(Subdue) The Island of Missing Trees - 5 stars

[Booknblues]

I have been hearing so much buzz about The Island of Missing Trees that I felt compelled to read it. It is a story of two star-crossed lovers from Cyprus, Kostas, a young Greek man and Defne a young Turkish woman. The timeline shifts from 1975 to the early 2000s to the late 2010s and is shifts perspectives between Ada, their teenage daughter and a fig tree.

While reading the book, I realized that this is the third book, I've read this year in which a history of an island plays a major role. The others were Silent Winds, Dry Seas: A Novelset in Maurtitius and Salt Crystals set on San Andres. Each of these places has their unique history, but because of their relatively small size and limited resources they all are faced with environmental issues and impacted by changing climate. In The Island of Missing Trees the history is largely told from the perspective of the fig tree which Kostas started from a cutting of a favorite fig tree.

This fig tree is extremely wise and tells us things like:

Today, I think of fanaticism – of any type – as a viral disease. Creeping in menacingly, ticking like a pendulum clock that never winds down, it takes hold of you faster when you are part of an enclosed, homogenous unit. Better to keep some distance from all collective beliefs and certainties, I always remind myself.

Within the book is a wonderful relationship with Ada who is a troubled teenager and her Aunt Meryem, her mother's sister. I love Meryem who is superstitious but loving, kind and a positive force.

The important themes within The Island of Missing Trees are war, generational trauma the environment and climate change. I see these as important issues in the world today and I am always attracted to books which highlight these themes.

One last reason to read the book is for the food. It is hard not to become hungry while reading. Hidden amongst these pages are tuffed vine leaves, shrimp saganaki, chicken souvlaki with tzatziki sauce, moussaka, pitta bread, grilled lamb skewers with feta and mint, fish casserole in white wine, roasted garlic butter shrimps, seven-spice chicken, Lebanese jute leaf stew and other delicacies.

[KateNZ]

This is on my shelf - so glad you loved it so much. It just inched a little closer to the top of the pile!

[Holly R W]

I love your review of the book! You also made my mouth water at the mention of the food. I thought the book was creative and unique - so glad you enjoyed it!

[Booknblues]

Holly R W wrote: "I love your review of the book! You also made my mouth water at the mention of the food. I thought the book was creative and unique - so glad you enjoyed it!"

I love when a book talks about food!

[Amy]

I appreciate this book so much more deeply after discussing it with my book group.

[Booknblues]

Amy wrote: "I appreciate this book so much more deeply after discussing it with my book group."

I can see that. I had to think about some things a little bit. (view spoiler)[I was thinking that I am missing some of Defne's feeling and angst. But then I had a Duh! moment. She is the tree, we have been hearing from her all along (hide spoiler)]

[NancyJ]

I really liked this book too. My strongest memory is about the civil war, and the bar between the two territories where the original tree was planted. The romance of the bar owners was touching and sad. Oddly, I don't remember anything about the food in the book. (I must have read it last year when I was sick and unable to eat.)

[Jen K]

Great review! I was so drawn in by this book once I figured out the fig tree. I think the audio helped. I really loved the voice. Glad you enjoyed too.