This was my first ELif Shafak book and now Ik why everyone loves these books. This was so amazing - This historical fiction just interwove 3 stories so seamlessly and I forgot I was reading it and just lived it
4.5 Stars

This ambitious historical fiction is sure to be a "best of" for many readers once it is released. Elif Shafak weaves together a tale unlike any other with beautiful writing, rich characters, and three different timelines that ebb and flow with the power of a mighty river. Once you enter into the immersive world created by this novel, you will be transported to a place that few books have the ability to take a reader, and once there, you will wish for this brilliant piece of literature to never end.

This book is follows 3 main characters; a baby born to poverty in the 1850s along the river Thames, a young woman with a PhD in geohydrology in current day London and a young Yadizi girl in modern Turkey. The book begins with King Ashurbanipal of Mesopotamia before the common era. There are two main threads that weave through these characters stories; the poem Gilgamesh and water. This exceptional historical fiction has taught me about worlds I can barely image; extreme poverty in the Victorian age, horrific treatment of a minority in the Middle East and antiquities. The book ask big questions about who has the right to house and care for a culture’s antiquities among others that would include spoilers. The characters are fully drawn describing their strengths and weaknesses. You are in good hands as the author reveals more and more.

Do not miss this gem. Many, many thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for proving an advanced readers copy.

Elif Shafak's "There Are Rivers in the Sky" is a mesmerizing tapestry of narratives spanning centuries and continents, anchored by the enduring presence of water. From the ancient splendor of Nineveh under King Ashurbanipal to the poignant struggles of characters like Arthur in Victorian London, Narin amidst Yazidi heritage, and Zaleekhah navigating modern-day London, each thread intricately weaves together themes of memory, resilience, and the profound significance of water in human existence.

Shafak's prose is exquisite, evoking both the grandeur of Mesopotamian antiquity and the intimate struggles of her characters across time. Through rich historical detail and lyrical musings, she deftly explores the cultural tapestry of Mesopotamia, the resilience of Yazidi traditions, and the existential reflections brought forth by water's transformative power.

While Arthur, Narin, and Zaleekhah each wrestle with their own demons and destinies, their stories converge and diverge like the flow of rivers, echoing the cyclical nature of history and memory. Shafak's narrative mastery shines brightest in her ability to blend profound philosophical insights with compelling human drama, creating a novel that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

"There Are Rivers in the Sky" stands as a testament to Shafak's prowess as a storyteller and her commitment to exploring themes of identity, loss, and the enduring legacy of civilizations. For readers captivated by intricate narratives and a deep exploration of cultural heritage, this novel offers a poignant journey through time and water, leaving a lasting impression of interconnected human experiences across millennia.

This is a fantastic novel, with 'all the feels' drawing together several narratives along the banks of two major rivers, the Thames and the Tigris. The tragic, tough parts where ISIS enters the narrative are particularly impactful, and had me pondering real-life current events in the Middle East, trying once again to resolve all the beauty, history and human evil that all coexist there. There is so much more though to unpack in this book. I will be very surprised (and annoyed) if this book doesn't wind up on book-prize longlists. I'll definitely be watching for a physical copy of this book so I can reread it in a year or so.

This dense [be sure to read slowly and carefully] novel of three stories linked by water is quite the book.

The threads:
The ancient poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh--from the city of Nineveh, on the banks of the Tigris, where King Ashurbaipal of Mesopotamia was a ruthless ruler who built a great library.

King Arthur of the Slums and Sewers is born into poverty in 1840 on the banks of the River Thames to an abusive alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother. who combs the riverbank for items to sell. Arthur has a brilliant memory. and is determined to better himself. Apprenticed to a publisher, he is entranced by a book he discovers in the workshop--Nineveh and Its Remains.

Narin, 2014, a 9-year old Yazidi girl living in Turkey, has a rare disorder than will cause her to go deaf. She is devoted to her grandmother, Besma, a healer, who is determined to baptize her in a sacred Iraqi temple. Their journey is disrupted by ISIS and the destruction of the family's ancestral lands along the Tigris.

Zaleekah, 2018, London. A hydrologist separated from her husband, seeks refuge on a houseboat on the Thames. Raised by her wealthy Uncle Malek; she is determined to take control of her own life.

