Book Review: There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak’s There Are Rivers in the Sky is impressively researched, connecting the lives of three characters—Arthur from the 19th century and Zaleekha and Narine from today—through the recurring theme of water. The story moves between the deciphering of cuneiform and the recent Yazidi massacre, aiming to tackle two major moments that have changed our world.

Shafak’s writing is often poetic, sometimes beautifully so, though the constant focus on water as a symbol can feel a bit forced. The plot can be slow and, at times, a little tedious, much like a river that winds its way forward with no hurry, which some readers may find frustrating.

The novel seems to favour Arthur’s story, probably because there’s so much information available about him and the whole idea of Western explorers in the Middle East has a certain romantic pull. Zaleekha’s character, on the other hand, doesn’t sit easily alongside Arthur and Narine; she feels out of place, neither fully connected nor as well-developed.

It’s also hard to ignore the confusing handling of Zaleekha's background. Her name, supposedly given by her Iraqi mother from Nineveh, actually isn't Iraqi or common in the region, which feels off for anyone who knows the culture. Her personal story is murky, too: her separation from her husband is meant to be about her loving another man, but the book skirts any mention of queerness, leaving questions about her true self.

The sudden romance between Zaleekha and Nen comes from nowhere and feels unnecessary—it wouldn’t matter if Nen were a man or a woman, and it doesn’t affect the plot. The moment where Zaleekha blames her aunt for organ harvesting, and accuses her uncle of ‘dirty work’, is also confusing; we’re told there was more involved, but never find out what. That lack of clarity is frustrating.

It also feels clichéd that the British character is made out to be the main villain behind these terrible acts, which seems like an easy way to appeal to anti-Western readers rather than exploring the real complexity behind these events.

All that said, Shafak deserves credit for the serious research and for wanting to keep Mesopotamian stories alive. While the novel doesn’t always succeed in bringing everything together, it’s a passionate effort to remind us of the layers of history and the importance of not letting them fade away.