There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel By Elif Shafak

In Elif Shafak's There Are Rivers in the Sky, three lives across centuries are interconnected by the profound symbolism of rivers. Set against the backdrop of two great rivers—the Tigris and the Thames—this novel delves into the lives shaped by their waters.

In ancient Nineveh, King Ashurbanipal's once-glorious library falls into ruin, yet from its remnants emerges the Epic of Gilgamesh, a poem that weaves through history. This ancient text binds together the lives of three individuals linked by a single drop of water.

In 1840 London, Arthur, born into poverty beside the polluted River Thames, escapes his grim reality through his remarkable memory. His position as an apprentice at a leading publisher exposes him to a world beyond the slums, where he discovers a book titled Nineveh and Its Remains, sparking a deep connection to the ancient city.

Fast forward to 2014 Turkey, where ten-year-old Narin, a Yazidi girl, faces imminent deafness due to a rare disorder. Her grandmother’s desperate wish for her to experience a sacred baptism before the encroaching ISIS threats and the destruction of their ancestral lands along the Tigris adds a poignant layer to her story.

In 2018 London, hydrologist Zaleekah, recently divorced and grappling with her own demons, moves onto a houseboat on the Thames. Her decision to end her life is challenged by the discovery of a book about her homeland, shifting her perspective and reconnecting her with her past.

There Are Rivers in the Sky is a compelling narrative that explores how rivers—symbols of both life and destruction—transcend time and fate, embodying the essence of memory and continuity.