This one absolutely broke me!
Beautifully lyrical writing interweaving three different stories in 3 different timelines, all pulled together by recurring themes of water, Yizidi culture and the Epic of Gilgamesh! This book deals with issues of religious intolerance and hatred, geopolitics, and socio-economic privilege. Shafak also discusses who should get to voice their stories and who should decide which peoples, cultures and artefacts are saved or remembered e.g. talking about the looting of cultural artifacts by C19 archeologists Shafak writes that Museums are “actively taking part in determining what is worth preserving for posterity…in deciding what will be remembered a museum, any museum, is also deciding, in part, what will be forgotten”. Immensely powerful but not preachy. I loved this.

"And if we could only see the world through a baby's eyes, gazing up with wonder, we could watch rivers in the sky. Mighty rivers that never cease to flow"

There Are Rivers In The Sky is a wondrous story that follows at different points in time Arthur, Zaleekhah and Narin through portions of their lives. Like tributaries joining a river, elements of each intertwine and mingle to reveal a vividly heart aching and tender reflection of how we treat each other, how we treat our history and past and how we treat the world around us.

Shafak has such control over language; each phrase is so sharp, perfectly coming together to create such a complex story. There was clearly extensive research included, especially for Arthur's segments but this never hindered the true heart of the book from shining through.

Words are power. The topics of climate change, imperialism and oppression are as prevalent as ever. Parallels between the plight of the Yazidi within this book mirrors the many acts of genocide and brutality we are bearing witness to in Palestine, Sudan, Congo and else where. The effects of these acts of violence span generations, seep into the soil and water of indigenous lands.

But there is an undeniable thread of hope throughout this book. It serves as a reminder to carry hope within us even whilst facing the worse adversity.


Thank you to NetGalley and the team at Penguin Random House UK for the opportunity of reading this eARC.

Could this be the best book of 2024? I have high hopes for any book by Elif Shafak (The Island of Missing Trees is still lodged in the front of my brain) and There Are Rivers in the Sky is perhaps her best yet.

A flood begins with a single raindrop, and this incredible story begins with the perspective of one such raindrop hurtling towards King Ashurbanipal at his palace in Nineveh in 612 BC. Whooshing forwards to 1840s London, Arthur (“King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums”) possesses a photographic memory and genius that leads him out of poverty, into the British Museum to decode Mesopotamian tablets, and across continents to Nineveh.

In 2014, ten-year-old Narin travels from Turkey to Iraq for her baptism while grappling with the loss of her hearing. Jumping back to London in 2018, Zaleekah is a hydrologist living on a houseboat and struggling with reasons to stay alive.

If you’ve enjoyed Elif Shafak’s previous novels – or Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, which this reminded me of – add this to the top of your reading list for 2024. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I've loved every book by Elif Shafak and this is no exception. Despite the focus shifting chapter by chapter between the various strands of the story it is always coherent.

There is beauty and goodness in abundance, but cruelty, intolerance and persecution are always there, sometimes hovering in the background but increasingly to the fore as the novel progresses, with many passages extremely difficult to read.

The author writes with total clarity. There are no wasted words. Even when she uses lists to set a scene each item adds something.

The drop of water running through the novel is a great device for tying together the different story lines. It is clear than an enormous amount of research has been done into the science of water and into the different historical periods, resulting in a novel that will surely receive great acclaim.

This os an astounding book of depth and beauty
I enjoyed two of the author’s previous novels so grabbed this one on NetGalley when I saw it and it went straight to the top of my to be read list
I love the starting image of viewing things from the point of view raindrop it made me think that I was in for something special a bit different in this book
The story starts in ancient Mesopotamia continues to Victorian England then 2014 Turkey and finally 2018 London. throughout the novel we meet Arthur who lives in Victorian London.Zaleekhah living in a houseboat on the river Thames in modern times and Narin living by the River Tigris in Turkey in 2014 a member of minority group Christians the Yazidis .
The story of Arthur a young boy in London 1850s I found particularly interesting .One of his brothers drinks water from John Snow’s water pump and having read the story before and being taught in our epidemiology at Medical school I knew instantly what was going to happen it made me feel quite nauseous. The bacteria being in a drop of water continues the water theme of the novel.
Throughout the novel, the theme of water remembering and humans forgetting is picked up for me passing I found the fact that I did remember some of the historical stories very interesting and it made me want to read more. In particular the story of the YD treatment by the Isis fighters and their subsequent modern slavery was very poignant
The order has a beautiful flowing prose style with poetic elements making the novel a thoroughly enjoyable read the combination of settings from the Middle East to London added extra breadth to the novel
I would recommend this novel to lovers of literary novels if you enjoyed exit west by Moshe Hamid Home fire by Kamila Shamisie oh what strange paradise by Omar El Akkad then he would enjoy the novel

