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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
No
"Is there a way to grasp what love means without becoming a lover first? Love cannot be explained. It can only be experienced."
Spirituality through love, such an exciting book.
Spirituality through love, such an exciting book.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Not my favourite of this author’s titles; but the history of Rumi & Shams was genuinely interesting, and some of the language utterly gorgeous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
As someone who’s read and enjoyed several of Elif Shafak’s books, "The Island of Missing Trees being" my favourite, I was genuinely disappointed by this one.
With the release of a new edition, almost 20 years after its original publication, I figured it was finally time to read it. The premise sounded intriguing enough: a story within a story, exploring love, faith, and personal transformation. But the execution just didn’t work for me.
I’m not religious or particularly spiritual, and I found the themes in this book uninteresting at best, and at times frustrating. I ended up skimming large chunks of the “book within the book” as it felt repetitive, overly sentimental, and frankly, a bit eye-rolly. The only part that resonated was Ella’s decision at the end, which gave a tiny glimpse of something real.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me, despite liking Shafak’s other work. But if the spiritual framing and Sufi philosophy appeal to you, there’s a chance you’ll connect with it in a way I didn’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
With the release of a new edition, almost 20 years after its original publication, I figured it was finally time to read it. The premise sounded intriguing enough: a story within a story, exploring love, faith, and personal transformation. But the execution just didn’t work for me.
I’m not religious or particularly spiritual, and I found the themes in this book uninteresting at best, and at times frustrating. I ended up skimming large chunks of the “book within the book” as it felt repetitive, overly sentimental, and frankly, a bit eye-rolly. The only part that resonated was Ella’s decision at the end, which gave a tiny glimpse of something real.
Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me, despite liking Shafak’s other work. But if the spiritual framing and Sufi philosophy appeal to you, there’s a chance you’ll connect with it in a way I didn’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes