As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow | 
pickCharacters were likable but I also loved that they did mistakes and weren't flawless.
This was a bit rough to read, this told about people who were living in the middle of the war and there weren't that many happy moments.
This had some repetitive sentences and also could have been a bit shorter. But this was pretty intriguing to read.
pickHeart wrenching but necessary account of the civil war in Syria through the eyes of a future refugee. After having lost her family, still a teenager, she continues to experience the horrors first hand while working in a hospital and coping with her traumas.
"When I leave, it won‘t be easy. It‘s going to shred my heart to ribbons and all the pieces will be scattered along Syria‘s shore, with the cries of my people haunting me till the day I die."
pickThis was such a beautiful and devastating story. Set during the Syrian revolution, a young pharmacist student loses everything. What used to be her family and home are just a painful memories now. She‘s surviving with the help of her best friend, and by fighting to help unfortunate civilians stay alive at the local hospital. This was such a sad story, but so important to read.
pickThis is a beautiful up-close telling of events in Syria in 2011. It's one of those hard but necessary stories. A nineteen year old girl is faced with the impossible decision of staying and starving in her worn-torn country or leaving for the risky life of a refugee. There is trauma, but the author ends with a note of hope. Highly recommend! Thanks to @meganann and @monalyisha for making me aware of this through #auldlangspine
"Because I see the love you have for me. I see your sacrifice and your kindness. I focus on the hope rather than counting my losses. I have love in my heart because of you.
Because of all the help you gave me when... when they took him away.“
"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."
#aslongaslemontreesgrow
pick🎧 If you liked The Nightingale &/or The Book Thief, this is similar but set in Syria. Good book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4
pickA gut wrenching, important, beautifully told story rich with so much humanity.
I absolutely loved this book! Finished it earlier this week and I‘m still thinking about it often while not really sure I have the words to fully express everything I felt and thought while reading. I will be buying my own copy eventually as I checked this one out from the library. And will be passing that copy to everyone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickWoof. This book was wrenching in all the best ways. I loved the lyricism of Salama's thoughts and the romance she shared with Kenan. Best have some tissues nearby for this one. #yalit
bailedNot the right book for me. I can see the appeal and the importance of shedding light on the reality of Syria's story, but I couldn't get past the fairytale romance stuff - I'm too old for that.
Last: Authentically, Izzy (so fun!)
Current: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow (#botm #bookspinbingo)
Next: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A very heart-wrenching book that is so well told, it will stay with you for awhile.
pickThis book humanizes the characters in such a beautifully and hauntingly relatable way as they decide whether to flee the Syrian civil war and take refuge in Germany or stay. It's a modern story where PTSD was personified in a way that makes you feel like you've held the MC's hand through trauma while also giving you an important look into her decision-making as a survivor with a calling to heal. It was multi-layered and truly an incredible debut.
Homemade pumpkin bread and a new book to start my weekend 🥰
What is everyone reading this weekend??
pick4/5 stars. Beautifully written and extremely moving story of pharmacist student living through the Syrian war. I‘m not a big cryer but I cried big. The only criticism is the most pivotal moment of the book happened about 100 pages from the end. The story lagged a bit from then on and could have been condensed to leave the reader with the biggest impact. A lot of triggering events throughout the book.
pickWow! I read this in a day. Not easy to read about what happened in Syria, but important.
My October BOTM box FINALLY showed up this afternoon!
I‘ve heard superb reviews about this one from those who got their boxes sooner than I did!
(Thanks USPS! 🙄)
The cover is STUNNING!!
Hopefully the next few days of travels will afford me enough of an opportunity to break away for reading through this one while I anticipate what will hopefully be great picks for November boxes!
I just went in blind 🤷🏻♀️ maybe these will be good! What did you choose?!
#BOTM
