Japanese novelist Endo combines a harsh critique of the emptiness in modern lives with a religious vision of spiritual rebirth. (Publishers Weekly)

"This novel is a fascinating study of cultural truths revealed through a rich and varied cast. Endo, one of Japan's leading writers, skillfully depicts the small details of life, investing them with universal significance. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Compliment sandwich review.

The good. Endō is exceptionally skilled in his simplicity as a writer. The chapters move quickly. The characters are well fleshed out. The dialogue works. And he can tell an ensemble story with remarkable clarity and the ability to cross cut between scenarios well.

The bad. Boy howdy does he lay on the Christian symbolism in a thick way. It was like watching a bad Christian movie like Left Behind at times. The arguments about faith can be silly. The villains are cartoonish. And the book stops rather than end.

The good. While I know he considered himself a Catholic this book has a different theological approach. It reads a the practical application of Universalist Unitarian thought as he shows a firm middle ground in the understanding of a life's journey from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, and agnostic beliefs. I could see this being read in a church group and appreciated on that level.

Still, it's wonderfully well written, can be read quickly, and got a nice shoutout in the tv show Lost as one of the characters was reading it in the final season. Recommended. ( )

Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Near zero recall (why is that?). Christian Japanese author's novel of Japanese travelers in India and at River Ganges. Consider re-reading!" ( )

遠藤周作的深河。講幾位年齡、經歷各不相同的日本人，去印度恆河邊「朝聖」，思考生死、宗教與自己人生的關聯。故事藉由多重視角陳述，可以看到每個人的心路歷程，每個人的故事都滿好看的。其中最受讀者注目的應該是原本是天主教修士，後來因為認為每個宗教裡都有耶穌，所以脫離天主教，去恆河邊服務印度教朝聖者的大津。我覺得大津（以及小說中也佔了重要地位的印度教女神查姆達）的愛人、為人服務、無佳形美容、被人厭棄的理念，應該也就是作者想要提倡的信仰之路。但我認同女主角的質疑，大津其人其行雖然動人（真的很動人！），但是一人之力有限，無法改變世界。（我覺得救贖之路一定要由耶穌來走才行得通，因為耶穌是完全的人也是完全的神，能受苦、能被厭棄、能背負人的罪而死，但也能復活、能贖罪、能升天為人預備地方，不是你我這樣凡人。）可惜小說結局戛然而止，有句重要的話說出來了之後，身為讀者很想看到起碼一句關於女主角如何反應的描寫。 ( )

Shusako Endo's novel "Deep River" is the story of a group of travelers who visit Buddhist sites in India -- all very different people, who are all searching for something in their own way. This was thankfully a quick read.... I really couldn't get into it and found it rather dull. ( )