I also recently 'gushed' about this brilliant book at my local book group. Elif Shafak should be lorded as a giant in the literary world. I have loved everything she has written.
Thank you for such an insightful review! I was a bit put off by the heft of this novel but it’s now shooting up the list of must reads this year! It’s going to be a busy Autumn!
Sounds very good, and am glad you liked. Currently I'm reading something to which you could relate: Henry James' Portrait of a Lady, which spends a considerable amount of time discussing the impact on Americans who choose to relocate to (London) England. Thx
I keep reading/hearing this title as “Giants in the Sky,” the famously ubiquitous song from Into the Woods that young males are known to sing as part of a musical theater audition that most people are fed up with hearing and never want to hear again. I need to get past that before reading this! I LOVE the Lamassu! The Met Museum has a fabulous pair of them and a collection of related art! If I recall correctly, those underground rivers are also discussed in the book Ghost Maps about the famous outbreak in SOHO of Cholera in 19th century London. Prior to it the cause of Cholera was unknown, but a young doctor mapped out where and how it was connected to wells and waterways and how they were connected underground. He initiated the process of mapping an illness during an epidemic or pandemic to better understand how and who it affected that is epidemiologically still used to this day.
Yep, me too. I even sang that line in my Booker predictions vid when I guessed this would make the longlist - I'm sad it didn't. I auditioned for my high school production of Into the Woods but was only cast in the chorus. I wanted to play one of the princes. Ghost Maps sounds so interesting!
@@EricKarlAnderson As a Londoner I think you would really be fascinated with it. You could do it as a book club title and film your own highlights of still existing locales. I don’t think I totally understood the rag & bone man and trade until I read this, much enlightening history. Atlas, my high school had a music director and a theater teacher who were at odds with each other so no school musicals during my day. Probably for the best as I was cut from 7th grade chorus for being tone death. A boy! In middle school! Trying out for the chorus and not getting in! I must have been very bad!
I have really been looking forward to reading this so I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed it! I love the UK cover (vs the cover here in the US) and was thinking of ordering it, but it looks like a real chunkster! I always prefer a real book in my hands but maybe I should read this one on my Kindle…. Weird question, but did you find it uncomfortably heavy to hold?
Once again, the UK cover blows the North American one out of the water. What are you feeding your graphic designers over there?? Sigh, off to Blackwells to get this edition...
Note that when I first say British Library I meant to say British Museum as I do later in the video.
The buzz around this book is astonishing.
I think a lot of readers are responding so positively because it’s such a moving experience how the stories thread together.
I also recently 'gushed' about this brilliant book at my local book group. Elif Shafak should be lorded as a giant in the literary world. I have loved everything she has written.
Ah great!
Just reserved it at my library. 36 in front of me 😢. I loved The Island of Missing Trees.
I already have the book and a ticket for a reading with her, and now I'm very much looking forward to reading it.
Hope you enjoy it!
I suspected when you said epic and emotionally involved with the characters, that you just read Shafak’s book. I adored this book!
Good guess! 😊
Currently reading this book.I'm really enjoying it.
I am so excited to read this one! How wonderful to hear you discuss it.
Yay! Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for such an insightful review! I was a bit put off by the heft of this novel but it’s now shooting up the list of must reads this year! It’s going to be a busy Autumn!
Thank you! Yes, so many books to get to. 😅📚
Sounds very good, and am glad you liked. Currently I'm reading something to which you could relate: Henry James' Portrait of a Lady, which spends a considerable amount of time discussing the impact on Americans who choose to relocate to (London) England. Thx
I love Portrait of a Lady! I don’t always get along with James’ fiction but it is wonderful. That and his novel The Princess Casamassima.
Thank you, Eric!🌷I loved The Island of Missing Trees! There are Rivers in the Sky has now joined my wishlist. It sounds fascinating.
Hope you enjoy it! 😊
I’m reading the novel and enjoying all aspects of it.
Thanks for your review. I'll add it to my TBR.
Thank you. Just added this to my list!
I love her writing!! Elif Shafak has empathy for her characters and writes beautifully.
Yes!
Great discussion.
I read the book based on this video and loved it! I am keen to try other works by Shafak now. 🙏🏽
That’s great to hear! I’d also recommend The Island of Missing Trees.
I have bought this book cant wait to read it
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The Island of Missing Trees is also wonderful. Same author.
Ah yes, I thought that was also excellent and wrote about it here: lonesomereader.com/blog/2021/9/30/the-island-of-missing-trees-by-elif-shafak
Thank you
I look forward to reading the novel!
I keep reading/hearing this title as “Giants in the Sky,” the famously ubiquitous song from Into the Woods that young males are known to sing as part of a musical theater audition that most people are fed up with hearing and never want to hear again. I need to get past that before reading this!
I LOVE the Lamassu! The Met Museum has a fabulous pair of them and a collection of related art!
If I recall correctly, those underground rivers are also discussed in the book Ghost Maps about the famous outbreak in SOHO of Cholera in 19th century London. Prior to it the cause of Cholera was unknown, but a young doctor mapped out where and how it was connected to wells and waterways and how they were connected underground. He initiated the process of mapping an illness during an epidemic or pandemic to better understand how and who it affected that is epidemiologically still used to this day.
Yep, me too. I even sang that line in my Booker predictions vid when I guessed this would make the longlist - I'm sad it didn't. I auditioned for my high school production of Into the Woods but was only cast in the chorus. I wanted to play one of the princes. Ghost Maps sounds so interesting!
@@EricKarlAnderson As a Londoner I think you would really be fascinated with it. You could do it as a book club title and film your own highlights of still existing locales. I don’t think I totally understood the rag & bone man and trade until I read this, much enlightening history.
Atlas, my high school had a music director and a theater teacher who were at odds with each other so no school musicals during my day. Probably for the best as I was cut from 7th grade chorus for being tone death. A boy! In middle school! Trying out for the chorus and not getting in! I must have been very bad!
I have really been looking forward to reading this so I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed it! I love the UK cover (vs the cover here in the US) and was thinking of ordering it, but it looks like a real chunkster! I always prefer a real book in my hands but maybe I should read this one on my Kindle…. Weird question, but did you find it uncomfortably heavy to hold?
I love all your videos! This one sounds excellent 😦
Up there in my favourite books of the year.. an early prediction for the Women's Prize next year 💙💧💙
Yes!
You're tempting me to read this.
Once again, the UK cover blows the North American one out of the water. What are you feeding your graphic designers over there?? Sigh, off to Blackwells to get this edition...
Haha, yep, frequently UK cover design beats the American version
visa thanks you for the recommendation...no willpower here!!
😂 hope you enjoy it!