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bookstorian's review against another edition
5.0
'The Island of Missing Trees' spans across decades, oceans and ecosystems to tell the story of two teenagers Kostas and Defne who met on the island of Cyprus and their daughter Ada who his never visited the Island of her heritage.
Every time I picked up this book I was utterly swept away, the poetic nature, the captivating nature of the narrative, even the perspective of a fig tree and wealth of historical fiction littered throughout the pages took my bookish heart by force. I felt tied to the characters, their trials and triumphs and adored the infusion of food, culture as well as the deep connection to nature. The ending also could not have been more perfect.
This book also explores intergenerational trauma and the impacts of what that trauma, when combined with many others can do to a person and completely swept me off my feet right until the last page.
Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Child death
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Minor: Animal death, Colonisation, Grief, Abortion, Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent, and Hate crime
ciaomara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, and War
cinnamonpizza8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Grief, Genocide, Drug abuse, Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, Sexism, Racism, War, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
blueberry0531's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Child death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion, Alcoholism, Murder, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
frogggirl2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is lovely and has some interesting things to say about the effects of emigration, conflict zones and Civil War. It's magical realism so you have to go with it even though things like mice being able to read in this realistic world state are jarring. The examination of the importance of nature and human disregard for animals, plants and really everything feels preachy. I would say that's my main complaint about this book as a whole - it's a bit formulaic at points and a bit on the nose. The characterization of Ada and the current day storyline is sacrificed at the altar of making over-arching points.
Moderate: War, Child death, and Murder
achingallover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Bullying
feebles640's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, War, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Bullying and Murder
mwaskom's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Violence, War, Xenophobia, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Murder, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Islamophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Abortion
toomanydresses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Homophobia