The book is published in the UK on the 8th of August 2024 by Penguin General UK fig tree
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads and my book blog
BionicSarahSbooks.WordPress.com.
After publication, the review will also appear on Amazon UK

Another outstanding tale from this brilliant author. As with her previous novels, this mixes the fantastical with historical truth. It took me longer than usual to finish reading this as I kept getting sucked down Google rabbit holes reading more about Gilgamesh and George Smith, who the character of King Arthur of the sewers and slums was based on. Fascinating reading and she so cleverly weaves the various stories and timelines together. A wonderful, easy 5* from me.
Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC

A new Elif Shafak book is always a literary delight and treat so much so that reading this new novel was given time and thought- returning to certain sections- dovetailing into online history and geography and exploring the Epic of Gilgamesh

This is a multi layered and complex novel and is worthy of close attention and appreciation.

This is a love song to rivers and water - their relationship with man and their essential role in our lives.

This is a novel about three lives :

King Arthur of the Sewers- a man born in the 1800s on the bank of the River Thames whose unique life carries him from extreme poverty to working at the British Museum - celebrated by society -and onwards to Nineveh ( modern day Mosul ) where he endeavours to piece together the Epic poem of Gilgamesh through his ability to read cuneiform; and his profound connection with the Yazidi and Leila - a faqra - who enchants him .

Narin- a young Yazidi girl whose family ancestry reveals women with remarkable skills - diviners of premonitions and discovering water; she and her grandmother travel to Iraq after discovering their home in Hasankejf is to be flooded by the construction of a dam which subsequently finds them caught up within the persecution and on going genocide of their community.

Zaleekhah- a scientist who studies water and the impact off climate change upon this most valued natural resource; as she ends her marriage she becomes friends with Nen - a tattoo artist who has a deep fascination with Assyrian history and inks cuneiform on to visitors.Together they build a connection that brings cultures and time together

The lives of these three individuals is meticulously told ; inter connected through historical events and artefacts- each battling to comprehend the world around them- the human capacity to damage that which is precious and try to understand the greed and impact of the rich ,powerful and extreme fundamentalists.

Broader themes are explored- water pollution - disease( cholera in the Victorian era and the emergence in the world today) .- the dying of rivers and vast areas of land through poisons knowingly polluted by man Empires pilfering/stealing ancient artefacts ( Ashurbanipal palace and modern day Mosul) and modern day illegal trades in the theft of items from different historical cultures and civilisations.

This is a book to savour, to reflect upon, to learn from - this is a book that deserves close scrutiny and plaudits - the research and complexity of the plot is incredible- yet the plot never ceases to intrigue and entertain. The denouement is perfect and leaves you with deeper thoughts and questions.

A true tour de force- - the wisdom within this novel is powerful

My book of 2024 !!

Quotes:

Water is the consummate immigrant- trapped in transit and never able to settle.

More and more he comes to realise that people fall into three camps : those who hardly, if ever, see beauty, even when it strikes them between the eyes; those who recognize it only when it is made apparent to them; and those rare souls who find beauty everywhere they turn, even in the most unexpected places.

‘When you publish books, you are setting caged birds free. They can go wherever they please. They can fly over the highest walls and across vast distances, settling in the mansions of the gentry, in farmsteads and labourers’ cottages alike. You never know whom those words will reach, whose hearts will succumb to their sweet songs.’

Clock-time, however punctual it may purport to be, is distorted and deceptive. It runs under the illusion that everything is moving steadily forward, and the future, therefore, will always be better than the past. Story-time understands the fragility of peace, the fickleness of circumstances, the dangers lurking in the night but also appreciates small acts of kindness. That is why minorities do not live in clock-time. They live in story-time.

‘Hatred is a poison served in three cups. The first is when people despise those they desire–because they want to have them in their possession. It’s all out of pride! The second is when people loathe those they do not understand. It’s all out of fear! Then there is the third kind– when people hate those they have hurt.’ ‘But why?’ ‘Because the tree remembers what the axe forgets.’

