#as long as the lemon trees grow

[annelisreadingroom]

Hi, everyone. It's been busy recently but spring is here. I love all the different spring blossoms I see around town. Do you have a favorite spring flower? I really like the blooming magnolia trees. They are so pretty with the big blossoms.

[ipledgeawaymysanity]

Currently reading As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows by Zoulfa Katouh.

My heart is in pieces and no one—no matter how "horrible" or "weird" they grow up to be—should ever have their childhood and safety taken away so cruelly. This is why literature is so important. Because yes, I read the news. I see the suffering in headlines. But these books, they paint such a vivid picture of pain and individualistic suffering, no amount of desensitization from the media outlets can diminish the pain and fear portrayed in the books.

For anyone trying to be more actively and emotionally connected to the war going on in Palestine...this is the book for you.

[owlshellr]

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. 🍋

[just-a-girl-who-likes-sharks]

“I’m so good at guessing plot twists in books, nothing ever surprises me anymore”

WHAT THE FUCK??????!!!!????

[arabriddler]

as long as the lemon trees grow is great but also can’t emphasize the feeling I got reading about a cool main character who’s a hijabi and she falls in love with a boy but they can’t touch each other or flirt openly until their married… okay… who said Muslims can’t have fun too

[yv-sketches]

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh Instagram

[stuckinstardewvalley]

how does the author expect me to finish her book if i keep crying like this

[razreads]

You don't have to stop living just because we might die.

Zoulfa Katouh, As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow

[themoon-lingers]

I cried. I cired so hard.

'Auntie - don't cry - when i go to Heaven - I'll tell God - everything' 😢

[belle-keys]

My 2023 Ramadan TBR

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

Lost Islamic History by Firas Alkhateeb

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

[al-bayyinah]

as long as the lemon trees grow - Zoulfa Katouh

[thebookishview]

“It’s… it’s a shame, Kenan.”

“What is?” His voice is hushed, and I know he knows what I’m about to say.

“That we never had the chance to find out if we’re each other’s Pazu and Sheeta.”

When he doesn’t say anything, I step so close I can count the freckles on his neck. His breath hitches in his throat and his gaze drops to my lips.

“I wish we had that time,” I whisper. “I really do. I wish—”

As long as the lemon trees grow by Zoulfa Katouh.

[orangesageprincess]

Favorite book you read this year?

rebecca, but that’s just my obsession with gothic literature. for something more contemporary i’d say yellowface, as long as the lemon trees grow & i have some questions for you

[m0chigang]

April Wrap Up ✨

I have my iPad back, I can get back to books I really really really wanted to read, but I had a hard time picking up some books bc I was too focused on fanfics (I blame Ben Barnes). As always, spoiler alert just in case.

1. Circe - 5/5

LISTEN I AM A CHANGED WOMAN. I HAVE NEVER FELT THE FEELINGS I FELT IN THIS BOOK. My heart broke and restored at the same time, I was sadly happy, happily sad. Like... I felt my heart physically rip with the last chapter. Madeline Miller is already the owner of my wallet, I will pre-order everything she writes and I will cry when the time is right. I think I liked this more than The Song of Achilles...

2. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow - 5/5

I was halfway through the book and I cried 4 times... FOUR TIMES AND THE BOOK WASN'T OVER. The plottwist made it a 5 star immediately. I remember thinking "this better not happen" and BAM! my world changed. The romance was just so innocent and beautiful, and then you had the most terrible things happen 2 lines later and you came back to reality. It makes you think of the world and what really matters. And the book is so hopeful. I love it.

3. The Six Deaths of the Saint - 4/5

The only reason it is not a 5 star is because I NEEDED MORE. Bro this was so beautifully written. I usually can't stand 2nd person POVs, but in this book it had a purpose that left me SHOOK. The way the violence and war was written here was beautiful. I need more.

4. The Year of the Witching - 4/5

A friend told me to read it. I loved it. I was shooketh by it, and I want more. Bring Lilith to ANY book and I will read it. Ezra is literally the bestest man I have ever read?? Let me marry him?? I was kind of expecting a non-happy ending, but then we wouldn't have a sequel. ALSO *spoiler* I would have let everyone die and join the witches with the condition that Ezra stayed alive.

5. The Midnight Library - 3.5/5

Ngl, I read this because of BTS, but last time I did that I found one of my favourite books so I had to read it. It made me understand the song Zero O'clock better. As for the book itself, it has an interesting concept, but it made me have mini existential crisis? Which I didn't like?? It did feel like a help book but I was not the target audience for it, it was good, but it is not the way I see life.

[deafening-garden]

[ripemango]

“Know that even in death, you’re my life.”

— Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow