Reviews

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

chapmanoid's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

2.0

begumisu's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ms_fox's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.75

nj1960's review against another edition

medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is amazing and profound, and has haunting writing. It dives into so many issues war loss, colonialism genocide, but it’s also a beautiful book about nature ecosystems climate one of the characters is a fig tree. It’s also about love between parent and child. Romantic love and the love that goes on after someone is gone. Truly unique masterful work of art.

sona07's review against another edition

emotional 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? N/A

4.0

pj_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

redf's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

bookishlyintroverted's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

taliareads's review against another edition

4.0

✨ 4.5/5 ✨

i LOVE historical fiction at the moment, and this novel just ticked all of my boxes.

I am obviously obsessed with star-crossed lovers, and Kostas and Defne were the definition of this, i fell in love with all of the characters, but Yusuf and Yiorgos’ story had my heart HURTING.

However, I really did hope that something more would happen in Ada’s storyline, I wanted her to go back to Cyprus perhaps, so we could see the contrasts and how the family dynamic would be.

And I often found myself slightly eye rolling during the Fig Tree narrations. I am fully on board with one of our narrators being a Fig Tree… but did the tree have to use such pretentious language? Maybe it’s a personal preference!

Anyways, I enjoyed this rich story so much and I was TURNING those pages, and I found myself satisfied by all of the discoveries and (twists?)

Loved it!!!

nicoletallywhite's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0