Discover the start of the discussion here . Duration: 3 weeks, 21/03-11/04/23 Win 1 of 20 reading copies ✨ In dieser Leserunde wird der Roman in der Originalsprache Englisch gelesen und die Diskussionsrunde im Book Circle findet in englischer Sprache statt. An epic, emotional, breathtaking story of love and loss set amid the Syrian revolution. Burning with the fires of hope and possibility, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow will sweep you up and never let you go. For this reading group we’re giving away 20 free reading copies of the novel, in cooperation with Bloomsbury Academic. How to participate You’d like to read along and discuss the novel with other readers? Fill in this form and enter your postal address to apply for the reading group and to win one of the 20 free copies. By confirming the completed form you’re automatically in the run for a space in the reading group. The reading group 📖 The number of participants is limited to 20 people. Participants will be selected at random. After the application deadline, the winners will be announced in a comment in this thread and will receive an email with further information. All confirmed participants will receive a free copy of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow . We’ll read and discuss the novel together. The exchange will take place in writing, in this forum discussion thread. After completing the book, all participants will write their personal review of the book here in the community. Conditions of participation Residence and valid postal address in Switzerland. Time to read the book during the specified period and to actively participate in the discussion, in English. Writing a personal review of the book at the end of the reading group on bookcircle.ch. Agreement that the feedback from readers and the reading group will be shared with the publisher and may be used by the publisher for advertising purposes. More about the book As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow 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. 448 pages Published 15 September 2022 Recommended for ages 13+ About the author Zoulfa Katouh is a Syrian Canadian based in Switzerland. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Drug Sciences and finds Studio Ghibli inspiration in the mountains, lakes and stars surrounding her. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is her debut novel.

CommunityAdmin well, what a pleasant surprise to see this reading group offer. I’m so into it and would love to participate and discuss this novel with other readers. 🥰 thanks for this new reading group offer!

A reading session in English, great 😃I would be happy to take part.

Wow the book sounds very interesting, and I will have some extra time for reading around Easter, therefore I hope I will get to participate. Good luck to everyone!

Finally an English book!! How wonderful!!

CommunityAdmin , wow, this would be a big challenge for me to refresh my English skills. The last book I’ve read in English, was the first part of “Harry Potter”, “The philosopher’s stone”. Quite a while since…

CommunityAdmin As an absolute fan of literature in English (reading the books of the Booker Prize longlist every year) I would be delighted to participate in this group and share my thoughts with others. What a wonderful offer!

What a wonderful idea to hold an english reading group! Have fun!

Great idea but unfortunately I’m excluded from this group because I’m living overseas. I guess a digital copy of the book would have been too expensive to deliver! Anyway, I bought a digital copy and was wondering if I can participate as a silent reader? Wishing everybody a pleasant reading experience.

Huskey in the German reading groups, people who bought their own copy are usually encouraged to contribute to the discussion. Therefore I think that there is no need to be a silent reader, you are welcome to join in.

Englische Leserunde: «As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow» by Zoulfa Katouh

AnaRPG

Horapolo That’s an interesting point on Khwaf. I also found his attitude too aggressive when compared to the rest of the characters. At this point, I can agree with Salama that he is her survival instinct and he makes her do anything in order to save herself and the ones she loves.

Taamaaraa-lein

I had problems at the beginning of the book. I needed some days to really imagine the war scenery as it was discribed, bc I’m not used to see war pictures. But when I finally begun to read the book and the film appeared in my head (I always see films in my head while reading), I couldn’t put the book away. The writing is good, there were a lot of scenes which made me become goosebumps. The story already got me emotionally attached.

Personally, I’m not sure what to think of Kahwf. I kinda get him, but I also can’t be okay with what he’s doing to Salama. And what he’ll made her do next to An’s daughter.

But I can’t wait to get home now and read, I’m thinking about the story all day long!

Bamie

I finished the first part yesterday evening and slept a night over what i read. The narration continues very pictorial. You can also see that Zoulfa Katouh usually chooses the colour blue for the beautiful things in life (nightsky, Laylas eyes or the dress for her date). As a contras the evening sun and Laylas hair are described red/orange. Outside these little sparks of color the description is very monochrome. I underrstand the difficulties of reading this fictional but close realistic story.

The similarity between Khawf and Kenan is confusing, as the two have different views on leaving Syria. Khawf reminds me of a little devil sitting on the shoulder and whispering moral in one ear.