And so it begins--slowly--with a single drop of water from biblical times to the present.

There is poverty, plunder of artifacts [by both museums and private collectors] and villages, ethnic cleansing, rape, climate change, family, love and lossand above all WATER. So much of it is heartbreaking.

I found myself constantly looking up words [mostly related to the ancient civilization] events, peoples and places--and yes, all true!

To wit:
Yazidi--they exist and I was unaware.
Hasankeyf--an endangered site/castle of the rock
daf = framed drum musical instrument
tilth = a conditon of tilled soil
brume= fog
boles = tree trunk
passerine = perching bird
qanun --a zither and plecturm--pick for quanun
coracle = a boat from Wales and Ireland
mudlark = a scavenger
chibouk = long Turkish tobacco pipe
and many more.

I was entranced by this novel although I found it somewhat uneven. At times, I plowed through the stories, other times, more of a slog. Still, I always wanted to return to reading it even as it grew increasingly sad.

Loved: "a stout man, his face barnacled with moles"

Aside: [no spoiler] how is it that the last two books I've read have a marriage that's fallen apart with the same projected outcome?!

Recommend reading and savoring and don't miss the finale--"The Journey of a Drop of Water."
4.5

In its themes, images, and flowing together of several timelines and plots, There Are Rivers in the Sky is one of best books I have read this year.

The story is told in three separate but interrelated timelines, linked by images and themes, and the Thames and Tigris rivers.
In 1840, Arthur is born in the muck of the polluted Thames, but rises to become a genius at interpreting cuneiform, especially the story of the Flood. In 2014, nine-year-old Narin, who is losing her hearing because of a genetic abnormality, is watching her Yazidi Village near the Tigris being demolished to be flooded for a dam in Turkey. In 2018 London, 30-year-old Zaleekhah, whose mother was Iraqi and died in a flash flood, is a hydrologist concerned with hidden rivers in London and around the world.

The book moves easily back and forth with their stories, starting briefly in Nineveh around 640 BC, where the source of recurring themes takes place: the lapis lazuli tablets etched with the trials of Gilgamesh, the ancient, flawed hero seeking immortality. These themes are echoed in the lives of the main characters, all searching for missing parts of themselves. Their stories are told with tenderness by the author, in a clear-eyed account of the pain that is part of life and love.

In this beautiful book about some awful experiences, water serves as a sustaining image, described by Shafak as the consummate immigrant:
always in transit, never able to settle, perpetually displaced and relocated, resilient yet vulnerable. The book flows easily from one person and time to the other, with images and artefacts resurfacing and tying together the different characters and their suffering, survival, and sometimes, success.

This is the first book I've ever read from author Elif Shafak and I really enjoyed it! If I am being 100% honest, I was not super excited to pick it up, simply because it felt more like a "serious" book vs. a romcom or "easier"-style book. But I occasionally like to read a more serious novel. It makes me feel more connected to the world, which may be a little cheesy to say, but it's true!

The story was easy to follow, even with multiple POV's and timelines. It was so beautiful to see how it all connected as each page turned. The book left me feeling very thankful and grateful for the environment in which we live in and gave me a deeper appreciation for the world. Everything is connected, even when we think it isn't, and we need to be respectful of that.

I'd highly recommend if you are looking for something to read whilst slowing down/wanting to disconnect from the world for a bit.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

Three characters tied together by a drop of water, two rivers, and the epic of Gilgamesh. : a poor British man in the mid-19th century, a young Yazidi girl in present day Mesopotamia, and a melancholy Hydrologist in present day London.

**Review of "There Are Rivers in the Sky"**

**Rating: ★★★★★**

"There Are Rivers in the Sky" is a mesmerizing read that beautifully blends poetic prose with profound insights. From the very first page, the author’s lyrical writing style draws you in, creating vivid imagery that transports you to a world where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur seamlessly.

The narrative is both captivating and thought-provoking, exploring themes of love, loss, and the inexorable flow of time. The characters are richly developed, each with their own intricate backstory that unfolds like a delicate tapestry throughout the book. Their emotional journeys are deeply resonant, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

One of the standout features of this book is its ability to evoke strong emotions and reflections on life’s deeper meanings. The author’s talent for weaving together moments of quiet beauty with intense emotional experiences is truly remarkable.

