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ekern1991's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Violence, War, Suicide, and Death
honnhi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I feel like the perspective of the fig tree and meditations on nature so perfectly captured these very relatable human emotions and experiences.
The parents’ story gripped me so much that I found myself wishing the chapters on Ada were shorter at times, but I do think the Ada chapters were important in their own way. It added a dimension to the parents’ narrative especially.
This is the exact type of story I yearn for when I read magical realism.
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Abortion
leontyna's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Violence, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Hate crime
asourceoffiction'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
4.0
I'm shocked at how ignorant I was about the civil war in Cyprus in the '70s, and this beautiful book sensitively marries history with fiction (and botany!) to paint a heartbreaking but gorgeous picture of an island divided by political turmoil. Defne and Kostas's story is compelling, but it was the unrest, seen largely through its startling effect on the local animals and plants, that really had me hooked. The way a tourist hotspot was so divided so recently in its history is unbelievable.
And while I loved the complexity in all of the characters, it was Yiorgos and Yusuf (as well as the beloved fig tree) who have my heart. Their unwavering strength and love, combined with knowing right away where their story was headed, really got to me. This is one of those books that I suspect will pop into my head at random intervals for a long time.
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Violence, War, Hate crime, Death of parent, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Suicide, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia
mikaclapson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, War, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Child death, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
shhh_tamis_reading'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
I adored all of the characters, especially the Fig Tree. In fact the chalets narrated by the Fig Tree may be my favorites. The entire book comes together with sacred beauty.
I also now want to learn more about Cyprus which I was ignorant of before. I appreciate the author’s book list at the back of the book.
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Violence, War, Abortion, Alcohol, Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Suicide, and Xenophobia
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, War, Xenophobia, Animal death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, and Violence
stephalopuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence and War
frannymuzza'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
4.0
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Homophobia, Violence, and Suicide