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roaming_ro'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Child death
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
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
cecilialau_'s review against another edition
4.5
My expectations were unfairly high but I still really enjoyed this book and the subtle beauty of the story only gets better with time imo. The story has definitely grown on me since, so I had to up the rating to a 4.5 (started on a 4.25 tbh).
I very much appreciate fiction as a way to learn more about a historical period in time. With this I didn’t know much about the civil war in Cyprus but it gave an insight into it (though only superficially of course as part of the plot line and it’s also not nonfic).
The owners of The Happy Fig were essential to my reading experience btw. The parrot’s story told by the fig tree was heartbreakingly beautiful as well. I thoroughly appreciated the fig tree telling us about the essential role and relevance of ecosystems.
Minor: Murder, Alcoholism, Child death, Colonisation, Genocide, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Death of parent
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
natashad'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: Mental illness, War, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism
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
gauralomez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, War, Violence, and Homophobia
wwsimon93'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
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Alcoholism, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pregnancy, War, and Violence