What I meant was, some people stand in front of a tree and the first thing they notice is the trunk. These are the ones who prioritize order, safety, rules, continuity. Then there are those who pick out the branches before anything else. They yearn for change, a sense of freedom. And then there are those who are drawn to the roots, though concealed under the ground. They have a deep emotional attachment to their heritage, identity, traditions …’ ‘So which one are you?’

— Elif Shafak, The Island of Missing Trees: A Novel (Bloomsbury Publishing; 1st edition (November 2, 2021)

Notes:

• Photo: DK @ Daybreak. November 2, 2021. Cove Island Park.
• Book is highly recommended. Book Review by Leone Ross: “The Island of Missing Trees by Shafak review – superlative storytelling” (The Guardian, August 6, 2021)