If you want a really tough read, and not just because of the theme, then pick up As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. None of the difficulties I had with this book comes from the story or even technically the writing itself. However, my issues were that the beginning is slow. There is a lot of build up, taking what feels like forever to “get to the point.” The author, like her main characters, are terrible flirts (as in they like to flirt, but might not be great at it right away). Yet, the second half starts to go by quicker, until the end where several years happen in a few pages/comments. The romance aspect is a bit fantastical and romantic, still the idea of hope is needed.
This build up is probably to keep things tense as we worry about our characters, and how the army is slowly creeping towards the city. Still, the army could take their time, I needed to learn more about the history of the country and the present day situations. The biggest thing I did enjoy was how the characters do change, especially how Salama Kassab’s language changes. When she starts to say things as simple as Revolution instead of War, her outlook starts to unfold into a different person. Her mental health starts to take a turn for the better. As she allows herself to love, be loved and hope, things start to turn better. Also, the “What would you do in this situation?” aspect is also interesting. The things our main character does are not pretty (justified by it is war afterall) but how they try and redeem (or not) themselves is well done. This all shows how our characters could leave the country or not, in hopes of safety or loyalty to their home.
And while the style of writing is mostly straight forward there are a few twists. Everything of course is presented in mature reading. Katouh is heavy on the violence aspects (bombing, death, injuries), mental health (Salama is visited by hallucinations and haunted by memories of her family’s death and disappearances) and the crime of the country (not just stealing from your neighbors, but how the coyotes profit on the hopes and fears of others trying to flee the nation). There are several triggers, including (but not limited to) medical content (amputations, lack of medications, clean (or any) beds in the hospital), attempted rape as well as the mention of the rape, death of parents/family/children (of the characters and the country overall), talk of torture/rape (locally and wider pictures), and much more. Even our characters do things to survive that they would never have been able to before and we are shown these things.
One needs a quiet, comfortable location to read and take your time reading. It is for ages at least strong 12-13 and up, but recommended for at least 14 to adults.