Elif Shafak’s latest novel, The Island of Missing Trees, delves into familiar themes she explores such as nonlinear history, the healing power of stories, and the experiences of immigrants and outsiders. Set in Cyprus, the story shifts between the 2010s and the early 1970s, a period marked by escalating violence between the island’s Turkish and Greek communities. At its core is the love story of Kostas, a Greek Cypriot, and Defne, a Turkish Cypriot, whose past continues to influence their lives, even as they build a family in England.
Shafak blends various elements in the novel, including a fig-tree narrator, mythological references like Aphrodite’s emergence from Cyprus, political aspects such as the work of the UN Committee on Missing Persons in the region, and ecological details like the 1970s mass die-off of fruit bats and the migration of Painted Lady butterflies through the island. Amidst rich historical details and cultural references, the novel aims to shed light on forgotten stories and perspectives, particularly those impacted by conflicts like the one in Cyprus.
While the novel meticulously captures the essence of its setting through language, customs, and traditions, its focus on historical forces and individual lives aligns with György Lukács’ views on historical novels. However, Shafak’s portrayal of history as a force that disrupts lives due to politics and nationalism diverges from traditional historical novel conventions. The characters in the novel, like Kostas and Defne, serve as representatives of historical tensions rather than fully developed individuals, highlighting the impact of civil unrest on their lives.
Shafak’s narrative underscores the destructive nature of politics and herd mentalities, suggesting that a shift away from divisive mindsets could have prevented the tragedies depicted in the novel. However, the novel falls short in fully humanizing the losers of history, leaving them as symbolic figures rather than fleshed-out characters. The story of Ada’s distress in school, though initially significant, ultimately lacks a meaningful resolution, mirroring the larger theme of unfulfilled promises of giving voice to marginalized perspectives in history.
In essence, The Island of Missing Trees offers a poignant exploration of personal and collective struggles in the face of historical conflicts, yet its portrayal of characters and unresolved narratives leaves questions unanswered about the complexity of human experiences amidst societal upheavals.