“all I have is Layla and the hospital” might be right at the beginning of this part. Now there is more especially the undefined relationship to Kenan. Kind of fate that they get along with eachother so well. I guess their love to Syria and the unhappend date unites them, and of course Salama operation on Lama.

The last page provides a glimpse of hope, may Salama find away to escape through helping Am’s daughter?

Jack-The-Russell

I also finished reading the first part yesterday. First of all, how nice that the book was signed by Zoulfa Katouh, thank you very much for that💐

About the book: It is in the nature of the circumstances that it is rather a heavy subject. I started reading with mixed feelings. I “only” know Syria from the news. So it wasn’t easy for me to get into the story.

I found the descriptions of the scenes, such as in the hospital and during the operation, impressive.

I am still undecided what to think of Khwaf. And now I’m looking forward to the next chapters, and I’m curious to hear what you have to say.

Another_Bookstory

Jack-The-Russell i will share with you my biggest mistake i did with this book: it was lunch time and i was already finished with eating and i thought.- Hey Tina theres a lot if time left, read a fey pages. So i did. I was reading capture 5 where she needed to take care of Ahmad. I started crying and everyone was looking at me 😭

Thats where i started not reading in public anymore 🫠

The story is amazing. I love the characters and her writing. Her way to describe things is truly a gift. Im also curious to read more about Khawf. Im a little scared what will happened till the end because its already heartbreaking.

Side Note- If you like this story i can recommend : The Beekeeper of Aleppo 😊

Cant wait to read the next part 😊

Jack-The-Russell

Another_Bookstory oh I understand you only too well. I did the reading in public thing too, at first - but stopped very quickly. On the train, fellow passengers asked me if everything was OK and offered me a handkerchief😢

Thanks for the recommendation, then I already know what my next book will be after this one. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is on the List 😊

Carol16

Fanny Hey, does anybody know where the conversation is about part one? Do we just share pur thoughts here in the main thread?

Kessy

I love books that transport you into another world from the first page. Without knowing more about the characters or the background, a special mood is created that immediately immerses you in the book.

This book is definitely one of those. I immediately felt transported to occupied Syria and sympathised with X and felt her desperation and resignation.

I have now read the first part and I have to say, heavy fare for a Young Adult book. I’m usually a bit sceptical about YA and romances and it’s not exactly my favourite genre, but this book completely captivated me.

I have a 7-year-old daughter myself and the description of the injured children and Kenan’s sister’s surgery made me swallow hard. The book is at once sad and heart-breaking and at the same time poetic and hopeful.

I am curious to see what happens next.

Horapolo

The book reads interesting. While we learn about the main chatacter, we find ourself into a demolished city in Syria were civilians are killed and injured by snippers shots and bombs. How can people survive in that circumstances and find hope in this ruins were everything is lacking? Zoulfa Katouh describes the horror a young woman has to deal with every single day in a sober realistic way. Her life changed completly and she is pushed back and forth by memories of beloved ones and decitions needed to be made to survive.

The novel binds me in a certain way because of a well balanced description of the ongoing life in the city Homes, the relationships between people and vivid descriptions of historic Syria and the culture.

I‘m curious what will happen next to Salama and her sister in law. Will they have to stay or bring up a way to flee the country?

The way Salama‘s thoughts on loved ones are described are very touching.

stephiesheena

RadioSilence

I’m finally caught up on the first part too and I share most of the thoughts and feelings of you all.

It feels wrong to say that I love this story so far, as it depicts such horrors and difficult situations with the war being the one big thing that drives thoughts, words and actions of our characters.

I love the writing style and really enjoy diving deeper into Salama’s mind. Khawf, to me, seems like an accurate representation of what trauma and guilt can look like for someone.

Not to compare her suffering and trauma with mine (as I’ve never had to experience war), but I do believe that his aggressivnes is not over the top, because I know the cruel things I hear in my own head - with trauma that hasn’t even got guilt in it, or war as a setting - so I do believe that Khawf’s part is very authentic.

I hope that we see Salama silence him more and more as the story progresses, and all in all, I’m very much intrigued to read on.

