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There Are Rivers in the Sky
- Narrated by: Olivia Vinall, Elif Shafak
- Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins
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There Are Rivers in the Sky
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
This audiobook is read by Olivia Vinall, and Elif Shafak reads the Note to Reader at the end of the story.
This is the story of one lost poem, two great rivers, and three remarkable lives – all connected by a single drop of water.
In the ruins of Nineveh, that ancient city of Mesopotamia, there lies hidden in the sand fragments of a long-forgotten poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh.
In Victorian London, an extraordinary child is born at the edge of the dirt-black Thames. Arthur’s only chance of escaping poverty is his brilliant memory. When his gift earns him a spot as an apprentice at a printing press, Arthur’s world opens up far beyond the slums, with one book soon sending him across the seas: Nineveh and Its Remains.
In 2014 Turkey, Narin, a Yazidi girl living by the River Tigris, waits to be baptised with water brought from the holy sit of Lalish in Iraq. The ceremony is cruelly interrupted, and soon Narin and her grandmother must journey across war-torn lands in the hope of reaching the sacred valley of their people.
In 2018 London, broken-hearted Zaleekhah, a hydrologist, moves to a houseboat on the Thames to escape the wreckage of her marriage. Zaleekhah foresees a life drained of all love and meaning – until an unexpected connection to her homeland changes everything.
A dazzling feat of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of our time, Elif Shafak’s There are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel that spans centuries, continents and cultures, entwined by rivers, rains, and waterdrops:
‘Water remembers. It is humans who forget.’
*****
‘Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature’ Ian McEwan
'An extraordinary novel, fresh and cleansing, like the rain bouncing off the metal roof of our lives.' Colum McCann
'Make place for Elif Shafak on your bookshelf. Make place for her in your heart too. You won't regret it' Arundhati Roy
'One of the best writers in the world today' Hanif Kureishi
'A brilliant, unforgettable novel' Mary Beard
What listeners say about There Are Rivers in the Sky
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- DHJB
- 22-08-24
Extraordinary!
I have never reviewed an audiobook before but felt that I must on this occasion. I was enamored by the concept of a 'single drop of water' and how this was consistently followed through the whole of the book. I lost the thread of things from time to time but that was due to my inattention. The mystery of a part of the world which I've never truly studied held me in thrall. I last visited the British Museum shortly before I travelled to Egypt and may do again to see if a 'single drop' of inspiration might fall on me!
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- OK
- 23-09-24
It spoke to me
Beautifully written and narrated. Informative, imaginative, powerful and emotional human stories, masterly interweaving in a truthful historical background.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lizzy h
- 27-08-24
Amazing characters woven through a complex narrative
I enjoyed the locations, characters and histories in the novel. The novel is layered with facts, details and emotions of many peoples that are connected by the source of life -water.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Charli
- 19-08-24
Moving and fascinating
I really enjoyed this book. The three characters came alive and I learned geography history ancient and more recent and was saddened but felt the story informed me in a beautiful way.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- katy
- 27-08-24
A masterful storyteller at the height of her powers
The scale of ambition in this novel and the wealth of material would have sunk a lesser writer but Elif weaves the threads together so deftly that she creates an effortless narrative flow. History, politics, philosophy and science all form the basis of what is overall a compelling tale. This is storytelling as essential to human life such as is defined by Walter Benjamin and John Berger and that's the highest praise I can think of.
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- jj
- 13-09-24
The lyricism
A beautifully written, intricate narrative with profound themes. The magic of this book will stay with you.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- obama
- 29-09-24
Wow! That’s for opening my eyes
This beautiful poetic story joins me to my great love, water, and teaches me about history and the present day.
I have much respect for Elif Shefak for enlightening me to the plight of Yazidis, and the horrors we do not find out about.
I loved the story, the characters, and this way of learning history is so creative and impactful.
What a lot of research Elif has done to bring us this story. I pray you have the abundance and support to continue your amazing work.
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- Liam Taylor
- 22-08-24
Beautifully written
I loved everything about this book. The story is easy to follow but never predictable. The characters are drawn clearly in your imagination - but never literally. Listening to such wonderful language and storytelling has piqued my interest in the roots of this period and culture. Just lovely.
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- Sinta
- 06-09-24
Amazing book
It's amazing how multiple stories can intertwine smoothly and beautifully laying out historical, environmental and psychological aspects, connecting ancient and modern Mesopotamia as well as 19th and 20th century London.
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- Mer
- 26-09-24
Genius
Her best book yet. Wonderfully weaved together and I loved all major characters just as much as each other which doesn’t often happen.
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