Reviews

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

pmrichard1's review against another edition

3.0

Really wanted to love this especially because I don’t know much about the history of Cyprus, but just couldn’t get super into it. Didn’t feel very invested in the characters somehow - other than maybe the owners of The Happy Fig. It felt maybe a bit rushed and like the story was trying to do too much?

agnela's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I really, really would like to give this 3 stars, mainly because of that damn tree, and details that the author mixed up, like cultural view on doves and pigeons, mixing Greek and Roman mythology figures, making the tree almost all knowing and horny. This was a ride through ups and downs, but I loved the cultural background, the history of Cyprus and people who lived there. The main story wasn't that bad, neither was the characters. Besides the tree. Who made the believe it was a good idea? Sometimes it didn't even feel like it was written by the same author with how much it got wrong. You see, when you miss small details, like mixing Gaia and Jupiter together, or saying that a tree can hear bees in December, London, as an author you loose credibility. Do you mean your words or do you just shoot them out to fill the space? 
I don't trust this author, but it wasn't bad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Racism, Violence, Homophobia, War, Death, Death of parent, and Child death

littlepepperguy's review against another edition

4.0

This was an incredible way to learn more about cyprus and the conflicts within. I love a slice of life turned educational. 

Also, the fig tree as a narrator was sick! gaining context and learning of character deaths thru a conversation with an ant and a fig tree is slay. And the tree having a crush on the dad is so funny. 

katiepix's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

The story was nice but some of the writing and things that happened felt a bit forced and unnatural that I found quite annoying 

tigerlillymelody's review against another edition

3.25

One thing I consistently love about Elif Shafak’s work is her ability to use unique perspectives to shift understanding of a story or space and how she uses it to unfold and color the reader’s understanding of a space. I know her works are very popular in Turkey, but sometimes I feel like they are written for outsiders (and her most recent works may be as she is currently living in political exile in the UK) to build an understanding of the lives and spaces of Turkish people and Turkey. This novel focuses on Cyprus and views the Turkish/Greek struggle over the island through the people who live on and leave the island and the animals and plants that are affected by the continual unrest. This is a pensive and whimsical book and I would recommend it to those who like Kazuo Ishiguro and Madeline Miller.

emolinsek's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.25

leggsly's review against another edition

Idk this book is fine I’m just not in the mood for a contemporary lit fic / historical family drama rn. Will keep my bookmark in and put it back on my shelf in case I am inspired to pick it up again lol

rubymagee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

poppyseed_peryton's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

conorcjoyce's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

3.0