The Island of Missing Trees

by Elif Shafak

Book Overview

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
Winner of the 2022 BookTube Silver Medal in Fiction * Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction

"A wise novel of love and grief, roots and branches, displacement and home, faith and belief. Balm for our bruised times." -David Mitchell, author of Utopia Avenue

A rich, magical new novel on belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature and renewal, from the Booker-shortlisted...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1635578590
• ISBN13: 9781635578591
• Release Date: November 2021
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Beautifully written, creative, and expansive

This is probably the first book I've read where part of the narrative comes from the perspective of a tree. Also, did anyone else not understand the meaning of the book title to the story? The Island of Missing Trees is a masterful work of storytelling. Elif Shafak does a beautiful job tying together the lives of her characters with the history and culture of Cyprus. It's a captivating story that ties together the topics of love, trauma, and resilience. While it can be heartbreaking at times, it also offers hope for an optimistic future. Shafak's passions shine through in this novel. I've learned many things about the conflict and culture of Cyprus that I did not know before. She also honors the local traditions and folklore of the people of Cyprus. The extensive research and incorporation of real accounts add depth and authenticity to the narrative. After reading this book, one does gain a new perspective on both the people and nature that surrounds us. The narrative's unique perspective, in part coming from the tree itself, adds a distinctive touch to this book. The poetic writing style that Shafak writes with may not be for all readers. At times, the descriptions can be overly detailed and not central to the story. Yet, one cannot deny the impact of the richness of her writing. 4.5/5. Rounded to 5/5. Recommended for readers who enjoy thought-provoking historical fiction that blends together love, loss, and the magic of the natural world. PS: For those wondering, I did some research on how the book's title relates to the story. It seems to hold a metaphorical significance to the story, hinting at the connections between the characters, their past, and the ever-present fig tree.