This book was a joy to read. I enjoyed the way the story flowed and I had a few moments that kind of made me question a few things. The characters were very interesting and I had smile quite a few times. This author really knows how to tell a story that will captivate you from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Elif Shafak's new novel is about water and stories, and the way both continue to persist against impossible odds. It's also about people who keep persisting as long as they can, in the face of grief and trauma and displacement, and who sometimes don't succeed, but matter anyway. It's the story of three people: Arthur, born in the mud at side of the Thames, under the reign of Queen Victoria, haunted by a memory that forgets nothing (not even the day he was born), and equally haunted by Ninevah and the lost lines of the Epic of Gilgamesh; Yazidi Narin in 2014, born near the ruins of Ninevah where the epic was first discovered, in an increasingly dangerous time for her people; and Zaleekah in 2018, the London water scientist, who moves into a houseboat on the Thames as her life seems to be sweeping her away again. They are all survivors and not at all sure surviving is worth it, and they are all carriers of stories: Narin, who is going deaf, tries desperately to remember her grandmother's ancient stories, Arthur manages to decode the tablets from ancient Babylon, and Zuleekah, who hides from the stories she carries, even wonders about the stories born by water when there are no humans left to remember them.

The novel is passed back and forth between all three narrators. They inhabit the same spaces (the banks of the Tigris and the banks of the Thames). They pass the same objects back and forth between them, and they share each other's stories. Together they build rivers and the stories go on.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Elif Shafak’s There Are Rivers in the Sky features the elements that I’ve loved in so many of her books: a touch of magic, multiple generations and eras, and different threads that ultimately weave together.

The novel begins with a drop of rain and King Ashurbanipal of Mesopotamia, a cruel king whose legacy affects the lives of many, including Arthur, born in a sewer in Victorian England; Narin, a Yazidi girl in Turkey with a disorder causing deafness; and Zaleekah, a hydrologist whose crumbled marriage leads her to take a new life direction.

As the narrative shifts between their stories, Shafak explores the impacts of climate change, of poverty and inequity, of ignorance. Her writing is simply gorgeous, both on the sentence level and in the ways it peels back the layers of the characters’ connections.

There were moments when the whimsy of the raindrop didn’t work for me, occasions when I felt as if the pace of the narrative could have been a little faster. Ultimately, though, this one ranks in the top half of Shafak’s books for me, driven by her exploration of the cycles that spin through human history.

This book broke my heart multiple times.

I love the concept of following a drop of water and how it connects different people throughout history. I enjoyed getting to hear the stories of the three main characters throughout the book.

Different timelines.different people.You would think it would be confusing and all over the place.Elif Shafak as always does a great job of weaving wonderful characters all connected by water.The plight of the Yazidis is heartbreaking and I’m so glad people get to hear about it..
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

A brilliant concept beautifully executed. A single raindrop travels across time and space and ties the stories together. You have King Ashurbanipal, an ancient Assyrian ruler who built a great library in Nineveh on the banks of the Tigress River. We read about another “king,” King Arthur of the Slums and Sewers who is born along the river Thames into a world that could have come straight out of a Dickens novel. Moving into the present time, we learn of Narin a young Yazidi girl growing up along the Tigris, but whose world is soon shattered in more ways than one. And finally, we meet Zaleekah, a hydrologist who is going through some major life changes and who moves into a houseboat on the Thames. All the stories are exquisite and told so well. Water is the thread that holds them all together and makes you more aware of this precious resource that we so often take for granted. The Epic of Gilgamesh is another common theme woven throughout the novel. I was unaware of its existence until I read this book, and I definitely plan on reading more about it. Blown away by all the stuff I learned about the Yazidi. They really are a misunderstood and wrongly persecuted people. Outstanding read for historical fiction fans or anyone who loves a really great story. 5+++ stars

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted early copy.

The book spans 3 different timelines and connects 3 people and their lives. I loved the overall message and idea of the water having a memory. It was a difficult concept but executed brilliantly. The writing was so flowery and felt like poetic prose, but so fitting to the message and the stories of the main characters.
An author's note made me cry. The author combined a lot in this book but it did not feel overwhelming, it was balanced and provided so much insight and information.
Highly recommend it, but have a recovery book ready because this would tear your heart open.

How many stars can you give a book? I finished this a few days ago and my mind is too occupied with it to move onto other books. I will definitely be suggesting (pushing) this book to our library books clubs. Thank you Elif Shafak for making me push through my tears and stay with this story.

