Exploring Water's Significance in Literature

The new novel by Elif Shafak, titled 'There Are Rivers in the Sky', serves as a profound exploration of water's vital role in both life and literature. Shafak describes the narrative as interconnected through three characters, two rivers—the River Thames and the River Tigris—and an ancient poem, highlighting water as a metaphor for connection across cultures and eras. She emphasizes that discussing the climate crisis is intrinsically linked to addressing freshwater scarcity, particularly in politically and socially turbulent regions like the Middle East. Through the characters’ journeys, Shafak reinforces the idea that water not only sustains life but also carries memories, illustrating how intertwined human experiences truly are.