THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY

Olivia Vinall's slight English accent and careful diction allow the listener to enjoy the lyrical language in the overlapping stories of Arthur, a young man in Victorian London; Narin, a Yezidi girl in Turkey in 2014; and Zaleekhah, a woman in London in 2018. Vinall's pleasant narration starts with a raindrop that falls beside the River Tigris in olden times, which will wind the lives of these three together, much like the molecules in that very drop. Author Shafak masterfully uses water to illustrate the connections between cultures and the passage of time. Narrating the author's note, she gives listeners information about the books, research, and news stories that inspired and shaped this remarkable novel. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]