This book is one to savor. Not to be read quickly, but one should sit and take in all that it delivers. It is a story most unique, seamlessly weaving together the lives of 3 people who lived during different time periods, who have all been touched by the same drop of water. In the late 1800s we meet “King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums”. Born into property as his name suggests, Arthur is a genius who tries to find his place in the world. In 2014 we meet Narin, a young Yazidi girl whose religion is sadly misunderstood by others and who soon is thrust into a terrible tragedy. Lastly, we meet Zaleekhah, a scientist dealing with her own personal troubles. The author tells the story beautifully, with a gentle flow and such wonderful detail that it was easy to envision everything she tried to convey. There were tiny bits of each person’s story that connected to the others that made me stop and say “ah!”. I felt very connected to the characters, happy for them when they celebrated”, and sympathy for each of their troubles. <br />Although I most often read historical fiction, it usually takes place in the World War II era. I was glad I picked this one on a whim and I look forward to reading more stories by this author! I recommend it for anyone who enjoys history and a beautifully written story. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Three different people, living three very different lives in three different periods of time-all connected by a single drop of water. "There are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak is an exquisitely written work of literary fiction that captivated me from the very first page to the last. As water connects all people and times, the book follows the lives of characters whose lives are shaped by the rivers by which they live. Both the Tigris and the Thames play an intricate role in this beautiful, but sorrowful novel. If this book does not at least make the long lists for all the major book awards, I will be very surprised.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this beautiful book.

If you’re looking for a creative historical fiction novel that’s beautifully written, spans centuries, weaves together the stories of very different characters in very different time periods - and also punches you right in the gut - Elif Sarak’s got you, boo.

THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY is told from the fascinating perspective of a drop of water, and reveals the ways in which the element connects us all through time and space.

You might wonder how the stories of a ruthless Metsopatamian king; a young boy born in the slums of England in the 1800s; a young girl fleeing ISIS in 2014; and a modern hydrologist come together. But by following the journey of a single drop of water, Shafak accomplishes this, and much more.

Yes, there were a few times where I feel some editing would have benefitted the story. Some of the historical explanations were a bit encyclopedic and I got a little dazed. In addition, I admit I was invested in Arthur and Narin’s stories more than Zaleekah’s.

The most important thing I’ll take away from this novel is Narin’s story, which details the atrocities committed against the Yazidi people, and the rise of ISIS in Iran. This is why I read historical fiction - to better understand other cultures, which always leads to increased awareness and empathy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an early digital copy of THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY in exchange for my honest feedback.

A beautifully written novel surrounding The epic of Gilgamesh - the first “book” ever written on a stone tablet in ancient Mesopotamia. The story follows three different characters - a girl living in present day Turkey, a young woman studying rivers living on a houseboat in London and the man from humble beginnings who devoted his life to deciphering the stone tablets in the early 19th century. Just like in the “Covenant of Water” the ending comes together so well. Highly recommended.

Shafak wrote a complex, multi-voiced novel about human connections and their ties to our growth and success as well as the cost to our personal lives as well as our climate. Much of the book was rich and fully-developed. She can place me in settings and embracing characters like few writers can.

The last ten percent of the book, however, seemed rushed and choppy. The author had created a wealth of voices in this book, and then it felt like perhaps she had run into a page deadline and had to cut details that weren't "absolutely necessary." I wish they had been included. The gaps made a book that already had a dark tone feel harsh and incomplete. Perhaps that was the point. But it didn't work well for this reader.

I adore Elif Shafak’s writing - flowing, eloquent. I absolutely loved The Island of Missing Tress. This one I liked but didn’t love. The storyline seemed to stall and attempt to cover too much. At times it felt like one huge data dump. I did enjoy the characters, particularly Arthur and his unique ability. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Elif Shafak’s There Are Rivers in the Sky has just taken its place as my favorite book of the year thus far and as one of my all-time favorites. Opening the story in ancient Nineveh, once the world’s largest city, Shafak sets the scene that will reverberate throughout the book. King Ashurbanipal—the Emperor of the Four Quarters of the World, the Librarian King, the Educated Monarch. the Erudite Ruler of Mesopotamia, but also a brutal tyrant—surveys his city on the Tigris as a storm builds. Trying to shake off feelings of dread brought on by prophesies of destruction, he feels a single raindrop fall on his head. To avoid the approaching storm, he enters his vast library, prized more highly than all his military and political victories. Massive half animal-half human protective statues called lamassus guard the entrance. Surrounded by his literary collection comprised of thousands of clay tablets, he opens a box containing one special fragment of the already ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, inscribed on lapis lazuli. Yet something other than the precious stone causes him to shut this tablet away to be seen by no one, for it might inspire rebellion. Violence quickly ensues, and the scene is set for three converging narratives that comprise the remainder of the novel.

