imvharini's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Abortion
Minor: Abandonment
cecilialau_'s review
4.25
My expectations were unfairly high but I still really enjoyed this book and the subtle beauty of the story only gets better with time imo.
I very much appreciate fiction as a way to learn more about a historical period in time. With this I didn’t know much about the civil war in Cyprus but it gave an insight into it (though only superficially of course as part of the plot line and it’s also not nonfic).
Spoiler
The owners of The Happy Fig were essential to my reading experience btw. The parrot’s story told by the fig tree was heartbreakingly beautiful as well. I appreciated the fig tree telling us about the essential role and relevance of ecosystems. Not sure how I felt about Defne’s soul inhabiting the fig tree at the end thoughMinor: Alcoholism, Child death, Abandonment, Murder, Colonisation, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Genocide
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, War, Xenophobia, Animal death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, and Violence
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: War, Islamophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
watermelleon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
in short - best book I have read in a long time. it is beautifully written, surprisingly close to home and relatable, generally so informative on topics I new nothing about (that I probably should have!). it has changed my outlook on many perspectives in my life. this is a lifechanging book that I will be recommending to everyone. there are some tough, tough topics but so much hope and nostalgia as well.
on a personal note: This book has allowed me to reflect on my own recently-uprooted family history, and has helped me reflect on that as well the now clear impact of this on my family moving down through the generations.
Graphic: Drug abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Child death, Colonisation, Abortion, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Murder, Death of parent, Bullying, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Terminal illness
War Imagery throughout and discussion of death of multiple characters in detail (not graphic in terms of gore, but explains how they died). Colonisation: discussion throughout of colonisation in relation to cyprus and the effects of this, more focussed on the cultural impact than graphic/gore detail. Pregnancy and Children:Spoiler
a child dies at a young age of malaria, child is assumed for a while to be an abortion.Spoiler
Main Character's grand parents died as a result of cancer- they were poisoned by asbestos from some overalls used for working in the minesSpoiler
the main character's mother is revealed to have killed herself, was an alcoholic and took pills to end her lifeSpoiler
short scene of bullying in a british school at the beginning of the bookSpoiler
short scene of bullying in a british school at the beginning of the book. The main character has a panic attack and screams during her class, an incident which is later discussed.Spoiler
an interracial gay couple (two men) are kidnapped and killed within context of a war, it is suggested that their sexuality is a part of the attack as well as their conflicting cutural backgroundsSpoiler
an interracial gay couple are kidnapped and killed within context of a war, suggested that their sexuality is a part of the attack as well as their conflicting cutural backgroundsgriernotgruyere's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, War, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Alcoholism
Minor: Addiction
careohleen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Abortion, and Alcoholism
Minor: Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Medical content, Racism, Religious bigotry, War, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Cursing
ciaomara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, and War
romyreads_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Abortion, Death of parent, Mental illness, War, Violence, Addiction, and Death
Minor: Mental illness, Infidelity, Suicide, Drug use, Animal death, Terminal illness, Dementia, Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Abandonment
lucyselim's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, War, Animal death, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia