Latest news with #ThereAreRiversintheSky
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ayrshire author shortlisted for Indie Book Awards
Kilwinning author Andrew O'Hagan has been shortlisted at the Indie Book Awards for his novel Caledonian Road. An Ayrshire author have been shortlisted for an award at the prestigious Indie Book Awards. Award-winning Kilwinning author Andrew O'Hagan has been nominated in the fiction category for his novel Caledonian Road. Organised by the Booksellers Association, the Indie Book Awards are the only awards for authors and illustrators judged by - and given on behalf of - independent bookshops. Caledonian Road is a Sunday Times best-seller which follows Campbell Flynn over the course of an "incendiary" year where his world begins to fall apart in a tale of power, privilege and the hypocrisy of the liberal elite. He faces tough competition for the award as fellow nominees include James by Percival Everett, There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry, The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier and Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson. The Indie Book Awards are the culmination of the year-round campaign activity of Books Are My Bag which aims to showcase and promote to consumers the vital and unique economic, cultural and community value that bookshops bring on a local and national level. Andrew is a keen supporter of independent bookshops and was "proud" to be shortlisted for the award. He said: 'This shortlisting for Caledonian Road means the world to me, because my enthusiasm for independent bookselling is pretty boundless. 'I love the fact that the expertise and the human touch you find in independent booksellers is celebrated by the Booksellers Association and I feel proud to be one of the authors included. 'My relationship with independent shops is crucial to me; it describes a great deal of the fun and camaraderie to be enjoyed in this business. 'In my opinion, the inhabitants of British high streets with indie bookshops should celebrate their good luck on a daily basis. 'For a lot of us, it's where culture and entertainment and great conversations about books really begin and I couldn't live without those beautiful emporiums staffed by people who really care about what we write and what they sell. 'Hats off and respect due.' Emma Bradshaw, head of campaigns at the Booksellers Association, said: 'At the Booksellers Association, we are privileged to regularly witness the alchemy of authors and independent booksellers working in tandem to place the perfect books into the hands of exactly the right reader; it is a magical pairing of brilliant writers and expert curators. 'Therefore, it is always a privilege to announce the shortlist for the Indie Book Awards, where we can bring the results of this partnership to as wide an audience as possible alongside spotlighting some of the best and brightest summer reads for 2025.' Two Ayrshire bookshops are among the judges as the awards are decided by independent bookshops. Neither will be judging Caledonian Road though as Molly Murray from Seahorse Bookstore in Ardrossan and Sarah Skelton from The Book Nook in Stewarton are both judges in the children's categories.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
With hidden miniatures and a fairy garden, Poppy Books has more to discover than books
Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities. Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations. This week we have Whitney Gallegos, owner of Poppy Books and Gifts in Spanish Fork, Utah. What's your store's story? We are a mother-daughter-owned shop that opened in December 2022. Our general interest shop is located in a renovated 1930's historic home, just off of our town's Main Street. We have two levels to our shop, with adult genres on the main floor, and a cute and quaint YA/MG/Children's area downstairs. We are known for our cozy feel, and especially for our hidden fairy gardens, miniature book scenes and other hidden treasures to find. Check out: USA TODAY's Independent Bookstores Map What makes your independent bookstore unique? We are known for our green walls, cozy feel and hidden miniatures throughout the store. We have fairy gardens, book scenes, mini bookstores, and more hidden around to find. These employee-made, miniature scenes are truly what make us unique. We are also regularly hosting author events and book clubs, both of which have fostered a tight community of readers in Utah County. What's your favorite section in your store? Our store is themed around the different genres that are shelved there. With that being said, my personal favorite is the mystery room, featuring a spooky haunted house miniature display, as well as a crime solving display above the shelves. What book do you love to recommend to customers and why? We are always recommending "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. This book is an epic Western, with the most incredible characters and is simultaneously the funniest and most heartbreaking book I've ever read. I recently read "There Are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak, and it was such a beautiful interweaving of stories of past and present. I loved the characters and the common theme of water running throughout each story was such an interesting way to pull it all together. Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? We always encourage people to shop local, to keep money in our community, to foster relationships with those around us, and to find spaces that can be a sanctuary. We are located in Utah so for us specifically, independent bookstores serve as a safe space for those who don't always feel welcome in conservative spaces. We also are always carrying banned books in our area, because access to those titles is crucial! More:Why you should read these 51 banned books now What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share? We are the official bookseller for StoryCon 2025 in February! StoryCon is the ultimate experience for writers, educators, screenwriters, gamers, and creatives of all ages, combining the fun of a national book festival with the education and guidance of a serious writing conference.
Arab News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘There Are Rivers in the Sky'
Author: Elif Shafak This historical novel by Elif Shafak, 'There Are Rivers in the Sky,' was published in 2024 and is a meditation on life, loss and love. Anchored by the Tigris and Thames rivers serving as motifs, the story drifts across centuries, stitching together fractured lives bound by intimacy, trauma, and the quiet power of water. There are three characters at the heart of this story. Arthur is a 19th-century linguist whose passion for Mesopotamia's ruins eclipses his ability to connect with the living. Narin is a Yazidi girl surviving genocide in 2014 Iraq, her spirit as unyielding as the ancient lands she is forced to flee. And then there is Zaleekhah, a hydrologist in modern London, drowning in family secrets until she learns to swim toward redemption. Their stories collide, ripple and reshape one another. Water is not just a metaphor here, it is a character. The rivers breathe life into memories, erode pain, and carry the weight of history. Arthur's obsession with the 'Epic of Gilgamesh' mirrors his own loneliness as a man chasing immortality through dusty texts while real love slips through his fingers. Narin's resilience, rooted in Yazidi traditions, becomes a lifeline in a world determined to erase her people. As for Zaleekhah, her journey from guilt to grace feels like watching a storm clear — messy, cathartic, and utterly human. Shafak's writing is lush, almost tactile. You can taste the silt of the Tigris, feel London's rain, and ache with the characters. But here is the catch: this book demands your attention. The timelines —switching between Victorian letters, wartime horror, and modern angst —are a high-wire act. While the layers add depth, some readers might stumble over dense historical nods or Yazidi cultural nuances. (A glossary would have been a welcome raft.) Yet, even its flaws pulse with intention. The same complexity that overwhelms also rewards. This is not a book you breeze through. It is one you wade into, letting the currents tug you into deep, uncomfortable places. The pacing does drag at times, and Shafak's ambition occasionally outruns clarity. In the end, Shafak asks: Can we ever truly outrun history? Or do we, like rivers, carve new paths while carrying the scars of where we have been? This novel does not answer so much as invite you to sit with the question, long after the last page turns.