Divided into five sections titled “Raindrop,” “Mysteries of Water,” “Restless Rivers,” Memories of Water,” and “Flood,” the rest of the novel alternates between three individual, yet connected, narratives. The oldest of the three opens in winter 1840 on the Thames as a group of poor “toshers” search the polluted river for any small item of value, perhaps even a button. Amidst the filth, a baby is born and named King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums. He will prove a gifted child and, as the years pass, the fictional version of an historic scholar. . The second narrative opens in 2014 on the Tigris in Southeast Turkey as drops of sacred water fall on the brow of Narin, a Yazidi girl surrounded by her Yazidi elders. Bringing an end to her baptismal day, a bulldozer forces the group away as it starts work on a dam that will eventually flood the area. The story of Narin, her grandmother, her musician father, and their Yazidi neighbors dramatizes the fate of the Yazidi people. The third narrative returns to the Thames, now 2018, as Dr. Zaleekhah Clarke, a hydrologist, or water scientist, moves into a rented houseboat, in the process, breaking the glass statue of a Mesopotamian lamassu given to her by Uncle Malek, who raised her following the accident that killed her parents. Zeleekah's back story and friendship with a tattoo artist known for her cuneiform tattoos provide a look at modern day London..

Gradually, the beautifully written individual narratives of Arthur, Narin, and Zaleekhah converge in unexpected ways, reminding me of two of my other favorite books, Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land and Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water but telling a unique story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advance reader egalley of this unforgettable new novel from Elif Shafak.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the gifted eARC

4.25 Stars

I went into this one blind, as I so often do, and imagine my surprise when I realized it’s not a fantasy novel 😂 I’m not entirely sure why I told myself it was fantasy but alas, it was not.

What it was, was an absolutely beautifully written historical fiction novel. The writing and prose were so poetic with so many quotable lines, my kindle highlight feature was put to work. There is no doubt that Elif Shafak is an extremely skilled and well researched writer.

Told from three POV over three different timelines, the author utilizes the theme of water and water memory as a means of tying together the three main characters. Little by little we see how their lives and stories converge in other, often times heartbreaking, ways.

This is a heavy read. The writing was stunning but the subject matter is devastating. Racism, classism, religious persecution, slavery, human trafficking, cultural appropriation, and colonialism are just some of the societal issues covered here.

I am so glad I had my buddy reading friends for this one. Often times historical fiction paints a bleak picture but ends with a sense of hope. This one left me sitting with a heavy heart. Emotional support and a fluffy palate cleanser to follow are recommended.

Thank you Knopf for a powerful read and PRH audio for the audiobook. I really valued the writing and story shared in There are Rivers in the Sky and note excellent, nuanced voice acting in the audiobook.

The complexity of a time expansive story written with such clarity, a story that reaches out that says this is sad but important, writing that says let's explore and talk about the world around us, an author that can take such themes and make them reach out from the page to capture a reader... it's impressive. A heart wrenching powerful read that also left me feeling uplifted. A single rain drop with never ending potential to make a story sing.

Shafak is one of the most eloquent writers of modern times. I don’t think I’ve highlighted more passages in a work of fiction since, well, ever I suppose. I love how the author weaves the powerful characteristics of water - strength, sorrow, love, tenderness, chaos, memory, and more - through beautiful and varied descriptions, especially rivers: the Thames, Tigris, and Euphrates, along with the invisible rivers that tie us together in the present as well as across time and place. I loved the thread from Mesopotamia that was pulled through the late 1800s, 2014, and 2018, and the threads that were pulled between those three time periods. Each of the protagonists from the different periods were brilliantly devised, each with their own unique story full of hope and full of sorrow - the true human experience. My only regret is my timing. Gearing up for school to start (I’m a teacher) made it difficult for me to savor the text, and, wow, does this one want to be savored. I definitely plan to revisit Zaleekah, Narin, and Albert when I have time to read their stories slowly, put the book down for days at a time and mull over the brilliance and profundity, and, like a river does to a stone, allow it to smooth my edges and gentle me and my experiences in the world.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor: Knopf, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this outstanding novel.

What a beautiful story! Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf books for this ARC for review. I was first introduced to Elif Shafak with the Reese Witherspoon Book pick and Booker Prize Finalist, The Island of Missing Trees which I really liked. This book I loved so much more. This is a sweeping tale of the water that binds us all. The story journeys along the River Tigris in an ancient city, to 1840 London where there is the cholera outbreak and the River Thames, to Turkey in 2014 and baptism, and to 2018 London again and living on a houseboat. I loved the intertwining of the stories.

Make the time to read and savor this epic and heartbreaking novel that links three people-Arthur in the late 1800s, Narin in 2014, and Zaleekah in 2018-and the epic poem Gilgamesh. Arthur, born literally on the banks of the Thames to grinding poverty, becomes fascinated with Ninevah and uses his incredible mind to advance at the Museum because he, unlike almost no one else, can read the tablets brought to London from Assyria. It won't be clear immediately how he links to Narin, a young Yazudi girl who is losing her hearing and her home. Or to Zaleekah, a hydrologist who was raised by her uncle after her parents died. These three characters- and all those they meet- will linger in your mind. Shafak has taken on the export of cultural and religious items to the UK and, more importantly, the abuse of the Yazidi and done it in a way that echos and pulls. This is beautifully written, emotional, and thought provoking all at once. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I can't recommend it more highly.