A review by biancarogers
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

5.0

Elif Shafak's There Are Rivers in the Sky intertwines three Mesopotamia-linked timelines: Arthur, a 19th-century London boy fascinated by Nineveh; Narin, a Yazidi girl traveling the Tigris in 2014; and Zaleekhah, a depressed hydrologist in modern London.

Shafak crafts compelling characters and richly detailed settings, with Arthur and Narin's storylines particularly captivating. Her flowing prose connects these lives through a water droplet's journey from ancient times to the present-day Thames, exploring themes of memory and loss.

The novel's historical and cultural depth creates a complex, immersive tale that bridges eras. This challenging yet rewarding read offers a thought-provoking experience, highlighting water's enduring influence on landscapes and human quests for meaning.