There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (Penguin)

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.

5/5