A House by the River by Sid Smith

A House by the River

Sid Smith

Uncover the intriguing interpretation of Chinese ideograms and its early Christian influence, as the faith of two married western missionaries is put to the test in a small, isolated river-based community. How do they respond when their beliefs are rejected and their lives are threatened? An extraordinary novel that should be read at a slow pace to appreciate the descriptive passages.

Extract
But Sho was afraid of the river. His father had said that every generation a man was drowned, becoming a recruit for the river god or a recompense to the fish god who lost so many soldiers to the fisher folk. But no men had been drowned for years, because they were all dead. Their bodies had been given to the river, so perhaps the river god or fish god was satisfied, but perhaps the gods were still hungry.
Parallels
  • Ali and Nino by Kurban Said
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel