AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW: A Book I Left Unfinished

In “As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow” by Zoulfa Katouh, Salama Kassab, a former pharmacy student, finds her life uprooted by the Syrian uprising.

At a time where medical expertise is scarce, Salama is thrown into the hospital in Homs and expected to take care of her patients as if she were a doctor. Meanwhile, she worries about her family’s safety and plots to escape Syria with her sister-in-law, Layla, before she gives birth. And to add it it all, Salama’s anxiety and fear take shape through an imaginary companion named Khawf, who follows her every move.

I found this book to be incredibly disturbing—so disturbing that I could not finish, which is something that I rarely do. I picked up this book to expose myself to a different culture and the conflicts of a different culture. And while it definitely does that, I don’t see the need to be so morbid. I get that it's important to face uncomfortable truths and show the tough parts of life, but I wonder if Katouh could have done it in a more balanced way without losing the authenticity of the culture.

There’s so many trigger warnings that need to follow this book, and unless you are truly prepared, do not pick up this book.