Uncovering the Mystery of the Disappearing Trees: A Novel

Penny: What an inspiring and beautiful story that humbles humans to understand their connection to nature. Also this novel is an adventure into history and other cultures, reminding us that differences are good, similar, and to be appreciated.

United States on Nov 14, 2023

KansasGardenGirlKansasGardenGirl: I loved this story! I was first dubious of the fig as narrator, but the writing, the depth and breadth of the content and storytelling put those doubts aside. The history the story told was heartbreaking and maybe even moreso today as parts of our world are at war again. This was mostly a love story, resilience, despair, terror, renewal.
I loved how Kostas explained the way we look at a tree, what we see first, will tell us a lot of what makes our hearts sing, or break. And perhaps most of all, I loved the acknowledgement of and reflection on the experiences of our ancestors living within us far after they’ve left this world. I loved the ending and it filled me with a knowingness of the richness that comes with recognizing all beings, all species, all of creation is interconnected and interdependent—just as our Creator (whoever/whatever your belief) intended - that we all enrich each other and are part of each other, if we would only look.

United States on Nov 06, 2023

G M.: I bought this because of the good reviews and couldn’t put it down. I like a book that informs as well as grips with its characters and plot, and this one did all that. I learnt so much about the troubles in Cyprus that led to its partition, still patrolled by the UN. All the historical and botanical facts are very well researched and the characters engaging and believable. For me, the ‘sentient’ fig tree was difficult at first to accept, but as ‘she/it’ is key to the background and adds another perspective, I suspended my disbelief and went along with it. Thoroughly recommended.

United Kingdom on Nov 05, 2023

Janie U: This book had been chosen as my latest book club choice which I was excited about. I'd been recommended to read this book by a few people and it often pops up on literary lists. A couple of previous books by this author had also caught my attention but I'd never got round to reading them either. I hoped that I would love this one and then go back and read some of her earlier novels.
The book is 339 pages and was first published in 2021. It is split into 6 parts with intriguing names.
Elif Shafak uses a lot of physical description which explores all of the senses. We learn about situations by the tastes and sounds along with the process of getting deep into the emotions.
We hear from the tree at the centre of the story in an almost magical connection. I'm not a fan of fantasy but this narrative is handled beautifully and I could imagine the tree as an emotional being (oddly without ever seeing any human characteristics - it still remained a tree throughout).
The background of a country torn apart by war/race/religion leading to a migration and resettlement is an ongoing theme. With many problems in the world currently, this book is even more relevant than when it was...

United Kingdom on Oct 31, 2023

kharis eppstein: While some people didn't like the perspective of the tree, I thought it was a unique way to give the reader perspective on the animals, plants, and characters. I loved the descriptions of food, use of language, and the relationship development between Ada and her aunt.

SPOILER - I did not care for the ending. It was not necessary. The book does a great job highlighting the problematic relationship between humans and nature, and it felt like a disservice to the fig tree to have it end up being the 'host' to a spirit of a human.

United States on Oct 12, 2023

Aniket SarkarAniket Sarkar: Lets start with the cover design. The cover art and color combination is picture perfect. The page is of soft matte finish so it has to be carefully maintained. I keep it in a zip lock transparent packet.
The downside of the book is its size, which is small and the font cramped. It could have been little bigger. Overall the quality is good.
I shall not much discuss about the story; it is typical Elif's style of storytelling and you would be instantly transmitted to the enchanting island.
Must buy to add another beauty to the bookshelf.

India on Oct 02, 2023

Karen M. Townsend: I found this book to be a perfect end-of-summer read. It made me crave travel and Greek food. It has just the right amount of depth and melancholy and joy that keeps you absorbed to the end.

United States on Aug 01, 2023

Oliver Page: I confess I started out unconvinced by the opening chapters or maybe above all by the teenage character Ada, and probably by my own prejudice about writers with a strong political agenda. However, as the narrative built up and both the historical setting of the violent conflict in Cyprus in the 70s and the human histories of a generation destroyed by those events took shape, I became fascinated and very much involved. The balanced, wise narrative voice and the constant reference to nature and the environment as a wider narrative perspective observing human suffering, makes for a highly compassionate, and ultimately moving read. I came away not only more knowledgeable about the historical events the book describes but above all with a strong sense of compassion for those whose lives were directly or indirectly affected by the upheaval of civil war, emigration and coming to terms with that as a new generation. A great piece of writing that illustrates the emotional complexity of humans moving through such pain and loss.

Italy on Jul 30, 2023

The British Swede: I Couldn’t put the book down. As a Brit Turkish Cypriot I envied the authors ability to put into fiction words describing similar true stories we have heard. Then not only that the black and white narratives she added color giving insight into all sides of the story . Truly beautiful!

Sweden on Jan 14, 2023

Doug D.: "The Island of Missing Trees" is well written and interesting. It is the kind of book that makes us better people after reading it. But be warned, even though it is substantially a romance, it is not a feel-good book. It lists about every bad thing that people can do to each other, to animals and plants, to the environment and even to themselves. It is not just the obvious things, related to the civil war on Cyprus. It includes more obscure things like poachers putting nets in trees to illegally kill song birds. This is the backdrop of the romance of Dafne and Kostas in the book. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be wrong for us to live with our heads in the sand. We need to address these things. Like many books, it raises a lot of valid concerns. I wish more books would also offer valid solutions.

United States on Nov 13, 2022