There are Rivers in the Sky

APPLE BOOKS REVIEW

A single drop of water connects the three central characters in There Are Rivers in the Sky, the latest fantastical epic from Turkish writer Elif Shafak, which explores timelines and cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to present-day Europe. Key to the narrative is King Arthur of the Sewers and Slums, an impoverished Victorian child with an exceptional memory and a deep fascination with Assyrian culture that eventually takes him to the city of Ninevah on the banks of the River Tigris. We also meet Narin, a child on a journey to be baptised in those same ancestral lands (which are now, in 2014, under threat from ISIS) and Zaleekah, a recently divorced hydrologist who finds new reason to live after borrowing a book about Ninevah from her wealthy uncle. Shafak dives deep into the historical context informing the events of this intricately plotted reflection on the human experience, bringing scenes to vivid life with rich detail, meticulously researched. The individual storylines flow together into one overarching concept—that water retains memory—and leave their own lasting impression. Although the content can be heavy and challenging at times, this sweeping tale is a joy to get lost in.