RadioSilence

stephiesheena

I think my comment has been somewhat misunderstood. I did not want to say that Salama’s trauma should not be addressed - no, I think it is important and of course it should be a subject of the novel. Salama’s memories and fears are not over-the-top. But personally, I don’t need a personification of trauma. I would have preferred another approach to show the reader her trauma, but I also acknowledge that it is very hard to write about these things.
This is just my personal opinion. Many of you don’t mind Khwaf’s character and that is fine - for me he is just a little distracting.

stephiesheena

RadioSilence
I absolutely hear you. I hope my comment didn’t come across as an attack on your take. Because that’s not at all what I inteded to do. I just wanted to give my point of view on Khawf. I do not mind that you see him and his representation a little different than me, in fact, I think that this is one of the most enjoyable things while reading in a group. You discuss and talk about the story and are therefore able to view it from different angles, as different people have different opinions and things that stand out to them 😊

SaraBooklove

I find these first few pages very difficult to read. I really struggled with the first reading section, with my feelings about what I was reading, but also with the thoughts of whether I wanted to continue reading or not. I find it very interesting to learn more about Syria, and Salma is a very strong character. I really enjoy delving deeper into Salma’s mind.

Actually, I don’t often read such serious books. But every now and then I do. Maybe 1-2 times a year. I like the writing style of Zoulfa Katouh. The fact that the book is in English is a bit annoying, but that’s what translation programs are for if you need it.

LupaLou

So now I just finished part two.

After part one I wasn’t sure what I wanted to think about Khawf. I was torn apart thinking of him being kind of a rude person sitting in Salamas imagination. I just didn’t want to accept him being that rude he seems. But while reading the second part his rudeness shrinked and his power over Salama changed. I think he now really is her trauma coped with the instinct to survive Salama needs to handle the situation she is in. Personally I find that change powerful and clever. It underlines the story perfectly.

And now to the story itself… Oh my… My emotions are riding the whole rollercoaster whilst reading. I first cried tears of grief and sadness, now they’re tears of happiness. The war scenery with those powerful and captivating emotions, Kenan and Salama, the hospital. For me a perfectly balanced story. Can’t wait to continue and find out what happens next. But I might need to buy a box full of tissues to keep next to me…

Another_Bookstory

Jack-The-Russell the power of books! Would love to here your thoughts on the beekeeper book after you finished ☺️

Kessy

Wow, what a cliffhanger at the end of part 2! Of course I had to read on immediately 😊.

I still find the book beautiful and depressing at the same time, but it reads very smoothly and has its moments of suspense. The love between Salama and Kenan is of course not a surprise and gives a little hope in all the suffering.

I must confess that I have only little knowledge of the circumstances in Syria, so I find the description of the political situation and life in Homs very interesting and eye-opening.

RadioSilence

Finished part two yesterday.

This book is really touching and I agree, eye-opening.
I am not 100% in for the romance - that I have to admit (although I like Kenan), but still As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is a very well-written novel.

I am going to start part three this evening.
Is there going to be a happy end or not?
The book could develop in either way…

Another_Bookstory

RadioSilence i totally agree. I really enjoyed reading the second part. Even though my heart breaks i love reading about the flashbacks. Its so crazy thinking that she was this happy, fun ambitious young girl and became know someone who is fitting for existents every single day!

And the crazy part is that even though its fiction i dont want to know how many people really living like this 🥺

Living in peace should not be this hard for some. 🥺

Back to the book: i started watching Ghibli Animes because she writes about them with so much passion!

Cant wait to see where the next part will lead us.

and im praying every night that there will be some kind of happy ending 😭

Bamie

With a little delay, I have also completed the second part. Love slowly blossoms and finds a worthy chapter conclusion with the marriage proposal. It is also finally clear why the book bears its title. ‘Every lemon will bring forth a childand the lemons will never die out.’ Nevertheless, it is once again shown how close joy and suffering are in a war/ revolution. To be honest, I was amazed at how hard-boiled Salama was when negotiating with Am for more seats on the boat. Now I can hardly wait to read more. Which ring will supplement Am’s payment? And more will they all make it onto the boat?

Jack-The-Russell

I almost forgot to write something about it because of all the emotion. First I had to go back to see where part two went so as not to spoil it. The story really grabbed me.

About part two: This one is not less emotional than the one before, reading in public is still not possible. But unlike part two, it’s now happy emotions with Salama and Kenan. Their love in all the suffering is a glimmer of hope.

Over this story I keep catching myself thinking “it’s not just a story, in Syria a big part of this book is real.” Which, in between, keeps me thinking and sad, and at the same time grateful for everything I have.

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