Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

89 reviews

brekaboujie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I found this a bit slow and tricky to get into but it was a very interesting and well written book. I knew absolutely nothing about the setting which made the whole thing super interesting and new to me, and made it all extra emotional too as it was quite unexpected. The perspectives were interesting, and I thought the different sections of time we followed were paced well and kept me engaged. It didn't swap around too much, so I didn't get that annoying feeling where you just want someone to get on with it so you can get back to the other perspective. 
The tree was.... an interesting choice. I didn't not like it, but every so often the narrator voice the author used for the tree got a bit annoying. But it gave an interesting additional insight which we couldn't have had with the stylistic choice of writing 3rd person from specific peoples perspectives. So it worked in that sense.

Overall nicely written, really interesting context, great character writing and did make me tear up a few times, I got quite invested in everyone. Quite a different vibe for me, but I liked it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, War, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide and Alcoholism

astridrc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

I really liked this book. I didn't know anything about Cyprus' history so that was incredibly interesting to begin with. I loved the chapter on the connections to the Spanish Civil War and the Chilean dictatorship. As a Latin American, specifically a Uruguayan, I can relate. I can understand the importance of finding those who were disappeared, to offer their loved ones some peace.
I also liked how the story goes back and forth and how everything evolved. Kostas and Defne's love story is a beautiful one but full of pain and trauma which was inflicted upon them by a world they had no say in. 
I loved Ada and Meryam's relationship as well and to be able to see how much Ada lost because her mom was trying to protect her, to offer her a "clean start", which sadly proved to be impossible. Generational trauma is one of the biggest themes on this book (even in trees) which I always find so compelling.
The most controversial aspect of this book is probably that the story is at times told from the perspective of a fig tree. I personally found it very interesting and original (you also get to learn a lot about different trees and animals, which I personally love).
All in all, it was a great book which will probably stay with me. However, I'm not sure I really like that one final twist...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Abortion

kaanda's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.75

So descriptive that I can clearly see the tavern and every character in it. A very beautiful and painful story with seamless flow. Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Abortion, Addiction, War, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Animal death, Suicide, and Racism

Minor: Classism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Colonisation, and Gun violence

ambermariebee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Abortion and Homophobia

noiraet's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

A truly memorable book for me. 
1. Made me read up on the history of Cyprus and the Cypriot Civil War. 2. Excellent, compelling (heartbreaking) thematization of generational trauma, identity, family, love and moving forward
3. First book I’ve read in which one of the narrating voices is a tree - this was brilliantly realized.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Abortion, and Death of parent

saarahrust's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Death, War, Abortion, and Mental illness

ariromi's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Child death, War, Murder, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Addiction

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Blood

utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Stunningly written. The subject matter is difficult, but the hope shines through as well. I wasn't very aware of the history around the Cyprus civil war, which is still in very recent history, but this was a vivid and personal introduction. The fig tree sections I also thought were beautiful. I already have an interest in plant science so I did already know some of the amazing facts that are shared, but I loved the way they also support the story. A fantastic exploration of love against the odds, generational trauma, and the fracturing of a community in a troubled time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Child death, Homophobia, Animal death, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, and Police brutality

Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion

segufta's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

when i originally picked up this book it wasn't doing anything for me and i felt like i wasn't getting it especially in the fig tree sections. picking it up now though was definitely the right time, has beautiful quotes (ironically a lot from the fig tree) and a good story. i think what makes it land even more now is how the discussion of a divided cyprus and all the islanders feelings and emotions around it mirror the world right now, just added a lot of thought to that. ending made me smile

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War

Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, Abortion, Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent

leic01's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Homophobia, Death, and Violence

Minor: Torture, Abortion, and Abandonment