There Are Rivers in the Sky

Each of the three protagonists in the book experiences personal tragedy early on in their lives. In this context, how does Shafak explore themes of resilience in the face of adversity through the intersecting storylines?

“Water is the consummate immigrant, trapped in transit, never able to settle” (78). How does the story support this assertion? Examine the ideas of home and stability that are presented in the book vis-à-vis the motif of water.

Zaleekhah harbors a secret interest in the idea of “aquatic memory,” a hypothesis that fascinated her mentor, was spurned by the rest of the scientific community, and is supposedly confirmed by the drop of water traveling through time. What role does memory play in the book? How does it tie into larger themes of tragedy, loss, and human history?

Examine how Shafak’s writing style complements the vast expanse of time and space that the story traverses. How does the voice or tone of the narrative shift to convey differences in perspective across the novel’s disparate settings?

Three different storylines unfold on the banks of two rivers in very different times and locations. Comment on the significance of the geographical settings in the story to its exploration of cultural and temporal fluidity.

While the book is arranged in five parts, the narrative is non-linear and moves between the different characters’ lives and times. How does Shafak balance structure and fluidity in her storytelling? How does the book’s kaleidoscopic narrative structure reflect or advance its themes?

The story begins in ancient Mesopotamia, with King Ashurbanipal cruelly punishing his former teacher and mentor for disloyalty. What ideas about civilization and humanity does Shafak imply by choosing this as the moment in time when the story begins?

Arthur’s, Narin’s, and Zaleekhah’s storylines come together to make up the larger narrative; through this perspective, they are each an equal protagonist in the story. However, do each of them have an equally active role to play? Why or why not? What specific central conflicts do they each grapple with in their respective arcs?