The Island of Missing Trees
By Elif Shafak
“Perhaps in a world bound with rules and regulations that made little sense, and usually privileged a few over the many, madness was the only true freedom.”
What it's about
In Cyprus, two teenagers fall in love. The catch is, that one of them is Greek and one of them is Turkish. With conflict existing between the cultures, and in Cyprus- their love story gets complicated. A Fig tree witnesses their relationship bloom as well as the eventual war in Cyprus. Years later, Ada Kazantzakis yearns to reconnect with her heritage and discover secrets about her family history....and the only thread she has that tethers her to the mysterious past is the Fig tree growing in her backyard. The Island of Missing trees is a door into postcolonial Cyprus all about identity, family history, love, sorrow, and transcendence.
Themes
Transcendence, identity, love, war, division, history, grief, sorrow, ethnic violence
What I liked about it
The Island of the Missing tress is written so delicately with a soft power that brought me to tears. That is not because the plot is completely depressing - it's actually quite inspirational and hopeful - it's because so many plot points of this story were so moving. This includes the innocence of young love, forbidden love, discovering family heritage and culture, and war crimes. The writing style was incredibly lyrical but not over the top. I felt it perfectly captured the emotionally charged story.
The voice of the Fig tree. This book is not just another historical fiction one, there is an added twist through the personification of nature. This really put life into perspective for me, it reminded me that actually, the world does not revolve around humans. There is so much more in the world that we need to take care of and try to understand. The author also shifts between perspectives, making it flavorful and engaging to read.
The timeline jumps had me eager to finish the book - I just wanted to know what happened to Kostas and Defne and of course Cyprus. The skipping of events and little hints here and there added a lot of mystery as to what happens to each character, till the very end.
I love how historically packed it is. I knew nothing about Cyprus and its history, so learning about the events that occurred started a spark in me, and now I will make an effort to research them more. From what I understand though, the author did a lot of research and has a note at the back that includes which sources she pulled from. The historical element of this book gave the story such a sturdy base, that Cyprus itself seems to be the main character too. Elif Shafak also magnified the theme of remembering the histories that are untold. The stories that are unheard, or often forgotten. She did not only pull from the larger historical context of Cyprus, but also from stories of people who lived through that time in the country. It reminded me that these stories are equally as important and pivotal in life, and should never be overlooked.
The symbolism incorporated into this book is astounding. I already feel like I need to reread it. There are a lot of connections between humans and nature, and there are a lot of facts about different trees and insects (as one of the main characters is a botanist). However, they are relevant to the story... and more importantly, to life. I never thought I would ever enjoy a book with this many botanical facts. I never truly care for books that focus on ecology or nature in general, so I was very surprised by this one!
The cast is relatively small, but there is seriously so much depth to the stories of each character. Their experiences are what pack the punch. Through short chapters, Elif Shafak truly painted the ups and downs of their lives wonderfully.
Overall, I enjoyed the balance of heartbreaking and happy moments in this read. This is rare in a book, more so in a historical fiction book. I was afraid that this would be too heavy and make me depressed - but there was a wonderful satisfaction I felt after reading it. It made me reflective, and a little bit sad, but hopeful and fulfilled too.
What some people might not like about it…
In some parts, there was a bit too much botanical information, but I am nitpicking.
Who would like it?
Fans of historical fiction, contemporary fiction, young lovers trope, forbidden love trope, family secret trope, anyone interested in ecology
Related books
100 Years of Solitude, The Overstory ( I have not read but it also involves themes surrounding trees)