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As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
- Narrated by: Sarah Agha
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
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As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
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Summary
Bloomsbury presents As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, read by Sarah Agha.
Burning with the fires of hope and possibility, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow will sweep you up and never let you go.
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 was even supposed to be meeting a boy to talk about marriage.
Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors. She knows that she should be thinking about leaving, but who will help the people of her beloved country if she doesn't? With her heart so conflicted, her mind has conjured a vision to spur her to action. His name is Khawf, and he haunts her nights with hallucinations of everything she has lost.
But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, when she crosses paths with Kenan, the boy she was supposed to meet on that 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.
Critic reviews
"Zoulfa Katouh writes from the heart about the Syria she knows and loves. She tells with an authentic voice one of the great and most tragic stories of our time. The tender love story at the heart of the novel humanises the horrors of war and the shocking tragedy that has befallen Syria. This is an important book. Everyone should read it," (Elizabeth Laird, award-winning author of Welcome to Nowhere)
"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)
"By turns heart-wrenching and heart-warming, Zoulfa Katouh’s debut is an unflinching and eye-opening exploration of the impact of war. Beautiful, powerful and ringing with emotion, it will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading." (Katherine Woodfine, author of the Sinclair's Mysteries)
What listeners say about As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- SNH
- 02-06-23
A must read!
A beautiful book, that has been well written and tells such an important story. Excellent
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- chan
- 07-09-23
Incredible heartfelt book
Captivating novel and well read, I couldn't 'put it down'. Thoroughly recommend giving it a read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Suzie
- 27-01-24
Loved it!
A little bit of a slow start, but wow definitely worth sticking with. The characters had real depth and it feels more like an autobiography rather than a work of fiction (based on real events). Would definitely recommend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hannah Foster
- 09-01-24
What a performance
Beautifully read. Interesting subject and very emotive. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone. Will look for author again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 09-10-22
Gut punching incredible
The most beautifully written and equally devastating book I have read in a while. A book that gives a voice to the people of Syrian and the Syrians diaspora.
Incredibly raw, full of emotion, of heartache and eventually hope.
My the heart weep for the people of Syria.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lucy
- 03-06-23
Wonderful
Thought provoking. Wonderful characters. Stayed up way too late listening to this book. Highly recommend.
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- Carol
- 19-09-23
Incredible book
So beautifully written and wonderfully read. I could picture the scenes and feel the emotions. A book that will have a lasting effect on me.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- E. Ramdarshan
- 12-12-23
Interesting story
I found the story interesting and very relevant to today. However I could not be moved or get into the story fully because of the annoying voice of the narrator. I wonder why no-one thought that the story narrated by a Syrian woman would have had much more depth, colour and feelings. That voice repeating "Salama" with such a British accent was completely off putting. To cut this review short, I think the book is good but not the audio so I would recommend you read it yourself!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alison Hushon
- 20-12-22
A must read, so insightful and a story of true hope and bravery
A wonderful gripping story, beautifully narrated taking the reader into the reality of life in Syria. A real life human experience of war and the impact on innocent people and yet such strength and belief shines throughout the story
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- sam
- 26-02-24
Wonderful tale of resilience, remembrance and hope
A gripping tale that might seem lighthearted in its classification of YA novel, but it’s actually deep war tale filled with emotions, meaning and significance it conveys. It’s a must read for anyone interested in getting a glimpse into beautiful Syria.
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