Overall, "There Are Rivers in the Sky" is a literary masterpiece that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a must-read for anyone who appreciates beautifully crafted stories that touch the heart and soul. Highly recommended!

This book was not really for everyone but I can see it being an interesting book for a club to discuss. I struggled in the middle but got more interested as all the characters came together. The ending was a bit rushed. I feel like it could have been edited better but over all, I enjoyed it and was interested to learn more about the Yazidi people.

THIS will definitely be my most favourite book of the year!

“There are rivers in the sky” by Elif Shafak is a first-class masterpiece! It is a book of masterful storytelling of generations in Mesopotamia.

Often enough I had tears running down my cheeks because the story spears deep into your heart and leaves an irrevocable longing for peace and love.

The book is obviously the result of meticulous research by Elif Shafak, which is not atypical for her works. She investigates in detail the cultures and rulers in Mesopotamia, which extends from the prehistoric times of King Assurbanipal to the occupation by IS in current times.

Those who suffer are the Yazidis, probably the most misunderstood religious community in the world.

“There are Rivers in the Sky ” is told from three POVs:

1. By Arthur Smyth, who came to Mesopotamia in the middle of the 19th century about astonishing events and his remarkable talent for written works.

2. Narin, a little Yazidi girl from Hasankeyf, an ancient village currently being flooded by the highly controversial dam.

3. Zaleekhah, the hydrologist who lives in a houseboat in London.

The latter tell their stories from a contemporary perspective.

The three storylines are woven together through the narratives of the water. I loved the details about water that Shafak embedded into her story. Water is actually life.

I couldn't put this masterpiece down.
For me, Elif Shafak is now the epitome of masterful storytelling, while she is the voice of the oppressed, the forgotten and of love.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this magnificent ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

The ancient city of Nineveh is at the heart of this fine novel, which weaves three narratives together with remarkable skill. All are compelling, but I liked the Arthur Smyth thread the best. A kid from a Dickensian world (DIckens actually gives him a suit, understanding that unragged clothing can open doors.) his extraordinary mind brought him to Victorian prominence despite the societal belief that the lower classes lacked the mental capacity to succeed. He is able to intrinsically understand the cuneiform on ancient Assyrian tablets, sparking national interest in the epic poem of Gilgamesh. Water engineer Zaleekah moves onto a houseboat on the Thames when she separates from her husband. She meets an unconventional tattoo artist who reignites her interest in cuneiform and Nineveh. Finally, there is a Yazidi girl names Nair, who's being raised by her grandmother on the banks of the Tigris. Her grandmother wants her to be baptized in her religion at a sacred site in Iraq, which coincides with the ISIS attack on the Yazidi people.

What ties the three together is water and the power of rivers. Elif Shafak has written an unforgettable story of history, personalities, and the risks people take for knowledge. Highly recommended.

If you're in Southern California, there's an outlet mall off the 5 freeway that began life as the Samson Tire factory. Built in the late 1920's in the Assyrian style, the plant entrance features winged bulls with human heads --the lamassu in the book---intended to guard the structure. The building is junked up with digital advertising now but it is still gorgeous and an impressive thought of what Nineveh must have been.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing novel I wouldn't have read but for Netgalley's offer of an ARC copy. So, of course, my profound and humble thanks from this reader for such an amazing book.

It's a book about water, and the memory of water, and the interconnections between three people (maybe four if you count Ashurbanipal of Nineveh) and two rivers, the Tigris of Mesopotamia and the Thames of London. When "King Arthur of the Slums and Sewers" was born on the muddy banks of the river, I knew this was going to be a tear-jerker. .

The story moves between three people, a young British scholar Arthur Smyth (really George Smith, the Assyrologist who discovered and translated the Epic of Gilgamesh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Smith_(Assyriologist) ) and two modern women, a young Yazidi girl, Narin, living on the banks of the Tigris, and a Londoner dealing with divorce and childhood trauma. The story flows slowly and beautifully to its conclusion. I was satisfied with the ending, and found myself going down several Internet rabbit holes on many of the places and peoples.

I think Uncle Malek was my favorite character!

