The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Amy  

historical fiction

The Island of Missing Trees is the story of a family from Cyprus. Now living in London, Ada was born to Cyprian parents, a Greek Catholic father and a Turkish Muslim mother.  She is a high-schooler and dealing with stress and grief from the death of her mother less than a year earlier. Her mother’s previously absent sister comes to visit over the winter break. Through flashbacks and conversations, as well as sections narrated by a fig tree that Ada’s father, Kostas, has lovingly brought from Cyprus, we learn the history of Ada’s family and contentious home country.

This family drama educated me about Cyprus, about which I had previously known nothing, and its divided capital city of Nicosia. The story became more interesting as the book progressed and ended up drawing me in.  I wasn’t as enamored with the lessons about trees and animals but they helped to set the tone of the story and give us further insight into Kostas. Having the tree sections was a creative way for Elif Shafak to include historical and political background organically.

It wasn’t quick-paced. Nor was there an element of mystery or expectation that compelled me to move forward with the book. But the novel gently educated me while keeping my interest piqued. The aunt’s arrival definitely pulled me in since she was so unique and a source of history for Ada. Shafak expertly jumped timeframes to give the reader morsels of interest and intrigue. And everyone seemed improved by the end of the novel which made me happy.

I both read the novel and listened to the audiobook, depending on when I had time for either version. The audiobook narrators had beautiful accents and calm, soothing voices that made me want to keep listening to them. Daphne Kouma was the main narrator who did a fine job displaying many different voices and accents for the different characters. Amira Ghazalla played the role of the fig tree very well.  I’ll give them an A.