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Lemon Twist
At ten years old, Aaron loses his older brother to leukaemia. This profound loss creates tremendous instability in the family for years. The bereaved parents suffered from intense depression and eventually separate. After that, Aaron comes to believe that he is not the child his family looks to for leadership. This realisation fills him with bitter indignation and hatred towards his parents. Devastated by the haunting emotions of the long-buried grief and neglect of his parents, he runs from his village at the age of seventeen.
Moving out on his own to the city for the first time is challenging. Aaron faces new social situations that cause him hardship. He retreats to seclusion and solitude for a long time. The only moments he cherishes are when a regular client visits the bookstore where he works. She's a mature woman whose grace and beauty leave him transfixed. But Aaron's love remains unrequited.
Alex is the first person to open the door of friendship to Aaron and help him overcome the isolation that controls his life. Alex introduces him to a world of excitement and alcohol. Unfortunately, their friendship doesn't last long, as Alex's circumstances change after discovering the truth behind his conception, a reality that affects him dramatically.
Despite his newfound engagement in the world, something is still missing in Aaron's heart. He looks for a sense of belonging and approval. He needs to give up all the afflictions that have followed him since childhood. To escape, he moves to a foreign country in a quest for answers. In the exotic Dubai, he works as a bartender and encounters several characters. The things he sees and the stories he hears are life-changing. Nesrine is a woman who resides in Dubai illegally in illicit trade; Caroline is an Egyptian-American whose marriage is on the verge of collapse. Nesrine's problems, however, are more complex.
In the course of his quest, Aaron confronted by a severe sickness that confines him to bed for several months. He loses his business, his apartment, his livelihood. Nesrine offers to nurse him during this convalescence. As the story unfolds and their relationship deepens, Aaron discovers the truth about her past. Both confess their pain and Aaron sees this as the first steps of a love story between two fragile people.
But some people are meant to be miserable. Aaron receives a letter from Alex that reopens his healing wounds. He must return to London to complete the last favour Alex asked of him. He promises Nesrine he'll return in a few weeks, but on the plane, a note falls from his jacket.
Heartbroken, Aaron returns to his mother after nine years. He stays with her for a few months to complete his recovery. After that, he meets with Alex's mother and executes his will.
With a chronic disease and perhaps only a few years left to live, Aaron finally realises that the completeness of these experiences has allowed him to attain harmony, reconcile with grief, and forgive himself and life. Towards the end of the story, an unexpected twist adorns his agonising life with a pleasant flavour.
Moving out on his own to the city for the first time is challenging. Aaron faces new social situations that cause him hardship. He retreats to seclusion and solitude for a long time. The only moments he cherishes are when a regular client visits the bookstore where he works. She's a mature woman whose grace and beauty leave him transfixed. But Aaron's love remains unrequited.
Alex is the first person to open the door of friendship to Aaron and help him overcome the isolation that controls his life. Alex introduces him to a world of excitement and alcohol. Unfortunately, their friendship doesn't last long, as Alex's circumstances change after discovering the truth behind his conception, a reality that affects him dramatically.
Despite his newfound engagement in the world, something is still missing in Aaron's heart. He looks for a sense of belonging and approval. He needs to give up all the afflictions that have followed him since childhood. To escape, he moves to a foreign country in a quest for answers. In the exotic Dubai, he works as a bartender and encounters several characters. The things he sees and the stories he hears are life-changing. Nesrine is a woman who resides in Dubai illegally in illicit trade; Caroline is an Egyptian-American whose marriage is on the verge of collapse. Nesrine's problems, however, are more complex.
In the course of his quest, Aaron confronted by a severe sickness that confines him to bed for several months. He loses his business, his apartment, his livelihood. Nesrine offers to nurse him during this convalescence. As the story unfolds and their relationship deepens, Aaron discovers the truth about her past. Both confess their pain and Aaron sees this as the first steps of a love story between two fragile people.
But some people are meant to be miserable. Aaron receives a letter from Alex that reopens his healing wounds. He must return to London to complete the last favour Alex asked of him. He promises Nesrine he'll return in a few weeks, but on the plane, a note falls from his jacket.
Heartbroken, Aaron returns to his mother after nine years. He stays with her for a few months to complete his recovery. After that, he meets with Alex's mother and executes his will.
With a chronic disease and perhaps only a few years left to live, Aaron finally realises that the completeness of these experiences has allowed him to attain harmony, reconcile with grief, and forgive himself and life. Towards the end of the story, an unexpected twist adorns his agonising life with a pleasant flavour.
258 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2019
4 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Anoir Ou-chad
2 books15 followersAnoir Ou-chad is a Moroccan author, lecturer, poet, and therapist. He has worked as an educator for more than 15 years. During his career, he taught in different parts of the world, primarily in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. His talents and contribution as an educator have been recognized by many academic institutions and colleges. He worked as lecturer at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom teaching social anthropology and Middle Eastern culture. He taught in many bases around the UK and abroad. Currently, he works as a freelance lecturer, teaching Travel and Tourism, Business and Public Services around the different colleges in the UK.
As a columnist, he wrote many poems, quotes, and articles that appeared in L’Opinion newspaper. In his writings, he touched on issues such as exploitation of women, human rights, discrimination, and tolerance.
In 2016, he started an MA in creative writing, but later opted out. He said: “Taking a creative writing course is like snorkeling in a pool nearby Tubbataha”. Despite his ties to academia, he always advocates autodidacticism as a learning method. He believes that knowledge is easily accessible to everyone today at the push of a button.
In 2019, Anoir published his first novel, Lemon Twist. A contemporary novel that portrays the psychological impact of grieving a sibling. The story is set in three different places: North Wales, London, and Dubai. The author allows readers to situate characters in multicultural contexts. The story promotes multiculturalism and challenges readers' thinking and emotions to reassess how they relate to the rest of the world.
