Elif Shafak

There Are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel set between the 19th century and modern times, about love and loss, memory and erasure, hurt and healing, centred around three enchanting characters living on the banks of the River Thames and the River Tigris – their lives all curiously touched by the epic of Gilgamesh.

From the bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees

There are Rivers in the Sky

Cassandra Tang

We carve our dreams into objects, large or small. The emotions we hold but fail to honour, we try to express through the things we create, trusting that they will outlive us when we are gone, trusting that they will carry something of us through the layers of time, like water seeping through rocks. 

A poem is a swallow in flight. You can watch it soar through the infinite sky, you can even feel the wind passing over its wings, but you can never catch it, let alone keep it in a cage. Poems belong to no one. 

… in deciding what will be remembered, a museum, any museum, is also deciding, in part, what will be forgotten. 

Never make a major decision unless you’ve spent seven days contemplating it. 

Words are like birds. When you publish books, you are setting caged birds free. They can go wherever they please. They can fly over the highest walls and across vast distances, settling in mansions of the gentry, in farmsteads and labourers’ cottages alike. You never know whom those words will reach, whose hearts will succumb to their sweet songs. 

Not every written word is meant for the eyes of every reader. Just as not every spoken word needs to be heard by every eavesdropper. 

soochie

“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"

Surprisingly engrossing book, beautifully written.  

Great read and absolutely worth the time! The author drifted intro historical facts at points where it was not really necessary and it did not bring mich to the story. But apart from that, delightful read

Juli

I was so excited before I started the book. At page 100, I’m feeling let down. The book’s initial promise has given way to an exhausting, over-the-top drama. From the Yazidi chapters to the England chapters, it’s as if the author threw every dramatic element together, creating a narrative that’s more emotionally abusive than engaging. So I decided not to continue this book.

Bilge Ince

this book was a total page turner, i read it within a few days - complex story, but beautifully written. after reading the last words of elif shafak and doing research i'm impressed by her closeness to reality. it's a very intelligent book, giving insights in a topic i unfortunately was ignorant about before -yezidis. warm recommendation!

Clarissa 

marvelous. one of the only books to have me hooked from start to finish. looking forward to reading more of elif shafak's work ❤️

There are Rivers in the Sky From the bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees

Reviews

Highlights