<img src="https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:eco%2Cw_700/MTc0NjM5MDE1OTg5OTQ2MzU4/what-is-the-oldest-story-ever-written.jpg"/>

<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Mr._George_Smith_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Mr._George_Smith_%28cropped%29.jpg"/>

<img src="https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/lamassu-khorsabad-iraq-lamassu-khorsabad-iraq-gypseous-alabaster-isolated-clipping-path-187117511.jpg"/>

<img src="https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p0g400tt.jpg"/>

Elif Shafak has written a powerful and moving story intertwining 3 people, two rivers, an epic poem and a horrific historical event starting with a single drop of water. In 1840 Arthur Smyth is born along side the River Thames in London. With absolutely nothing going for him in the world except for his amazing ability to memorize and see patterns, Arthur is being pulled to Nineveh by his knowledge and desire for more tablets that were used for scribing Gilgamesh. Narin is a young girl who lives in Turkey with her grandmother in 2014 and is losing her hearing. The family wishes for her to be baptized in their sacred land and begin to travel to meet family for the special event. And in 2108 Zaleekah, who was orphaned as a child in Mesopotamia now lives in London in a houseboat on the River Thames and studies water.

The relationships that Shafak creates filled me with sadness and loving and longing. I was whisked away to Mesopotamia just as it pulled Arthur, gaining a new beauty of the history of this fertile land and following the importance of the water drop throughout the years, showing its endurance and strength just as humankind had also done.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Knopf for the ARC of #ThereAreRiversintheSky.

I have really loved many of Shafak’s previous books but was not as captivated with this one. I really did appreciate the connection with water but felt the amount of main characters was too many and not evenly dispersed with their stories. It made it a challenge to keep up with their stories. And unlike other books, water didn’t really feel like a character and could have been explored more. I do feel her writing is gorgeous and I will keep reading anything she writes. This one just wasn’t one I will remember. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC I’m exchange for my homes opinion.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it did not disappoint. I have been a fan of Elif Shafak for decades, but this book was a reminder that I must prioritize revisiting her backlist. Given the amount of books on my TBR, this is extremely high praise for any author!

There are Rivers in the Sky is a an astounding epic feat of a novel, spanning from early Mesopotamia to 19th century London, 21st century London and the rise of ISIS in the 21st century Iraq, the novel explores is the interconnectedness of current and past civilizations, There are Rivers in the Sky is primarily written from 3 different character perspectives - a researcher born into poverty in late 1800s London, a child born into a persecuted minority group, who is traveling from Turkey to Iraq, and a hydrologist from London, who was raised by a wealthy family member. Generally when there are multiple POVs, I tend to prefer certain perspectives, but I enjoyed all of these equally. The novel was poetic, thought-provoking and enlightened me to the enduring relevance of the epic of Giglamesh and the questions it's "rediscovery" caused in society

If I had to give one criticism, the ending of the novel felt abrupt, and I would have loved 50-100 pages more of the 3 characters in the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review prior to publication.

A triptych of a highly enriching tale, with so much erudition, and YET a page turner. Beautifully written spanning centuries, bringing to life the glory that was Nineveh. The amazing feats of architecture and art of Mesopotamia have not been as lauded as those of the Greco-Romans, even though they predate those eras. I learned so much about life along the Tigris -- the statuary, cuneiform writing, the epic of Gilgamesh, lapis lazuli, but then also about life along the Thames thousands of years later during the Victorian Era, and then up to almost present day horrors of living under ISIS. If I were to compare this to anything, it would be to Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land, with its three seemingly disparate threads being woven so beautifully at the end. Elif Shafak, an author new to me, has been prolific and if this is any gauge, someone I will go back and read whatever she has written.

This book was breathtaking. Spanning centuries, countries and lifetimes, all connected by water, the three primary interwoven stories were both heartbreaking and inspiring. I feel inspired both to reread the 'Epic of Gilgamesh' and learn more about the horrific massacre of the Yazıdis by ISIS in 2014. I appreciated some of the musings on love so much, I quoted from this book in my wedding vows over the weekend. Elif Şafak has written some stunning novels, but this one is my new favorite. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

As always Shafak excels in storytelling. This is an amazing immersive tale and one I will be revisiting. The three main characters are so intelligently written and their voices so strong.