Just the one historical fiction in May, and it barely makes the 50 year mark, but I think it still counts. Good read! I am part way through my next historical fiction, but it will be in the June wrap-up.
1970s Cyprus, late 2010s England
Canadians have been on a UN Peacekeeping mission to Cyprus since 1964, although it is a much smaller presence these days. I have a cousin who spent time there, so it is a place I have heard of and was always aware of the conflict there. Not the reasons or details, but by this point, it barely matters, as in any long term conflict.
This is the story of a teenager in late 2010s London, Ada, but it is also the story of her parents and how they met in Cyprus in the 1970s. Kostas, Greek and Christian, and Defne, Turkish and Muslim, meet and fall in love as teenagers. Back and forth we go, seeing Ada in the present and her parents sneaking to the Happy Fig Tavern where they can be together. A fig tree does a fair bit of narrating, which was an interesting touch, especially if you have read The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.
There is much tragedy, sadness, but also families, and the nature of trees. Shafak writes with humor as well. There is just a lot going on but done in a very well done way. I liked the story a lot, even while flipping back and forth in time so much. That is on me as I was listening and sometimes I miss things on audio. I was predisposed to like Defne as I taught a Turkish student a few years ago named Defne, which makes the name have wonderful associations.
I'll look for another book by Shafak.
