Book Discussion 2: (virtual) There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

Our April book is "There Are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak.

Basic Overview: Across three places and times, the stories of three characters, two rivers, and one ancient poem are told.

The Concept: The author aimed to create a book centered on something that we may all perceive as simple and often take for granted. She wove this story around a single drop of water. Water is essential to life, and in an era when countries are experiencing a decline in their water supplies, this is a topic of great significance. As women, the author sees this crucial change in our landscape and resources as dire, especially considering the risks and threats women in these countries who are the 'water bearers' have to endure in order to secure water for their families, further and further away from home and safety.

The Three Protagonists: The three characters across time represent the chemical compound of water (H2O). Arthur is loosely connected to a real person named George Smith, who lived in the 1800s. The little Yazidi girl named Narin is a character who enters the scene living in a 12,000-year-old ancient civilization called "Hassankeyf," which was located in Turkey. The girl and her mother travel to Iraq in the Summer of 2014 to escape a controversial dam with a lifespan of only 50 years. Another character from the UK, Zeleekhah, is a water scientist who studies not only the rivers we can see, but also those in the sky (atmospheric rivers), and those we cannot see underground. The rivers represent the mysteries of things we don't see and may be lost, but are alive and still shape us.

Join me! This diverse book, featuring a wealth of historical fiction, tells the story of the water crisis and many human issues, past and present, through the lives of these three characters and the many themes alluded to. I look forward to a rich discussion filled with empathy, emotion, and the wisdom of our minds.
Cheers,
Jean

The sources: (Warning: There are some spoilers)
The British Museum Events. (2024). There are Rivers in the Sky | Elif Shafak & Mary Beard In Conversation at the British Museum. [YouTube].

Additionally, feel free to click on the links researched and posted in the synopsis above if you're interested in exploring some of the historical pieces that the author uses as the foundation for this book.

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Announcement: Book Recommendations requested

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Join us at this VIRTUAL event. If you missed the in-person discussion, we are delighted that you are considering joining us to discuss the same book at this, our online MeetUp, "Book Discussion 2". We also encourage you to join both Book Discussion 1 (in-person) & Book Discussion 2 (virtual) and treat yourself to the full experience of ideas and discussion. Check out the details on this meetup event page.

Zoom Log In: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 820 4751 4879
Passcode: 249623

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