The Island of Missing Trees - 5 stars

[Susan]

This book contains some stunning prose. I’m usually more interested in plot, story, and characterizations than beautiful writing, but many lovely descriptions and sentiments made me pause as I read this novel. Early on, the reader is asked:

“Where do you start someone’s story when every life has more than one thread and what we call birth is not the only beginning, nor is death exactly an end?”

This love story between Defne, an ethnic Turkish girl, and Kosta, a Greek boy, starts in Nicosia, Cypress in 1974. It demonstrates well the painful evolution of civil war that tears apart families and neighbors. The love story takes place between London and Cypress and shifts back and forth between the 1970s and the 2010s. Kosta and Defne are not the only mismatched couple to suffer in the story – there are also two lovely men who run a wonderful restaurant; they shelter Defne and Kosta as the young couple tries to navigate an impossible relationship. In the middle of the restaurant grows a magnificent fig tree -- with its own POV – and a lot to say about death and continuity of life. It was just enough magical realism to delight me, but not so much to bore or bog me down. And I learned some fascinating things about fig trees, which I checked into after I finished the book. So, for great prose, characters, and a compelling story I give this book 5 stars.

[Holly R W]

Beautiful review, Susan! I really liked this book and think it is special. It's a book that's grown on me, even after I read it. So glad you think it's special, too.

[Amy]

I loved this book, but admit to appreciating it so much more when we got to discuss it together in our book club.

[KateNZ]

I’m about half way through this and loving it so much. Inspiring review!

[Susan]

KateNZ wrote: "I’m about half way through this and loving it so much. Inspiring review!"

Look forward to your review!

[Susan]

Amy wrote: "I loved this book, but admit to appreciating it so much more when we got to discuss it together in our book club."

Would be a good one for a club!

[Susan]

Holly R W wrote: "Beautiful review, Susan! I really liked this book and think it is special. It's a book that's grown on me, even after I read it. So glad you think it's special, too."

Thanks, Holly!

[Kim]

I loved this book and think that Shafak is a beautiful writer.

[Susan]

Kim, Agreed and will read more