In 2022, he published a poetry collection titled The Alien, detailing the complexities of human emotions, memories, desires, and perceptions. The themes depict the torment one faces when trying to reconcile ethical dilemmas and one's own desires. The author brings the readers in touch with the persona of the poem by allowing them to share the characters' moments of conflict, the relationships they have, as well as their perspectives on society and life as a whole. The book touches on sensitive topics including alienation, existentialism, suicide, abuse, gender identity, sexual orientation, domestic violence, separation, mental and physical illnesses, loss, and many others.
In his free time, Anoir walks in the woods, plays guitar, composes melodies, and trains to become the worst singer ever. Currently, he is working on four projects: Fiction book , two non-fiction books in the field of psychology and spirituality, and a poetry collection.
Learn more about the author :
https://www.instagram.com/anoir_ouchad/
As a columnist, he wrote many poems, quotes, and articles that appeared in L’Opinion newspaper. In his writings, he touched on issues such as exploitation of women, human rights, discrimination, and tolerance.
In 2016, he started an MA in creative writing, but later opted out. He said: “Taking a creative writing course is like snorkeling in a pool nearby Tubbataha”. Despite his ties to academia, he always advocates autodidacticism as a learning method. He believes that knowledge is easily accessible to everyone today at the push of a button.
In 2019, Anoir published his first novel, Lemon Twist. A contemporary novel that portrays the psychological impact of grieving a sibling. The story is set in three different places: North Wales, London, and Dubai. The author allows readers to situate characters in multicultural contexts. The story promotes multiculturalism and challenges readers' thinking and emotions to reassess how they relate to the rest of the world.
In 2022, he published a poetry collection titled The Alien, detailing the complexities of human emotions, memories, desires, and perceptions. The themes depict the torment one faces when trying to reconcile ethical dilemmas and one's own desires. The author brings the readers in touch with the persona of the poem by allowing them to share the characters' moments of conflict, the relationships they have, as well as their perspectives on society and life as a whole. The book touches on sensitive topics including alienation, existentialism, suicide, abuse, gender identity, sexual orientation, domestic violence, separation, mental and physical illnesses, loss, and many others.
In his free time, Anoir walks in the woods, plays guitar, composes melodies, and trains to become the worst singer ever. Currently, he is working on four projects: Fiction book , two non-fiction books in the field of psychology and spirituality, and a poetry collection.
Learn more about the author :
https://www.instagram.com/anoir_ouchad/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2022
3.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
Thank you, Goodreads Giveaway and Ou-chad, for this book.
August 13, 2020
A book that constantly makes you think about life, interpersonal relationships and the relationship with yourself, even when the last page of the book is closed.
Honest, realistic and raw as life.
Honest, realistic and raw as life.
Read
July 20, 2019I like to read, but because of life circumstances I'm not able to find the required time... or that's what I was thinking, until this book felt onto my hands.
The first glance at the book didn't seem to relate to me at all; But suddenly, I got captured by the first narrative style of the author and I could no longer help felt identified with the protagonist; Even tho nothing on this story is related to my own reality.
I got to know him, like him, hate him, agree with him and before I could notice, I had finished my first book in several years. Leaving me with that nice feeling that good books do: I just had an incredible experience, learned about my own emotional feelings and grow my soft skills through the character struggles and successes.
The first glance at the book didn't seem to relate to me at all; But suddenly, I got captured by the first narrative style of the author and I could no longer help felt identified with the protagonist; Even tho nothing on this story is related to my own reality.
I got to know him, like him, hate him, agree with him and before I could notice, I had finished my first book in several years. Leaving me with that nice feeling that good books do: I just had an incredible experience, learned about my own emotional feelings and grow my soft skills through the character struggles and successes.
November 4, 2020
I loved the novel so much, from my own perspective it was a journey of healing. The novel was very realistic and somehow u can find urself in it somewhere wich makes it touchy, plus it's an easy one to read u just move from a page to another smoothly due to the harmony and the coherence between the events without forgetting the sincere and simple style of writing.
Best of luck anoir 🔥🔥🔥
Best of luck anoir 🔥🔥🔥
Read
September 11, 2022A very intelligent interpretation of the observation of reality. Very accurate comments, in which in the background you feel sadness and traces of painful experiences of the author. The topic of childhood and what a crashing impact it has on the whole life, often appears in the book. It is a kind of exercise, which makes it easier to find an inner voice in yourself. The book allows you to release your emotions and discover your own self. During the reading, the author takes us into the magical world of Dubai; we get to know the culture of this distant country. Reading the book provided material for reflection and an impulse for change. Lemon Twist allowed me to distance myself.Recommend.
October 6, 2021
Recommended by a friend, this book was hard to put down once started. The storyline quickly draws you into the evolving world of a young man who morphs from apparently shy country-boy into an entrepreneurial playboy ... and then more (no spoilers here!)
Right up to the end it keeps you thinking about the various environments in which the main character finds himself, and how some of these can relate either to one's own life or to that of friends ... with the twists adding to the way we can view the present as a predicator of the future.
Recommended ... a good read.
Right up to the end it keeps you thinking about the various environments in which the main character finds himself, and how some of these can relate either to one's own life or to that of friends ... with the twists adding to the way we can view the present as a predicator of the future.
Recommended ... a good read.
January 17, 2025
What a roller-coaster of feelings! I've lived so much in such a little time, and I loved every bit of it. Lemon Twist is more than a story, it's a composition of philosophical awakening and emotional transformation put brilliantly/ poetically with a twist of giggles here and there. I would definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews