Play Book Tag discussion

Among other reasons, I loved reading this novel for a dive into Mesopotamian culture, of which I retained almost nothing of the little I must have learned in school. I was stimulated to read about The Epic of Gilgamesh, I bounced to the internet frequently to look up basic historical facts, and, overall, I marvelled at the story of human civilization. The book is overflowing with historical details about an important part of the world I know too little of. A major theme running throughout is water, and the myriad ways humans need and abuse it. Similar to The Island of Missing Trees, where we follow the life of a fig tree, in this book we follow a drop of water; some suspension of belief is required regarding the coincidences -- and not just around the drop of water -- but that’s exactly what fiction allows. There are three POV characters: an impoverished but brilliant boy born on the shores of the filthy Thames in 1840 who develops a fascination with Mesopotamian archeology (based on real life George Smith), a young Yazidi girl travelling to Iraq in 2014 to be baptized in waters of the Tigres, and a hydrologist in 2018 living on a houseboat on London’s Cheyne Walk, studying water and trying to come to terms with personal issues within her extended ethnic Turkish family. Naturally, their story lines must come together somehow (the coincidences!) and there’s enough foreshadowing that I wasn’t surprised at the eventual connections. But that’s only a problem for someone looking for a whodunnit, which this rich and complex novel is definitely not. The lavish descriptions of everything, from land and rivers, environmental issues, cultural and historical tidbits and profundities are products of an author who has deep knowledge of her subject. Sometimes I skimmed a bit, but I also slowed to savor. I suspect this novel meant something extra to me because I read it from the shores of Cyprus, knowing Mesopotamia was just across the water. It was a 5 star book for me and I’ll be reading more of this author.

I really enjoy this author, and reading about water and exotic locations. I always loved reading books about the local area when I traveled. It makes it more special and memorable. Great review!

I loved it too!

Great review, Susan! I've read a lot of 5 star reviews for the book. How special it is that you read it while in Cyprus. So glad that you loved it.