The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

[Holly R W]

"The Island of Missing Trees" is an ambitious book. It tells the story of what happened in Cypress in the 1970's: The civil war between Turkish and Greek citizens where thousands of people were killed and/or disappeared. The clandestine love story between Kostas (a 17 year old Greek male) and Defne (an 18 year old Turkish woman) plays out against this backdrop. He is a gentle soul, with a sensitivity towards trees, birds and plants. In fact, as an adult he becomes a botanist. Defne is passionate, beautiful and impulsive. Sadly, as an adult she gets involved with attempts to find human remains of those killed in the war. She also never quite heals from the tragedy she has seen.

Ada is their teen daughter. She is part of the second time line in the book, which takes place in the late 2010's in England. Her parents have not told her about their earlier lives in Cypress. She has school problems of her own that she must contend with. The story bounces back and forth between the two time lines, Cypress in the 1970's and England in the late 2010's.

There is a strong element of magical realism in the story with a fig tree acting as a narrator. The original tree grew in the center of a tavern in Cypress, which Kostas and Dephne frequented. When they traveled to England, Kostas took a cutting of it and planted it in his back yard, where it grew. The tree links together various aspects of the tale. I particularly liked learning about the tree's links to other plant and animal life. Readers who enjoy reading about nature will like the fig tree's observations.

This is certainly a unique story and one which I will remember.

3.8 stars rounded up to 4

[Joy D]

Glad you enjoyed it too, Holly!

[Holly R W]

Thanks, Joy. Yours was one of the reviews which led me to reading the book!

[Jen K]

Sounds really interesting. Great review. I hope to get to this one in 2022.

[Holly R W]

Thanks, Jen. I'll be interested in what you think about it.