This breathtaking novel weaves together love, loss, and the enduring power of nature through the story of a fig tree that bears witness to decades of human drama. Set against the backdrop of Cyprus's troubled history, Shafak crafts a multigenerational tale that explores themes of displacement, identity, and healing.
WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK EXTRAORDINARY
An Unforgettable Narrator The fig tree itself serves as one of the novel's most compelling voices, offering a unique perspective on human conflict and resilience. Through botanical wisdom, the tree observes the complexities of love transcending ethnic and religious boundaries.
Love Across Divides At its heart lies the forbidden romance between Kostas, a Greek Cypriot, and Defne, a Turkish Cypriot, set during the 1970s when Cyprus was torn apart by civil war. Their love story unfolds in a taverna called The Happy Fig, where music and poetry provide refuge from the violence outside.
Immigration and Belonging The narrative shifts between 1970s Cyprus and contemporary London, following the couple's daughter Ada as she grapples with her mixed heritage and her mother's mysterious disappearance from her life.
Historical Resonance Shafak masterfully illuminates the Cyprus conflict, making this distant history feel immediate and personal while drawing parallels to contemporary issues of division and displacement.
KEY THEMES TO EXPLORE
Nature as Witness and Healer The fig tree becomes a symbol of endurance, memory, and the healing power of the natural world. Shafak uses botanical metaphors to explore how life persists despite trauma and upheaval.
Intergenerational Trauma The novel examines how historical violence echoes through generations, affecting not only those who lived through it but their children who inherit its psychological wounds.
Cultural Identity Ada's journey of self-discovery reflects the broader immigrant experience, particularly the challenge of maintaining cultural connections while adapting to new environments.
The Power of Storytelling Through multiple narrative voices, including the tree's, Shafak demonstrates how stories help us understand ourselves and heal from collective trauma.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How does the fig tree's perspective change your understanding of the human characters' struggles?
- What role does music play in bridging cultural and political divides in the novel?
- How does Ada's relationship with her Cypriot heritage evolve throughout the story?
- In what ways do the parallel timelines illuminate each other?
- What does the novel suggest about the possibility of healing from historical trauma?
- How does Shafak use nature imagery to convey themes of resilience and renewal?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elif Shafak is one of Turkey's most celebrated contemporary writers and the most widely read female author in the country. Writing in both Turkish and English, she has published numerous novels that have been translated into dozens of languages. Her work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and the intersection of East and West.
Shafak is also a prominent advocate for women's rights and freedom of expression. She has faced legal challenges in Turkey for her outspoken views, making her literary success even more remarkable.
Other Notable Works:
- 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World
- The Bastard of Istanbul
- The Forty Rules of Love
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"The Island of Missing Trees" was longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize and has received widespread critical praise for its innovative narrative structure and lyrical prose. Critics have particularly noted Shafak's ability to give voice to the natural world while addressing complex political and personal histories.
The novel has been praised as both an intimate family story and a powerful meditation on how communities heal from collective trauma.
READING RECOMMENDATIONS
If you loved this book, try:
- The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
- Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
- The Overstory by Richard Powers
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Multigenerational family sagas
- Historical fiction with contemporary relevance
- Novels featuring nature as character
- Stories exploring cultural identity and displacement
BOOK CLUB CORNER
Meeting Ideas:
- Host a Mediterranean-themed discussion with fig-based refreshments
- Research Cyprus's history to provide context for the novel's political backdrop
- Discuss other books that use non-human narrators
- Explore the role of trees and plants in literature
Extended Activities:
- Create a playlist inspired by the music mentioned in the novel
- Research your own family's immigration story
- Plant something together as a group to honor the novel's themes of growth and renewal
AUTHOR INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
In recent interviews, Shafak has spoken about her fascination with giving voice to the natural world and her belief that trees are the ultimate witnesses to human history. She chose the fig tree specifically for its cultural significance in Mediterranean cultures and its ability to survive in harsh conditions.
The author has also discussed how the novel reflects her own experience as someone who moves between cultures and languages, making Ada's journey particularly personal.
FINAL THOUGHTS
"The Island of Missing Trees" stands as a testament to literature's power to bridge differences and foster understanding. Through its innovative narrative structure and deeply human story, Shafak creates a work that is both specifically rooted in Cypriot history and universally relevant to anyone who has experienced displacement, loss, or the search for belonging.
This is a novel that will stay with readers long after the final page, like the enduring presence of the fig tree itself.
