Island of Missing Trees

[Carol]

Share your thoughts about The Island of Missing Trees in this thread.

[Misty]

I read this one last year, and I really enjoyed it. I am not going to reread it, but I will definitely participate in any discussion of it. I was skeptical of a tree as a character, and honestly, it still wasn't my favorite thing, but it was unique, and I think it worked.

[GailW]

I'll be joining but not until later in the month. this was has been on my TBR since it published! I swear, the more anxious I am to read a book, the more I put it off because I don't want it to be over. Weird, I know...

[Claire]

Oh cool, I actually have this unread on my shelf, finally one I can join in with and participate.

I've been reading Elif Shafak since coming across The Forty Rules of Love, years ago, one I acquired knowing she was a Rumi scholar. I had high hopes for the novel and the narrative that relates to his philosophy were the best. She has gone from strength to strength and it is great to see her work becoming more mainstream now.

[Jen]

Claire wrote: "Oh cool, I actually have this unread on my shelf, finally one I can join in with and participate.

I've been reading Elif Shafak since coming across The Forty Rules of Love, years ago, one I acquir..."

I didn't know she's a Rumi scholar, that's neat!

[wild~rose]

I read it last year. Really enjoyed it. I particularly liked having the tree's pov. I tried her earlier book, Forty Rules but couldn't find my way into it. Perhaps another look is needed.

[Claire]

wild~rose wrote: "I read it last year. Really enjoyed it. I particularly liked having the tree's pov. I tried her earlier book, Forty Rules but couldn't find my way into it. Perhaps another look is needed."
Forty Rules is great but flawed, there are two narratives and inevitably readers prefer one or the other, me included; but it is still worthwhile and for me, a wonderful read.

At the time I read it, it was rare to come across a Turkish woman writer in English, so her stories enable us to access her culture from a unique perspective, as someone who has lived abroad but comes from a rich storytelling tradition. The Bastard of Istanbul, an older work is also excellent.

[Claire]

Jen wrote: "Claire wrote: "Oh cool, I actually have this unread on my shelf, finally one I can join in with and participate.

I've been reading Elif Shafak since coming across The Forty Rules of Love, years ag..."

Yes, I learned that about her years ago, in an interview and I recall thinking I wish she'd write a novel that drew on that, and then she wrote The Forty Rules of Love, something of a homage to Rumi.

[wild~rose]

Claire wrote: "Forty Rules is great but flawed, there are two narratives and inevitably readers prefer one or the other, me included; but it is still worthwhile and for me, a wonderful read.

At the time I read it, it was rare to come across a Turkish woman writer in English, so her stories enable us to access her culture from a unique perspective, as someone who has lived abroad but comes from a rich storytelling tradition. The Bastard of Istanbul, an older work is also excellent"

Thanks, I'll check out The Bastard of Istanbul.

Rumi, his poetry, his dervish lineage and his relationship with Shams al-Tabriz have been an influence off and on in my life for the past 25 years so I think I'll give Forty Rules a pass. If you want to get a sense of his poetry The Essential Rumi is a good place to start. To keep things 'Reading Women-centric' check out Sholeh Wolpe's translation of Attar's The Conference of the Birds

[Hannah]

Claire wrote: "At the time I read it, it was rare to come across a Turkish woman writer in English, so her stories enable us to access her culture from a unique perspective, as someone who has lived abroad but comes from a rich storytelling tradition. The Bastard of Istanbul, an older work is also excellent."

I agree. The examination of culture is a strong theme in Shafak's work. Particularly focused upon Istanbul. You really get a sense of how much she loves her culture but she also critique's it's shortcomings. There's a strong sense of social justice across all the novels (that I've read). She's not afraid to tackle big issues, for example poverty, prejudice, rich/poor divide.

I loved bastard of Istanbul but I struggled to get into island and gave up on it. I might try again one day, maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Which I've found you have to be to read shafak

[Lindsey]

I'm about 40% into this one and I'm surprised how much how I like it. It took a few chapters for me to really get into the story for some reason. The chapters with the fig tree are endearing.

[Misty]

Lindsey wrote: "I'm about 40% into this one and I'm surprised how much how I like it. It took a few chapters for me to really get into the story for some reason. "

It took me a while to get into it as well. In the end, I loved the book, but it was a little bit of a rocky start.

[Kate]

Totally agree, Lindsey and Misty! I am loving this book and love how the fig tree contributes and fits into the story. This book is so touching and beautifully written.

[Claire]

I finished reading this and share my thoughts here. I enjoyed the depiction of the challenge of the relationship and the effect it has on the mother and daughter and the generational trauma that is inherited.

Secrecy is not only naive, it is destructive. Separation really is a form of warfare.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...