What are you reading? "There Are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak

Noelia's contribution 

The Book

Amazon

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is a novel that follows three characters: Arthur, Narin, and Zaleekhah. They each live in a different time and place, but somehow, their stories are all connected by a single raindrop.

Through their stories, we travel from ancient Mesopotamia and the creation of one of the world’s first libraries, to nineteenth-century London and the Tigris River in 2014. It’s a journey through different places, cultures, religions, and moments in history, all beautifully woven together.

What I particularly loved about this novel is how many different themes it explores. Shafak touches on postpartum depression, the preservation of culture and religion through oral storytelling, the atrocities committed by ISIS in Iraq in 2014, slavery, human trafficking, and the trafficking of human organs. Despite covering such difficult and varied subjects, the story never feels like a list of historical events or social issues. Everything is woven naturally into the characters’ lives and their stories, making these themes feel deeply personal and human.

Elif Shafak’s writing is absolutely beautiful. While reading this novel, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t really reading a book at all, but rather listening to someone tell me their own story, the legends of their culture and religion, their memories, and the disappointment that comes from the actions and choices of someone you love.

I kept trying to find something I didn’t like about this book, but honestly, I couldn’t. It has been one of the best books I’ve read this year. There were chapters I desperately wanted to know how the story would end, but the closer I got to the end, the more I didn’t want to go any further because I was afraid the magic would disappear.

It’s a fairly long novel, around 400 pages, but I honestly didn’t mind. I strongly recommend giving this book a chance. It’s a beautiful, moving, and unforgettable journey.

The Author

Wikipedia

Elif Shafak is a Turkish-British novelist, essayist, and one of the most widely read contemporary writers. Born in Strasbourg, France, in 1971, she grew up in Turkey and has lived in several countries, experiences that have strongly influenced her writing.

She writes in both Turkish and English and often explores themes such as identity, migration, culture, religion, women’s rights, and the connections between East and West. Her novels blend history, mythology, and personal stories, often giving a voice to characters from different cultures and backgrounds.

Shafak is the author of numerous internationally acclaimed novels, including The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, and The Island of Missing Trees. Her work has been translated into many languages and has received numerous literary awards and nominations.