, love, and possibility. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea.
Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.
Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.
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What the critics say
"A searing story of war, loss, family and love, of seeking grace in madness and hope in tragedy, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a phenomenal tale, a piercing keen for the Syria that was and the Syria that is. An absolute must read.”—Sabaa Tahir, #1 NYT bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes
"Wrenching and lyrical, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow heralds a stunning new voice in young adult literature. This heartbreakingly beautiful novel challenges the reader to open their hearts and minds to the ongoing revolution in Syria against a ruthless dictator--one who has taken too many lives and forced nearly 13 million Syrians to flee their homeland. Zoulfa Katouh reminds us of the awesome power of love, hope, and tenacity even in the most desperate circumstances. A gorgeous, compelling read that you will not be able to put down."—Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment
"Brilliant, beautiful, powerful. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow will leave a profound mark on your soul, transforming the way you see love, loss, and the human capacity for resilience and hope that soars above all."—S.K. Ali, author of Love from A to Z
What listeners say about As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Candis Tetreault
- 2024-01-19
Should be a MOVIE!!
Reader A+ Story A+ Heartbreaking but beautiful and inspiring. Have your tissues ready. I absolutely LOVED IT!
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- Amazon Customer
- 2022-09-27
Beautiful
There were many elements of this book that I loved but focusing on human emotions and the reality of the characters definitely gave the readers insight on the complexities of war in Syria.
I just finished this audio book and I want to sit somewhere quiet with a cup of tea to think about all the things that were brought up in the book. The readers voice was so easy to listen to and I appreciated the authenticity of the language used.
Excited to buy a hard copy for myself and already have a list of friends I need to buy this book for as a gift. The whole experience was Beautiful.
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- JudyVanDyke
- 2023-05-14
Wow!
I am blown away on how beautiful, sad and well written this story is.. just wow, I don’t even have the words.. I love this book so much! I recommend it to anyone looking for a Story to have an impact on their hearts,.. it’s an emotional way to open your eyes up to seeing what the troubles are going on in Syria.. ❤️❤️❤️
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- Crystal Riegert
- 2024-04-06
Not as thrilling as I thought it would be but a solid read
This one came highly recommended and I was told to "grab your tissues".
A fictional story about a pharmacist turned ER surgeon, living in modern-day Syria who struggles to stay alive during civil unrest. She battles mental illness, stemming from PTSD when her family is captured, with a few surprises along the way when she decides to escape the country for a better life.
Overall it was a good story. While I found parts of it sad, by no means did it make me weepy. I found the story very anti-climatic and would have loved a bit less predictability. The first half of the book is a slower burn with the backend more interesting for me. Regardless, I would still recommend this for anyone looking for a solid story with insight into living in a war-torn country or if you prefer books with no "sex, drugs, and rock n' roll".
3/5*
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- ferashtah
- 2023-04-30
Narration
I heard so much about this book but I can’t seem to get into it. It is incredibly heartbreaking for sure because even though the book is fiction, the reality of war and violence is depicted well. I haven’t finished listening yet and not sure if I will. The narrator’s voice very off putting and the performance is just not it specially her narration of the male characters. She’s also over enthusiastic in many scenes where it probably is not required. I should have just bought the actual book and maybe then I might have liked it better.
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