Living Water - by Obery Hendricks (Paperback)

About the Book

Sprung from the pages of the New Testament, in a village torn apart by senseless violence, a young girl struggles to mute her passion for life to survive the strict social confines of her people. Echoing the powerful dialect of Zora Neale Hurston's groundbreaking "Their Eyes Were Watching God, " Hendricks creates a rare and timeless voice.

Book Synopsis

Sprung from the pages of The New Testament, Living Water is a gripping and lyrical portrayal of a young women's search for identity set against the strict social confines of the time. This extraordinary first novel brings to life one of the most mysterious and intriguing characters in the Bible - the woman at the well.

In a village torn apart by senseless violence, a young girl struggles to mute her passion for life to survive the harsh social restrictions of her people. Catapulted into a series of abusive marriages, she soon becomes a woman unrecognisable from the little girl she once was. After her fifth husband is found bloody and beaten, she emerges amid the scandal and accusations to try and reclaim her life. In the tradition of Their Eyes Are Watching God, The Color Purple and Paradise, Obery Hendricks uses both fine detail and broad strokes to crisply depict this period of early history. And in doing so, this sophisticated literary debut delivers a universal tale of liberation and reconciliation, love and faith.

Review Quotes

"It is hard to believe that this is Hendricks' first trip to the literary well." -- Michael Eric Dyson, author of Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X, Race Rules: Navigating the Color Line, and the forthcoming Why I Love Black Women

"Living Water is an exemplary novel for our times. Don't miss this book!" -- Cornel West, author of Race Matters

"A divinely inspired bridge to a new level of self-awareness. A must read." -- Iyanla Vanzant, best-selling author of Everyday I Pray and Up From Here

"Refreshing wit and enlightenment... you'll never read the Gospel story the same way again. A provocative novel" -- Christian Science Monitor