Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

150 reviews

gentlemanjack's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

jimena_murray's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

heart achingly beautiful. a raw story i don’t think i am capable of summarizing with justice. topics of generational trauma, mental health, history, grief, past and present, all intertwined. 

it is important to note that this is not a plot heavy book with a linear sequence of events. i actually almost did not finish it. but i am so glad i did. trust me and trust the process. it is worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Hate crime, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

rachel101's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

joanna_banana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed the story told by the fig tree that witnessed it all though overall I felt that some of the ways the tree felt or witnessed things was a little unbelievable…but I suppose that’s the magical realism part of the book! I liked Ada and Meryem’s relationship and how it changed, I liked learning more about Kosta and Defne’s love story. I was surprised the climax came a little soon and was somewhat overshadowed by other significant events. Glad I read it, learned much more about the history and current state of affairs in Cyprus, and enjoyed the details about trees and the natural world.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Hate crime and Homophobia

melreadsandrecs's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

zezeki's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Abortion, Death of parent, and War

2treads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Shafak evoked such emotion with this story of loss, grief, and illness linked to a history of violence through a family formed out of this painful period. Ada is an awkward teen who is curious about her parents' past while dealing with her emotionally distant father and his lack of interaction in her pursuit.

It is the empathic way in which Shafak deals with certain themes that attracts me to her writing and stories.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Pregnancy

batekillman's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Poignant personal stories of unimaginable strife (though fictional, based very closely on real life experiences), layered with beautiful lore and incredibly interesting factoids about the flora and fauna of the world. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Death of parent, and War

nebelbaer's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Death of parent

ellagrady's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and War