---
product_id: 608457225
title: "There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel"
price: "₪29"
currency: ILS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/608457225-there-are-rivers-in-the-sky-a-novel
store_origin: IL
region: Israel
---

# There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel

**Price:** ₪29
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- **What is this?** There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel
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- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.il](https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/608457225-there-are-rivers-in-the-sky-a-novel)

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## Description

desertcart.com: There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel: 9780593801710: Shafak, Elif: Books

Review: Harrowing , yet powerful, lyrical and exquisitely poetic - I must say , I am profoundly and forever changed by this book. If I could give it a 100 stars I would. How do I begin a review ? This book checked all boxes for me for what I adore in a story. Multiple protagonists and storylines that connect beautifully that I was deeply invested in their lives , I know I will think about their characters long after I finished the book. Extensively researched and based on true horrific events , I learnt so much new history that I embarrassingly had no idea about ; the Yazidi genocide, organ trafficking, ancient Mesopotamian culture and literature , the devastating effects of urbanization on rivers and waters of the world and the deploring plight and livelihoods of people burdened by poverty and mental illness. And what can I possibly say about the exquisite poetic incredibly lyrical writing except that if you ignore to read this book , it’s truly at your own loss. Usually I don’t read for the same author twice to be open to new reading territories but Elif Shafak is definitely an exception to this rule . Cheers
Review: "It all began with a single raindrop." - This is my first novel by Elif Shafak, and for much of it I was caught in its current. The novel explores three different lives in three different historic times, interweaving and interconnecting the three main characters' shared interests in Ninevah, Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform and, most importantly, water. Rivers and water play a huge role in this novel, as do culture, the socioeconomics of time and place, and the negative impact that the human race has on our ecosystems, especially rivers. Arthur is born in Victorian London in the 1800's and is christened Arthur of the Sewers and Slums. Though he lives in squalor, he has an uncanny memory and is fascinated by cuneiform and The Epic of Gilgamesh. His journey from the Thames to the Tigris is a fascinating picture of obsession and diligence. In 2018 London, Zaleekah lives in a houseboat on the Thames. She is in the midst of a divorce and feels depressed and in limbo. She was raised by her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents when she was a child. Narin is a Yazidi girl in 2014 Turkey, waiting to complete her baptism. She is persecuted because of her religion and must flee her home. The Turkish population, especially ISIS, believe that Yazidis are devil worshipers. Narin and her grandmother have the gift for finding underground water wherever it flows. Their stories and gifts are passed down from generation to generation through oral narrative. The author writes beautifully. She carefully constructs her narrative, portraying everything that occurs as being related to the first drop of water that falls on Arthur's head shortly after his birth. Every character is touched by the same water, be it mist, a snowflake, or a splash from the river. Water is the universal sustenance. Though we may not be aware, it gives us all life and meaning. The reason for a rating of 4 instead of 5 is the length of the book and my personal belief that it needed more perspicacious and effective editing. Towards the end, it dragged on and my interest waned some.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #24,096 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #67 in Cultural Heritage Fiction #199 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 10,251 Reviews |

## Images

![There Are Rivers in the Sky: A novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91MY7m-aiyL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Harrowing , yet powerful, lyrical and exquisitely poetic
*by A***R on July 2, 2025*

I must say , I am profoundly and forever changed by this book. If I could give it a 100 stars I would. How do I begin a review ? This book checked all boxes for me for what I adore in a story. Multiple protagonists and storylines that connect beautifully that I was deeply invested in their lives , I know I will think about their characters long after I finished the book. Extensively researched and based on true horrific events , I learnt so much new history that I embarrassingly had no idea about ; the Yazidi genocide, organ trafficking, ancient Mesopotamian culture and literature , the devastating effects of urbanization on rivers and waters of the world and the deploring plight and livelihoods of people burdened by poverty and mental illness. And what can I possibly say about the exquisite poetic incredibly lyrical writing except that if you ignore to read this book , it’s truly at your own loss. Usually I don’t read for the same author twice to be open to new reading territories but Elif Shafak is definitely an exception to this rule . Cheers

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It all began with a single raindrop."
*by B***Y on June 23, 2025*

This is my first novel by Elif Shafak, and for much of it I was caught in its current. The novel explores three different lives in three different historic times, interweaving and interconnecting the three main characters' shared interests in Ninevah, Mesopotamia, The Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform and, most importantly, water. Rivers and water play a huge role in this novel, as do culture, the socioeconomics of time and place, and the negative impact that the human race has on our ecosystems, especially rivers. Arthur is born in Victorian London in the 1800's and is christened Arthur of the Sewers and Slums. Though he lives in squalor, he has an uncanny memory and is fascinated by cuneiform and The Epic of Gilgamesh. His journey from the Thames to the Tigris is a fascinating picture of obsession and diligence. In 2018 London, Zaleekah lives in a houseboat on the Thames. She is in the midst of a divorce and feels depressed and in limbo. She was raised by her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents when she was a child. Narin is a Yazidi girl in 2014 Turkey, waiting to complete her baptism. She is persecuted because of her religion and must flee her home. The Turkish population, especially ISIS, believe that Yazidis are devil worshipers. Narin and her grandmother have the gift for finding underground water wherever it flows. Their stories and gifts are passed down from generation to generation through oral narrative. The author writes beautifully. She carefully constructs her narrative, portraying everything that occurs as being related to the first drop of water that falls on Arthur's head shortly after his birth. Every character is touched by the same water, be it mist, a snowflake, or a splash from the river. Water is the universal sustenance. Though we may not be aware, it gives us all life and meaning. The reason for a rating of 4 instead of 5 is the length of the book and my personal belief that it needed more perspicacious and effective editing. Towards the end, it dragged on and my interest waned some.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Powerful, beautifully written, and tells a captivating story
*by D***I on December 29, 2025*

A true piece of art from one of the most gifted writers of our time. I’ve read almost all of her books and I believe each one gets even better than the last. The imagery and powerful connection she draws between the characters, their history, and the evolving natural world around them is truly beautiful.

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*Product available on Desertcart Israel*
*Store origin: IL*
*Last updated: 2026-01-23*