The Lemon Grove

by Ali Hosseini

Identical twins Ruzbeh and Behruz are at the center of Ali Hosseini’s debut novel in English--a story about love, redemption, and the courage to survive in the face of calamity and loss. The novel begins in the small town in southern Iran where the boys were raised and in their summer home which is surrounded by a lemon grove. Their idyll is shattered by personal and geopolitical events. Both boys fall in love with Shireen, a childhood friend. Behruz goes to America to escape the pain of competing for Shireen's affections. Ruzbeh fights in the Iran/Iraq war and ends up alone and wandering the streets. When Behruz returns to Iran to help his shell-shocked brother, he finds the country devastated by revolution and war. His return sets off a string of events that change all their lives.

　

Genres: Fiction, Iran, Politics, Historical Fiction, Cultural, Middle East, Ebooks

200 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2012

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book stated on the cover that it did for Iran what kite runner did for Afghanistan. Plain and simple, no where close. The story line was fine, but I never felt any sort of emotional attachment to the characters. It seemed to be more of a "this is what happened once I came back to Iran" story - leaving a lot unsaid or unexplained. The book should be longer with more development of the characters.

[Jennifer Molleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

the end was a little3 disappointing. for a book that was supposed to be the next kite runner it didnt come close for me.

[Carly Dillis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly fine book just mostly boring

[Doreen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in late 1970s Iran, this novel is narrated by Behruz Pirzad who, after studying in the U.S., has returned to Iran upon hearing that his twin brother Ruzbeh is suffering with post-traumatic stress as a result of fighting in the Iran-Iraq war. Behruz finds his home country greatly changed. Because of the repressive religious authoritarian rule of the ayatollahs, Behruz’s affair with a married woman has disastrous consequences and he ends up hiding out at Narenjastan, his family’s lemon grove. In flashbacks he describes his happy childhood spent at the grove, outlines some of his experiences in the United States, and refers to what happened upon his return to post-revolutionary Iran.

I had difficulty getting emotionally involved with the novel and its characters. At the beginning we learn that Behruz attempted suicide by ingesting pesticide and, though he survives, he remains somewhat disjointed from reality. Just as he feels dislocated from a place he no longer recognizes, the reader remains detached from him. The fact that most of the novel is narrated via flashbacks gives the impression of events occurring at a distance which further distances the reader from the impact of those events.

The book is fairly short and could use some further development. There are unanswered questions: Is Musa’s distrust of Kemal warranted? How can Shireen’s behaviour be explained if her love for her husband is as deep as she claims and if she is aware of the consequences of an illicit affair? Some of the plotting is weak. For example, Behruz’s visit to the home of Javid and Farideh seems very coincidental especially since they were never mentioned previously and then serve such a pivotal role.

The novel does give a glimpse of life for ordinary Iranians during a time of upheaval. Certainly the peaceful childhood Behruz remembers no longer exists. The lemon grove serves as a symbol of the collapsing society. At one time the grove was lush and full of sweet lemons; now a disease has attacked the trees which bear little fruit, and the desert is gradually encroaching on the grove. There is a suggestion that the land can be brought back to life but it will require a great deal of tending by both the young and the old, represented by Kemal and Musa in whose care Behruz leaves the grove.

The author makes clear that he believes hope for Iran’s future lies in not letting “the scars of the past . . . [dim] hope and optimism toward the future.” He describes Iran as “an old nation not able to break with its past, a past that is a heavy load not just dragged behind but also controlling the future. . . . It’s as if the train of time had left us many stations back while we were busy with our past and our God.”

I appreciated the perspective offered by this book: an inside look into Iran at a time of turmoil. I just wish it had been provided more than just a glimpse and had been more emotionally engaging.

Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).

[Sheila Vandal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to have given this book a higher rating, maybe a 3.5 or even a 3.75 but I couldn't quite give it a 4. I enjoyed it, I cared about the plot and the characters and the situations they were faced with. This view of their lives and trials, the harshness of their culture paired with the genuine feelings and family ties is touching. The story dealt with so many issues from war, love, family, adultery, mental illness, refugee, smuggling, and more but I felt like so much was not fully dealt with. The conclusion was left unfinished by far. Beyond that, several subjects were not fully explored. I'm left with the idea that I almost read a great story but never quite got the full meanings. Maybe I wasn't meant to; maybe that was a statement on how you can never understand the complications of life but must go on nevertheless to the best of your ability, like Shireen. Still, I wish I knew more.

[Jennifer Chowdhury · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the writing is poetic and beautiful, it took a long time to get to the plot. It may share common themes with the Kite Runner, the writing style is different. I had a hard time getting through it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book for Trim the backlist - Yea!

I was disappointed with this book. I love learning about Iran. There's something about the Persian culture that fascinates me.

