A masterful exploration of themes such as love, identity, displacement, and belonging, set against the backdrop of River Tigris’ political and social turbulence.
Shafak is hands down the best author who knows her way of vivid storytelling, even the objects narrate poetically (such as from The Island of the Missing Tree) and once again, she delivers a work with intricate character development that transcends borders—both geographical and emotional, inviting readers into the lives of her characters as they navigate their personal and collective histories.
“Books, like paper lanterns, provide us with a light amidst the fog.”
I got to learn a lot of water itself and about the civilization of Mesopotamia. The characters of three different timezones — how their lives are interconnected through water is astounding and Shafak’s forte.
Throughout the novel, Shafak delves into themes of exile and migration, exploring how individuals cope with leaving their homeland, both physically and psychologically. The act of moving away, of displacement, becomes a way of understanding the search for home and identity. Characters grapple with their sense of belonging and try to reconcile their personal narratives with the larger national history, a tension that feels particularly poignant given Turkey’s ongoing struggles with identity and modernity.
“Hatred is a poison served in three cups. The first is when people despise those they desire—because they want to have them in their possession. It’s all out of hubris! The second is when people loathe those they do not understand. It’s all out of fear! Then there is the third kind—when people hate those they have hurt.”
I loved how the ancient history — long gone— brought life and meant so much for people. How rivers that once seen golden days had now dried up , their stories lost with time.
“The world would have been a much more interesting place if everyone was given a chance to meet their ancestors at least for an hour in their lifetime.”
There are moments of lyricism and poetic beauty in Shafak’s prose that invite reflection and introspection.
“Home is where your absence is felt, the echo of your voice kept alive, no matter how long you have been away or how far you may have strayed, a place that still beats with the pulse of your heart.”
Her remarkable ability to blend personal and political narratives makes this novel a timely and deeply resonant work. When it comes to Elif Shafak, you can never be disappointed and There Are Rivers in the Sky is a book that stays in your heart for a very long time.
**five stars!