From the first page this book drew me in. The writing is so beautiful and poetic. Three narratives alternate and intertwine. The characters are wonderfully drawn and treated so compassionately. There is a sense of timelessness to the whole story which is bound together by the water cycle. The research is amazing and I learnt so much from this novel. It is warming, tragic and at times an uncomfortable read but the sublime way in which the story is told carries the reader effortlessly along.
This is the first book by Elif Shafak I have read but I shall be reading her other books at the first opportunity.
Highly recommended.

I jumped at the chance to read this new novel by Elif Shafak and I was not disappointed. The writing is beautiful and the images created just stay in the mind - the single drop of rain that quivers, terrified about the fall that will come. Breath-taking. This is a novel about water - how it connects us all - how it has a memory - how it is vital to our existence. But there is so much more in here as well. We start in the palace of King Ashuorbanipal in Mesopetamia, over whom the raindrop at the beginning is hanging as he holdsin his had a lapis lazuli tablet in which is inscribed lines of poetry. Then we have three timelines - Arthur born on the banks of the Thames in the Victorian era, Narin a 9 year old Yazidi girl who lives by the River Tigris in 2014 and Zaleekah, an hydrologist in 2018. Water connects all three. And another thread that runs through the novel is the Epic of Gilgamesh. It might sound as if there is so much going on, how will a reader ever navigate but everything - in my opinion - flows seamlessly. Arthur, born in the slums, becomes obsessed with the poem and translating the Cuneiform tablets and I loved that the acknowledgements revealed that he was based upon a real person. His story is special. Narin's on the other hand is heart-breaking and difficult to read. I had no real knowledge of the Yazidi people and the events of 2014. As for Zaleekah, her story seems to be the bridge that connects. I loved the way that the raindrop keeps reappearing, that threads link all timelines but you are left guessing just quite how. This was such a special read.

This is a beautifully written novel and the level of research it must have taken is impressive; I learned so much about the Yazidis and the history of Ninevah in what is modern-day Iraq. I'm conflicted about my rating as parts of the book were undoubtedly 5-star but I found it incredibly depressing with page after page of unremitting misery. Also, the stories were so distinct that it was jarring to switch from one character to another and the final linking of the stories at the end was rather tenuous.

This rating is based purely on my personal level of enjoyment not on the quality of writing which, as always with Elif Sharak, is first class.

This took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I found I looked forqard to Zaleekhah's chapters the most. There were some clichés in the narrative but overall it was very thoughtful and thought provoking

Having read and loved several novels by Elif Shafak I was excited to delve into this new one. I was not disappointed. Shafak’s writing is sublime, carrying you along on a wave of interest and beauty. That being said, her storyline is in parts quite distressing and hard to read. The combination however results in a fantastic book which is based on both real events and myth.

Having read all previous novels by Elif Shafak I jumped at the chance to read this and was not disappointed. She is a master storyteller. This latest story, enlightened, educated & entertained me, what more could you ask for. A perfect 5* read!

A history of a region and its culture told through individual stories. I became engrossed in each of the characters and was really rooting for them. I particularly liked Arthur King of the sewers and the slums. Knowing that he was based on a real person who had been born in the slums of Chelsea to become the first person to translate Cuneiform tablets and particularly the poem The Epic of Gilgamesh.
All of the characters are formed by their relationships to water. The Thames and The Tigress.
A very accomplished novel covering large swathes of history up to present day. I learned so much from this beautiful book and I’m sorry it’s finished.

Elif Shafak's novel "There Are Rivers in the Sky" is a rich and captivating story that spans centuries and cultures. At its heart is a lost poem, two major rivers, and three remarkable lives interconnected by a single drop of water.

The narrative follows three enchanting characters living along the River Thames and the River Tigris, whose lives are intricately touched by the epic of Gilgamesh. The story begins with an ancient tablet from Ashurbanipal's library - a blue lapis lazuli slab, an extraordinary traveler through time.

Shafak's writing delves into profound themes of love, loss, memory, hurt, and healing, set between the 19th century and the modern day. We follow a child born on the banks of the Thames in Victorian London, a Yazidi girl in war-torn 2014 Turkey, and a disheartened hydrologist in 2018 London - all connected by the rivers and the epic tale. The journey of life mirrors the flow of rivers to the sea.

