All About Books discussion

Please discuss our winner here.

If you wish to discuss any possible spoilers, please go here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I started this a couple days ago, and I quite like the writing style. It has a mythological feel. Also, I feel very intrigued by the setting - I don't think I have ever read anything set in ancient Mesopotamia before!

It was so interesting about the earlier goddess of writing being supplanted by the scribes' god Nabu.

And I've had to look up a few things. I had never heard of the lamassu before, or if I had heard of it, I had completely forgotten.

Just read the second chapter, and I liked it even better than the first. Can't wait to see what happens to Arthur and his "gift." This is my first book by Elif Shafak; I think she's a wonderful storyteller!

I have read The Island of the Missing Trees by her, which I liked very much, she is a great story teller. While reading this book I find the image, symbol or 'character' of water very interesting. This is not the first book where the concept of 'water has Memories ' has come across.

That is an interesting aspect Nidhi, and it makes sense in that especially in ancient Mesopotamia, life followed the water. Water was life! I wonder if water containing memory is a part of any ancient belief systems?

Water is part of all religious rituals of Hindus, as a symbol of purity and as a witness..... so is fire.
In Covenant of Water, water is an almost an organic entity.

Nidhi wrote: "Water is part of all religious rituals of Hindus, as a symbol of purity and as a witness..... so is fire.
In Covenant of Water, water is an almost an organic entity."

Interesting Nidhi!

Now that I think of it, some key Christian rituals involve water as well, such as baptism. And fire is an important symbol related to the holy spirit. It's interesting how much the different traditions share.

I still want to read The Covenant of Water someday! Back when the group read it, time got away from me.

Yes Greg water is essential in rituals because it is one of the Five Elements of life.
Covenant of Water is a memorable book because author is a doctor and book has a very interesting medical aspect, the book is lengthy though an easy read.

I got this book through audible yesterday. I look forward to reading it.

Alannah wrote: "I got this book through audible yesterday. I look forward to reading it."

I'm doing a combination, some with a physical copy at night and some through Audible on my commute. So far I think the Audible readers are doing a great job! Hope you enjoy it Alannah!

For everyone who is reading or who has read this book, which of the timeframes is your favorite: Arthur's, Narin's, or Ashurbanipal's? I really like all three of them for different reasons. I don't feel bored with any of them.

I'm halfway through part 1 now.

Greg wrote: "For everyone who is reading or who has read this book, which of the timeframes is your favorite: Arthur's, Narin's, or Ashurbanipal's? I really like all three of them for different reasons. I don't..."

I really like them all for different reasons too! I think Arthur's timeline was the most interesting to me as it involved research which in itself was fascinating!

Looking forward to understanding what you mean about the research as I get further in the book Tatyana! I do find Arthur such a sympathetic character - I can't help but root for him.

It's my own ignorance, but I had never heard of the Yazidi faith before. I've been researching it online now, and it's so fascinating, such a rich symbology and mythology! I definitely enjoy that aspect of the first Narin sections, in learning a little about it.

If anyone is curious, this is an image of the sacred place Lalish that Narin refers to:



And this is the Zamzam well:

Greg wrote: "It's my own ignorance, but I had never heard of the Yazidi faith before."

Same! I finished the book, and started researching about Yazidi people, it's fascinating! Yazidi culture and faith is still followed in their communities, and Yazidi people are present in many countries, including in USA, which I might do a little more research on to see if they have museums or cultural centers/events here i can visit.

About to start it; I'll come soon!

The reference to the story of Zulaika in the first Zaleekhah section is fascinating. I had never heard it before:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf...

It's particularly interesting how the story differs in the different religious traditions and how there are yet other imaginings of the ending of the story in poetry and literature.

I too found the story of Zulaika fascinating but Zaleekhah's decision to live in house boats is more fascinating, she wants to be surrounded with water.

Nidhi wrote: "I too found the story of Zulaika fascinating but Zaleekhah's decision to live in house boats is more fascinating, she wants to be surrounded with water."

It is interesting how drawn she is to water, both personally and professionally. I guess if I were a hydrologist, I might be obsessed with it too!

I have put this read on hold because reading two books, having multiple timelines through the ages was an insane idea. This week I am going to finish Cloud Cuckoo Land and then resume this one.

Nidhi wrote: "I have put this read on hold because reading two books, having multiple timelines through the ages was an insane idea. This week I am going to finish Cloud Cuckoo Land and then resume this one."

Sounds good Nidhi. And both books are pretty long too!

Barely started yesterday afternoon; interesting the "male only" thinking of culture - obvious for the time and place of the book, still so real also nowadays:

Nowadays all tablets in the kingdom are dedicated to the mighty and masculine Nabu instead of the ethereal and feminine Nisaba. That is the way it should be, the king believes. Writing is a manly task, and it requires a virile patron, a male god. Nabu has become the official custodian of scribes and the guardian of all knowledge worth preserving

LauraT wrote: "Barely started yesterday afternoon; interesting the "male only" thinking of culture - obvious for the time and place of the book, still so real also nowadays:

Nowadays all tablets in the kingdom a..."

Yes Laura, I had never heard that story before, the outlawing of the worship of the female goddess of writing in favor of a new male god of the scribes.. I know so little of the history of ancient mesopatamia!

Me too Greg!