Scan barcode
siobhanward's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
2.5
Reese's Book Club Pick 60/68
Maybe it's because I know nothing about the history of conflict in Cyprus (which is on me, I probably should know a bit about that), maybe it was the writing style, or maybe this book wasn't my style, because I just didn't get the hype.
I thought the book was fine. It wasn't terrible or anything but I didn't feel engaged and just felt like I was waiting for it to be over. I think there was context that Shafak needed to explain in more detail to get more reader buy-in, because it felt like I was missing something the whole time. The tree's POV was cool, although I felt that I could have used less of it and would have loved to see more from the characters themselves. More show, less tell.
Maybe it's because I know nothing about the history of conflict in Cyprus (which is on me, I probably should know a bit about that), maybe it was the writing style, or maybe this book wasn't my style, because I just didn't get the hype.
I thought the book was fine. It wasn't terrible or anything but I didn't feel engaged and just felt like I was waiting for it to be over. I think there was context that Shafak needed to explain in more detail to get more reader buy-in, because it felt like I was missing something the whole time. The tree's POV was cool, although I felt that I could have used less of it and would have loved to see more from the characters themselves. More show, less tell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Xenophobia, and War
maggiems's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I desperately wanted to love this book a tree as a narrator is exactly the kind of stuff I want to see in the world. And well I found the human characters fascinating love their stories there ups and downs and relationship to their trauma. We can't being thrown back to that fucking tree who was the keeper of the metaphor.
Did you know that animals migrate? Did you know that "we trees" also have genetic trauma? Sure does make you think huh? All of this may not have annoyed me so much if I didn't hate the voice of the tree to an unreasonably degree. A mix between holier than thou and naive twit! The phrase "We Trees" started to grate me. Perhaps it was the switch between third and first person narration.
So what of the human characters. I am a sucker for a love story and multiple time lines and generational issues. We have one Turkish Cypriot and one Greek Cypriot who embody historic conflict, a teenage daughter who stands for the new generation, and an aunt who stands for tradition. The novel is not very interested in the politics of why there was unrest in Cyprus, but its effects on individuals. Again this is essentially what the tree was there for, to take the longer view, to not care about why the humans came and gone, only that they did. In this way Shafak is going for a universality of conflict could be writing about any conflict.
This kind of links up with Ada's episode in school, leading to the #doyouhearmenow. All of the girls screaming are disaffected youths, the "losers of history" I wanted more of this. The trauma of being bullied online while also getting adoration and starting a trend that empowers people is interesting, but we have about 3 scenes with it and in the end it amounted to very little. She goes back to school and nothing more is said about it. I guess in the end it is true what she says; the losers do not get to write their story.
A feature I really did love about the book wasthe gay couple who ran the tavern. It was nice to recognize that while our mains were star crossed lovers in a dangerous situation, others were punished much worse for their love.
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did and that just always makes a book worse. What would have been a 3* if I didn't know anything about it, is brought down to 2.
Did you know that animals migrate? Did you know that "we trees" also have genetic trauma? Sure does make you think huh? All of this may not have annoyed me so much if I didn't hate the voice of the tree to an unreasonably degree. A mix between holier than thou and naive twit! The phrase "We Trees" started to grate me. Perhaps it was the switch between third and first person narration.
So what of the human characters. I am a sucker for a love story and multiple time lines and generational issues. We have one Turkish Cypriot and one Greek Cypriot who embody historic conflict, a teenage daughter who stands for the new generation, and an aunt who stands for tradition. The novel is not very interested in the politics of why there was unrest in Cyprus, but its effects on individuals. Again this is essentially what the tree was there for, to take the longer view, to not care about why the humans came and gone, only that they did. In this way Shafak is going for a universality of conflict could be writing about any conflict.
This kind of links up with Ada's episode in school,
A feature I really did love about the book was
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did and that just always makes a book worse. What would have been a 3* if I didn't know anything about it, is brought down to 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Xenophobia
Minor: Self harm and Alcoholism
natgzmun's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Suicide
nessazee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and War
lynneliu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Grief, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Homophobia, War, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Suicide
cinnamonpizza8's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
The author did a magical job of tying together a beautiful story of immigration and conflict and history effortlessly. I felt engrossed in this book when I read it, wanting to hear all the details and deeply thinking of the concepts the author rose through the characters. The fig tree was the best part of the story - I loved having this omnipresent voice that felt grounded (haha, get it). Overall, a great story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Grief, Genocide, Drug abuse, Child death, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, Sexism, Racism, War, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, Islamophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
rhi_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
mwaskom's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
beautiful. I learned so much about Cyprus and it was so engaging. Though it is rooted in many specific places and times, it's truly about the experiences, connections, and desires we all have. Only reason it's not a 5 star read is that the tree metaphors and very heavy handed, like this book was made for a 10th grade English essay about symbolism (and would be an amazing assigned reading) but I thought it would benefit from a little more subtlety. 🌳
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Xenophobia, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Murder, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Islamophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Abortion
e11en's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Death of parent, War, and Xenophobia
atipsygiraffe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Homophobia