Deep River
Deep River
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993
Book Brief
224
Novel • Fiction
India • 1980s
1993
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Deep River follows four diverse Japanese people—Isobe, Kiguchi, Numada, and Mitsuko—who meet at India’s holy Ganges River, each grappling with personal trauma and searching for resolution. The characters deal with themes such as reincarnation, death, illness, loneliness, and spiritual search, finding solace and meaning through their interconnected journeys.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Mysterious
Serene
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
2,644 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Deep River by Shusaku Endo explores themes of spirituality, suffering, and redemption through the intersecting lives of four Japanese tourists in India. Readers praise its poignant prose and deep philosophical insights. Some criticize its slow pace and heavy-handed religious undertones. Overall, it is a thought-provoking novel that resonates on an emotional level.
Who Should Read Deep River?
Deep River by Shusaku Endo will captivate readers interested in spiritual and existential exploration, akin to those who enjoy Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory or Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha. Fans of character-driven narratives set against rich cultural backdrops will deeply appreciate this profound and contemplative novel.
2,644 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
224
Novel • Fiction
India • 1980s
1993
Adult
18+ years
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