Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

L'isola degli alberi scomparsi by Elif Shafak

28 reviews

taytots24's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

ariromi's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Stunningly written. The subject matter is difficult, but the hope shines through as well. I wasn't very aware of the history around the Cyprus civil war, which is still in very recent history, but this was a vivid and personal introduction. The fig tree sections I also thought were beautiful. I already have an interest in plant science so I did already know some of the amazing facts that are shared, but I loved the way they also support the story. A fantastic exploration of love against the odds, generational trauma, and the fracturing of a community in a troubled time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Abortion

_brooke___'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism and War

Minor: Abortion

laceystairs's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was a book club book and it's not one I would have chosen for myself, but I am so glad that I experienced this this story this year. This book had the most interesting narrator. I had not expected that a tree would not only have a lot to say, but have a lot of interesting things to say. This story takes place in present time, a young girl comes to terms with her life now that she is missing her mother. Her father is grieving and together with a visiting relative, they start to try and ReDiscover family. The second part of the book is told in flashbacks of the mother and father during the 1970s when Cyprus was in the middle of a civil war. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, this book was so much better than even the hype had made me expect.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War

mraddd's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, Islamophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Sexual content

arshiya_amreen90786's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

r0ry_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

kelly11111's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism and Animal death

selireads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As a child of immigrant parents from former Yugoslavia, this book hit a topic close to home. I grew up learning bits and pieces of my father's past, just like Ada. Neighbours and friends turning their backs on each other and doing unspeakable things to each other is a topic we're well aware of. It was a hard read, and I found myself struggling to continue because of how relatable it was. I've never read a book that took the perspective of a tree and it's such a beautiful touch. I loved hearing the bugs and the birds talking to the tree. I will never look at trees the same way anymore. I'd strongly urge anyone who deals lives in the diaspora with generational trauma and/or immigrant parents to pick up this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War