As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

“It didn’t matter that I was eighteen years old. It didn’t matter that my medical experience was confined to the words in my textbooks. All of that was remedied as the first body was laid out before me to be stitched up. Death is an excellent teacher.”

This quote exhibits a somber tone and reveals the intensity of Salama’s circumstances. The reality of death sets in immediately for readers, preparing them for the heavy nature of war and other emotional themes to come.

“Layla looks at me but there’s no annoyance in her eyes. Only compassion. ‘We fight while we’re still here, Salama, because this is our country. This is the land of your father, and his father before him. Your history is embedded in this soil. No country in the world will love you as yours does.’”

Layla’s optimism is shown in her conversations with Salama. Her advice emphasizes their cultural and history identity as Syrians, explaining why they are reluctant to leave home. The word “history” in particular highlights the real-life basis of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow.

“[Khawf] could completely alter my reality, unleashing hallucination upon hallucination, showing everyone that the exterior I’ve put up is nothing more than brittle twigs against a strong wind. Dr. Ziad wouldn’t let me work at the hospital anymore. Not when I could be a danger to the patients. I need the hospital. I need it to forget my pain. To keep my hands busy so my mind doesn’t scream itself hoarse. To save lives. Worse, I’d be piling more worries and anxieties on Layla, affecting her health and the baby’s. No. I’ll endure it all for her.”

Khawf being revealed as a hallucination gives the novel a speculative element, introducing the theme of Mental Health: The Power of One’s Internal World. Salama’s empathy and desire to prioritize others, such as patients and Layla, frame her as a selfless person. She will “endure it all” for her sister-in-law and best friend, which shows the theme of Love and Faith Through Tragedy.