The characters are portrayed as complex, enchanting individuals with unique struggles, backgrounds, and ties to the rivers and the overarching narrative. Water is a "consummate immigrant", trapped in constant motion, never able to settle. I was particularly drawn to Arthur, his hunger for knowledge, and his transition from the bottom to spiritual greatness.

Shafak's prose is rich in depth and the ability to weave intricate storylines across time and space. The novel explores profound ideas of interconnectedness, resilience, and the enduring power of storytelling. She is a masterful storyteller - I always read her work slowly, savoring every detail and mental twist. The very concept is extraordinary - water that connects us all, that has a memory, that we cannot live without, yet that can also destroy us. When we pollute the water and the planet, we are killing ourselves. How can we be so unaware?

This is a compelling, beautifully crafted novel that intertwines history, mythology, and human experiences, offering a profound exploration of interconnected lives and the lasting impact of stories across generations. As Shafak says, "People fall into three camps: those who hardly, if ever, see beauty, even when it strikes them between the eyes; those who recognize it only when it is made apparent to them; and those rare souls who find beauty everywhere they turn, even in the most unexpected places." And her novels are filled with an immense, captivating beauty.

A brilliant work that transports the reader to another dimension.

Wow! Easily my favourite book this year (so far).

There Are Rivers in the Sky is an extraordinary story told across multiple timelines and narratives. There is Arthur in the 1800s, who becomes King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums in a vividly described London. Then there is Narin in Turkey in 2014, living with her Grandma, reflecting on her family history and wanting to travel to Iran for her baptism. And finally Zaleekhah, leaving her husband and moving into a boat in London in 2018. These three characters seem completely unconnected in the beginning but gradually their stories become connected. Each of the narratives and storylines are completely captivating.

I loved Arthur's story - especially when he met Charles Dickens. His work at the British Museum seemed very real and I suppose in a way, it was - someone must have done those things! There was lots to think about here - not just 'who really owns the things we keep in museums' but why do we do it? His whole storyline made me want to go to the British Museum and spend time in the Mesopotamia section. I really appreciate that the author took the time at the end of the novel to explain her influences and fact base. The research is somewhat mindblowing for a reader, not a writer, like me.

There are subtle references to water throughout. I really liked the descriptions of the drop of rain and that same drop reappearing and then the timeline relating to this at the end of the book. The characters being titled as one of the elements of water was lost on me at the beginning and I suddenly realised what this was about half way through.

I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those who enjoy historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another incredibly written, intricate, and mesmerizing book from Elif Shafak.

This was masterful. Despite there being several different timelines, and four different narratives throughout the book, there's not one moment that feels confusing or slow. All of the storylines keep you engaged from start to finish, What impressed me most about this is the sheer amount of research that has gone into it, and yet there was not one moment where it felt like the reader was being overloaded with information and facts. They were beautifully woven into the story, tied in with each character as the plot moved, but you finish the book feeling like you've gained something significant from it.

From Mesopotamia to England, it feels like each character is world's apart (and they are!) but the ties and connection between them is just so gorgeously done. This is a heavy book though- definitely not a light summer read. It is extremely emotional, heartbreaking, and I had to put it down and take a few deep breaths at times. It's gut wrenching, but you'll finish being thankful for the soreness.

I expected nothing less than an exceptional book from Elif Shafak -she's set some very high standards with her previous books- and this one blew past ever single expectation that I had and then some. Amazing.

3.5. I liked the vibe of this book for the most part, but I did find my attention waning at points. I don't think it quite hits 'The Forty Rules of Love' for me but it was still pretty good.

I loved the story overall, the writing style is amazing and Arthur's passion for Mesopotamia opened a new interest for me. I loved Narin's story too and even though I understand the connection between Arthur, Narin and Zaleekhah I still feel like Zaleekhah was a bit forced in the story, like what was her role apart from the end. I wanted more details about Narin's grandmother life or Leila, that would have been amazing and would have made the story feel completed.

This powerful story spans centuries, intricately weaving the history and struggles of the Yazidi people. Through its compelling narrative, the book shines a light on the persistent mistreatment and persecution they have faced across various cultures and eras. From ancient times to the present day, it captures the resilience and strength of the Yazidi community, revealing their enduring spirit amidst adversity. By exploring their rich cultural heritage and the relentless challenges they have endured, the story brings much-needed attention to their plight and offers a profound reflection on their ongoing fight for survival and dignity.