The Island of Missing Trees

by Elif Shafak | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0241988721 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingLivrespublicwing of Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on 4/9/2023
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingLivrespublicwing from Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France on Sunday, April 9, 2023
Women‘s Prize for Fiction 2022 Shortlisted

„It is 1974 on the island of Cyprus. Two teenagers, from opposite sides of a divided land, meet at a tavern in the city they both call home. The tavern is the only place that Kostas, who is Greek and Christian, and Defne, who is Turkish and Muslim, can meet, in secret, hidden beneath the blackened beams from which hang garlands of garlic, chilli peppers and wild herbs. This is where one can find the best food in town, the best music, the best wine. But there is something else to the place: it makes one forget, even if for just a few hours, the world outside and its immoderate sorrows.

In the centre of the tavern, growing through a cavity in the roof, is a fig tree. This tree will witness their hushed, happy meetings, their silent, surreptitious departures; and the tree will be there when the war breaks out, when the capital is reduced to rubble, when the teenagers vanish and break apart.

Decades later in north London, sixteen-year-old Ada Kazantzakis has never visited the island where her parents were born. Desperate for answers, she seeks to untangle years of secrets, separation and silence. The only connection she has to the land of her ancestors is a Ficus Carica growing in the back garden of their home.

The Island of Missing Trees is a rich, magical tale of belonging and identity, love and trauma, nature, and, finally, renewal.“

Released 1 yr ago (6/17/2023 UTC) at 2023 - Falkirk, Scotland , BookCrossing Convention -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

for the book swap game

Journal Entry 3 by wingBookgirrlwing at Acton, Ontario Canada on Monday, June 19, 2023
From the “Steal or Reveal” game at the Falkirk Bookcrossing convention. ‘Looks like a good read.

Journal Entry 4 by wingBookgirrlwing at Acton, Ontario Canada on Friday, October 4, 2024
I started this book, then put it down, and then last year, I joined a book club in my area (I am fairly new to North Halton area, having lived in Toronto for 52 years). This book was the first one we had to read for fall 2024, so I picked it up again and really enjoyed it. There are parts that are very difficult, sad to read, but overall, I thought it was a very creatively written book, partially told through the "eyes" of a tree (yes! - a tree!), and other parts written in the third person. Sometimes a book that goes back and forth in time is confusing, but the fig tree parts seemed to knit everything together well. On top of getting involved with the characters of Dephne, Kostas, Ada and Meryem, you also learn more about the conflict in Cypress - so there is a history lesson too - but without judgement. The name Dephne (Ada's deceased mother) is interesting, as the goddess Daphne was chased by Apollo, against her will after he was shot with an arrow by Cupid. As he got closer, Daphne prayed to her river god father to save her, and he caused her to be changed into a tree. Well...there's an interesting connection right there - Dephne...tree. I won't spoil the story.

Journal Entry 5 by wingBookgirrlwing at Acton, Ontario Canada on Sunday, November 3, 2024
I offered this book as a bookring on the Forum, and only got one response from 39301, so off it goes to Seattle, WA. (Everything seems to be book boxes these days...) Anyway, I hope 39301, you will enjoy this unique book. Don't let the tree being a narrator bother you, it gets better and better as you read along. Everything comes together in the end.

Journal Entry 6 by wing39301wing at Seattle, Washington USA on Sunday, November 10, 2024
Received this book with the gorgeous cover. Inside, there was a heart-warming letter from @bookgirrl in Canada! Thank you so very much! This really made my day!

Journal Entry 7 by wing39301wing at Seattle, Washington USA on Friday, December 20, 2024
I will reserve this one for the 2025 666+Bonus Worlds challenge.

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