matthewmincher reviewed There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
Entwined
5 stars
Loved this. A story across time connected by water. The theme of water having memory. Identity, cultural identity, ownership and story telling. Climate change, war, theft, genocide, abuse - all touched on.
Incredibly well written with distinct characters, and enough historical context that you don't get lost in the story. I never felt like it was trying to do too much or I was struggling to follow three stories at once - it felt like one story.
I enjoyed jumping back to 1840s London to follow Arthur's quest but I think the plot 2014 / 2018 is the most gripping.
I also enjoyed the authors note at the end which covered what was fact and fiction and highlighted changes made for the sake of the story.