This book takes place just after the conservative Islamists took over. We are introduced to Behruz who has come back to the Lemon Grove his family owned. He has run away from danger in the city and is hiding. He feels he has left Shireen to face punishment alone and in despair drinks poison. A family friend finds him and helps him purge the poison. While recovering, this friend Musa, shares information about Behruz's missing twin brother, Ruzbeh as well as telling him stories about himself.

It was hard to really get involved with the story. Behruz doesn't talk much at first so the interactions feel stilted. There is also a lot of exposition through Behruz reminiscing of his childhood and young adulthood. I liked the characters just never really felt connected to them.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose The Lemon Grove for my very-long-term-world-challenge for Iran. The story’s focus on two brothers and their strained relationship had promise, but I found the pacing of the story to be rather slow, and this made it difficult to stay engaged. What it did do well was to capture the essence and culture of a rural Iranian village, with its rich descriptions of traditions and landscapes, especially the titular lemon grove.

[Tammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and almost couldn't put it down. The ending was very disappointing. I felt cheated at knowing what happened to the characters. Maybe there is sequel or a plan for a sequel?

[Laura J Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first half dragged. Once the other brother shows up the story became interesting and I read the rest of the book in one sitting. The ending was abrupt. I did like that the author left the fate of the characters unanswered.

[Reba Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this one and it was okay but not my style at all.

[carli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely slow and felt like it was only the middle of a story, but I enjoyed the writing. It was more of an atmospheric read than a plot-driven read. 3.5/5 rounded up!

[Ivyalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!

Be there in Iran and Afghanistan during the Revolution. A most unsettling time. Experience what life was like for them.

[Callahan Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Had potential but was overall kinda boring.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most compelling aspect of this book for me was the sense of loss and longing. One could concentrate on the loss of the loved one but in this book the loss of a country, the loss of a culture, the loss of family and the loss of the past resonate even stronger in me. There is a pervading sense of sadness and nostalgia that grabs me at a very personal level being a self-exiled person living in a different country and a different culture. In the case of the protagonist though, this personal loss becomes a loss of national proportions when he returns to his country of origin now in the hands of fanatical religious leaders that have transformed Iran from a prosperous, modern nation with a rich historical past into a nation torn inside, divided, isolated,ostracized by the West and deeply mistrusted. Not all Iranians are bent on the destruction of the infidels abroad, most of them just want to live in peace,get an education,raise a family and contribute to society. This novel can be read at many levels but for those Americans who judge Iran based on headline news and soundbites of our biased media; it would be quite instructive to understand how many Iranians see the current situation in Iran. This book read as a window into the political and religious situation in Iran could do much to the cause of peace and understanding between nations.

[Mark Wilkerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book has a beautiful backdrop (Iran, a country one doesn't get a chance to read about in fiction very often) and a sense of historical urgency (Iran, during or soon after the Iran/Iraq War), the story is really too simple and the narrator too disconnected from the world around him for me to necessarily care about him. Many loose ends exist that are never tied up, and the secondary characters are not fully fleshed-out, especially as the story begins to wind down.

I have read reviews comparing this novel to "The Kite Runner" and in tone and style, it certainly does mimic the superior "The Kite Runner," but Khaled Hosseini did just publish a new novel; check out that one out instead.

Certainly there is promise in "The Lemon Grove" and I look forward to checking out more from Ali Hosseini; however, this one is just a bit too raw and is missing that certain something(s) that it takes for a book to be considered a masterpiece.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the beginning. It's a story about two brothers in Iran and one leaves for America and the other marries their childhood friend, a woman they both loved. The novel takes place at the time when Americans were taken hostage during Jimmy Carter's presidency. And the first scene opens with the brother from America, Behruz recovering from a pesticide poisoning, or so his friend who finds him tells him. His brother Ruzbeh is missing and the authorities have taken his brother's wife, and childhood friend, Shireen away. Behruz finds his mother, eventually reconnects with his brother and is set on finding out what happened to Shireen. This short novel kept me up reading to find out what happened. The ending however was less satisfying than the narrative, maybe just like real life. I felt the story should keep going and it felt like the story ended too soon for me. Or maybe I was just so caught up in the story I didn't want it to end.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt slightly askew, like I was inside someone else's dream. To a certain extent, that was effect since the main character is feverish and confused for much of the story. But as far as following the narrative, it left a lot to be desired. There were, as others have said, some lovely passages, and I enjoyed reading and thing about the Iranian's views of America. I'm still confused how he could be "hiding" in a family home....maybe I watch too many episodes of NCIS, but I don't think his hiding place would have fooled Gibbs. just saying.
Bottom-line, and interesting and somewhat feverish visit into another world view, but disappointing story arc in my opinion.

PS...I also think the similarity in the authors name to the Kite Runner Author is a big reason a lot of people pick this up. This is NOT the author of the Kite Runner, FYI.

[Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style in the first few chapters of this book was a bit hard to get into, and there was so little background at first that it took a while for the story to make sense, but once the story started coming together this was a great book,a snapshot of life in Iran after the Iran-Iraq war. Despite the fact that many stories about this region are heavily political, this novel is far more of a human story, looking at what it meant to be living in a world turning from a secular modern culture towards a non-technological, Islam-inspired theocracy. It is sad that such a lovely place, with such potential and such lovely people, turned so sour so quickly, but as this novel suggests, perhaps there is still some hope for a better future in Iran, even if it is not likely to come quickly enough for its current inhabitants.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, despite the difficulty of the setting - Iran during its war with Iraq - and the painful struggles of the main character, Behruz. This is very much an interior book, experienced through what I would describe as the fog of Behruz's mind. I describe it as a fog because the pace of the story and Behruz's situation converge in a sense of disconnection, of a life being lived at a distance from the surroundings. One gradually learns what has caused Behruz's sense of loss and dislocation, layer upon layer. But at its core, there is also a peace and calmness that is striking. It is a remarkable effect as the story proceeds both forward and backward through flashbacks. I highly recommend it for the writing, the story, and the (to me) unusual setting and culture

[Sandra]

The has prospects to be the new Kite Runner! News sound bites are often the only way we get a glimpse into the state of affairs in Iran. This book is said to offer an in-depth look into the country's culture from the point of view of an Iranian. It does for Iran what Khaled Hosseini's best seller did for Afghanistan. Plot notes: After a stint in the US, a man returns to his hometown during the Iran-Iraq war to discover his twin brother's marriage to a childhood sweetheart on the brink of collapse. For a book-club alert, this touching story of redemption has potential to win over hearts of the toughest critics in monthly wine, ahem, book clubs! Anxiously awaiting read! (7/25/12)

[Lori March · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book for some insight into life in Iran; this I gained. The struggle to live free is fought every day there. The story highlights the kindness of others in times of great need. At times the story is sidetracked, but thus is life. I only rated the book as two stars because the story felt unfinished. Are we as readers to read the whole thing only to be left with a dream? It needs more of an ending. I would still recommend it to people for some perspective on life in a war torn country. People who liked Anne Frank's diary would find something of value here as well.

[Shelfari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read, with a few valuable quotations that I pulled out. Happens over the course of a few days. 2 brothers in Iran loving the same girl. One fights in the Iran-Iraq war. The second flees to America for education. I didn't like the book too much. The second one returns to Iran to find his brother injured and their lover escaped to Afghanistan who he goes after. They write to the other brother to bring their mother to safety here as well. Abrupt end made me feel I was watching a foreign film or something.

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slight, slice of life novel about a man who has returned to Iran (from America) shortly after the Iran-Iraq war during the revolution. There are some lovely poetic passages but for me the overall story was lacking. The narrator is ill, having just attempted suicide due to guilt over an event that we don't see. His floating between the here and now vs memory as well as between America and Iran add to the sensation that he has lost his grounding.

[Shelly deBraga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about twin brothers in southern Iran, who both fall in love with the same woman, Shireen. Behruz goes to America to escape the pain of competing for Shireen's affections. He returns to a revolutionary and war torn Iran and escapes to his families summer home which is surrounded by a lemon grove, where a string of events changes all their lives. I really enjoyed this book after I got about 40 or 50 pages into it. It was an easy and entertaining read.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book felt very foreign in style although the language was simple. I enjoyed the setting in Iran and the variety of characters. The writer lets the reader become gradually aware of the trauma that the main characters have been through and how they have dealt with personal and political influences. I was disappointed that their situation is not completely resolved, but it felt true to life.

[Myrna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it...but not crazy about the story for some reason. I found the story left many details "up in the air". Why the brother came to have mental problems was not addressed. Why had the main character gone to the U.S. in the first place? I did understand the reason for giving up the property, in hopes that it would be cared for and produce fruit again. Overall, I don't think I cared for the characters.

Since I read it on Kindle I find it difficult to go back and review.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just came out. I encourage others to read this. It is a slice of life from another culture and reminds us of the many freedoms and luxuries that we take for granted. Born in Iran, the author writes a remarkably sensitive and poetic love story in English, not his native language. He too, like his main character, has one foot in each country, and aptly and creatively expresses this dichotomy.

[Sharon Hardin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, interesting, but I wanted more. It is a minimalist story and a fast read, but left me dissatisfied and wanting more details and character development. This is the author's firt book in English and I will watch for his next, because he uses the language well and entices with his imagery.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story which takes us into a world which is completely foreign to Americans, given our history with Iran over the past 33 years. It is beautifully written, especially since the author is not writing in his native language, and it offers a tantalizing glimpse of the lives of ordinary Iranians caught up in the larger political struggles. I look forward to this author’s next book.