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crazytourists_books's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Something quite interesting happened while I was reading this book. My feelings about it completely changed; I didn't particularly enjoy the narration parts by the fig tree (how much I love figs, is beyond words; fig trees are my second favorite tree after the olive trees). Let's get back to my feelings about these parts of the narration: I started feeling annoyed, then tired, then indifferent until the end that part of what Shafak tried to do, fell in place. Part of it, because I still think that pages in the book were unnecessarily and overly didactic.
When I started this book, I left aside all the biases that, inevitably as a Greek have towards the history of Cyprus, the events, the people, the british colonisation and then the island's dichotomy. I think that Shafak also did her best to leave her biases on the side, and overall, she did a very good job, but in places, it did feel kind of forcibly balanced.
Having said that, once again, I was lulled by the author's wonderful talent in storytelling; her words have a great power of pulling you in the story. A story of grief and loss and love.
And here I am, loving a love story!
My only regret is that I read in November, in England instead of August, in Greece, overlooking at the see, eating the most amazing fruit in the world! Fresh figs!
When I started this book, I left aside all the biases that, inevitably as a Greek have towards the history of Cyprus, the events, the people, the british colonisation and then the island's dichotomy. I think that Shafak also did her best to leave her biases on the side, and overall, she did a very good job, but in places, it did feel kind of forcibly balanced.
Having said that, once again, I was lulled by the author's wonderful talent in storytelling; her words have a great power of pulling you in the story. A story of grief and loss and love.
And here I am, loving a love story!
My only regret is that I read in November, in England instead of August, in Greece, overlooking at the see, eating the most amazing fruit in the world! Fresh figs!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Abortion, Violence, War, Death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Animal death, and Murder
nicolaparty's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Murder, Child death, Death, Grief, Homophobia, War, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Kidnapping
mlkai's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
i read it for the trees 🌳✨
writing to floral & detailed for my taste. the love story didn’t grab me. learning about the civil war felt heavy, timely, real. learned a lot about trees tho which i’m happy about
writing to floral & detailed for my taste. the love story didn’t grab me. learning about the civil war felt heavy, timely, real. learned a lot about trees tho which i’m happy about
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Homophobia, Death of parent, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Violence, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Suicide, Animal death, and Mental illness
jayvdw's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the different perspectives whilst reading, especially the fig tree. The different perspectives really teach that everyone has their own struggles, past and emotions that shape that person. Furthermore, I loved reading the perspective of the fig tree, this really gave me a better appreciation of nature and all the intertwining forms of life. The book is also full of small life lessons, about how to deal with trauma, loss and love. One thing I was very happy to find out whilst reading, is the way Shafak talks about Cyprus, the fact that she speaks of the island and of it's inhabitants as islanders. I also learned more about the personal effects the civil war had on the residents of the island. A good friend of mine is from Cyprus and warned me that a lot of books about Cyprus get lost in the politics of the island and are almost always biased for one side, I was very happy to learn that this was not the case for this book.
Concerning the ending, I always had a suspicion that the fig tree might be more than it let on, but to find out that it was the spirit of Defne was a very nice ending. It really ties together the different themes of the book, about spiritualism from Meryem and the love for trees from Kostas. I also liked that some things in the book were left open-ended, such as the question Ada asks Meryem and the exact way that Defne dies.
Overall, I really enjoyed my reading of this book, sometimes it made me sad whilst at other moments it was very joyful. I loved learning about the different perspectives and about the island of Cyprus. Writing-wise, I really enjoyed the small chapters, it made the book way more accessible. Overall I give it a 4.75. For me, it's just barely not a full 5, the book just missed a certain spark that would keep me hooked to read it nonstop, but overall it's an amazing book.
Concerning the ending,
Overall, I really enjoyed my reading of this book, sometimes it made me sad whilst at other moments it was very joyful. I loved learning about the different perspectives and about the island of Cyprus. Writing-wise, I really enjoyed the small chapters, it made the book way more accessible. Overall I give it a 4.75. For me, it's just barely not a full 5, the book just missed a certain spark that would keep me hooked to read it nonstop, but overall it's an amazing book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Colonisation, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Child death, Grief, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Hate crime
jmitchell20's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thought the idea of one of the narrators being a tree was very original. But I thought Ada was written as a 80-year-old teenager. Very clunky dialogue from her, but otherwise I enjoyed the plot and the different relationships and the history of Cyprus I had no knowledge about previous.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, War, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
august_ambrosia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
THIS WAS RLLY GOOD!!!! very pretty writing i didnt want to put it down :)))) definitely want to buy it and scribble all over my favourite passages (hint thats most of them.!!!!) i had some issues but like. meh. it was very good i recommend it very much
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child death and Bullying
kris27y's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Child death
sophia2203's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
bethancy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
I was a bit intimidated by this book at first, but once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. This books is so beautiful and is packed with powerful images, revelations, and emotion. I really loved it, and the story will remain with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Xenophobia, and Abortion
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Rape
eloise_reads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Step back we may have a new book to add to the all time favourites list!
The Island of Missing Trees is a book I've had on my shelf for several months now. It was one I was a little apprehensive about because I wasn't sure if it was something I would like.
How bloomin wrong was I?!
Readers, this book is simply stunning. I've already read some of Elif Shafak's previous work and knew her writing style was beautifully description and detailed without being overly fluffy which is something I struggle with.
We follow two timelines in this book, Ada in the 2010s who has recently lost her mother and since then her relationship with her father has become slightly strained. In the other timeline, we follow her mother and father as they meet and fall in love living in Cyprus in the mid 70s, one of them is a Greek Cypriot, the other a Turkish Cypriot. Because of this, the two have to meet up in secret.
Ashamedly I knew absolutely nothing of the conflict in Cyprus, so although this book is fiction I've learned and taken so much from it and it has led me to do some further research. For me this is the sign of a great book, when you finish and cannot stop thinking about it.
The love story is so beautifully written and was definitely my favourite part of the book, despite how heartbroken I was at many points.
I will also never look at a tree the same way again - the chapters based on trees are so so good, interesting and very thought provoking. Genuinely, I truly mean it when I say I will never look at a tree the same way again.
Deeply moving, The Island Of Missing Trees is simply a book that you must read. Despite the sadness it is one which also shows how powerful love can be.
The Island of Missing Trees is a book I've had on my shelf for several months now. It was one I was a little apprehensive about because I wasn't sure if it was something I would like.
How bloomin wrong was I?!
Readers, this book is simply stunning. I've already read some of Elif Shafak's previous work and knew her writing style was beautifully description and detailed without being overly fluffy which is something I struggle with.
We follow two timelines in this book, Ada in the 2010s who has recently lost her mother and since then her relationship with her father has become slightly strained. In the other timeline, we follow her mother and father as they meet and fall in love living in Cyprus in the mid 70s, one of them is a Greek Cypriot, the other a Turkish Cypriot. Because of this, the two have to meet up in secret.
Ashamedly I knew absolutely nothing of the conflict in Cyprus, so although this book is fiction I've learned and taken so much from it and it has led me to do some further research. For me this is the sign of a great book, when you finish and cannot stop thinking about it.
The love story is so beautifully written and was definitely my favourite part of the book, despite how heartbroken I was at many points.
I will also never look at a tree the same way again - the chapters based on trees are so so good, interesting and very thought provoking. Genuinely, I truly mean it when I say I will never look at a tree the same way again.
Deeply moving, The Island Of Missing Trees is simply a book that you must read. Despite the sadness it is one which also shows how powerful love can be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Child death, and Racism