If You Cross the River: A Novel

by Geneviève Damas, Jody Gladding (Translator)

From celebrated Belgian author Genevi�ve Damas, a modern fable about friendship, self-determination, and the power of words.

Illiterate, isolated, and held at arm's length by a bitter father, Fran�ois Sorrente has spent his seventeen years within narrow confines. By day he tends the family farm's pigs; by night he manages the household chores. Still, Fran�ois can't help but wonder about the wider world and his place in it. Who was his mother, who he remembers not at all? And why is the opposite shore of the river, where his beloved older sister disappeared many years ago, forbidden to him?

Propelled by curiosity, Fran�ois turns to the eclectic denizens of his town to help make sense of these mysteries. He begins reading lessons with a melancholy cur�, falls into an affair with a village woman, and affectionately confides his secrets to a velvet-eared piglet named Hym�n�e. As Fran�ois questions both his origins and the course of his life, he begins to unlock the true story of his mother and sister, and comes to reinvent himself.

Exquisitely translated from the French by poet Jody Gladding, If You Cross the River is a magical debut.

Genres: Fiction, Roman, Novels, France, Belgium

152 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Dramaturge, comédienne et metteure en scène, Geneviève Damas vit à Bruxelles. Elle a obtenu le prix Rossel 2011 et le Prix des cinq continents de la Francophonie pour son premier roman Si tu passes la rivière. Histoire d'un bonheur est le troisième titre de l'auteure à paraître au Québec chez Hamac.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need an extremely lyrical fable-like story with sentences as long as the page and emotional beats to match, frankly.

[Hélène · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comment mettre des mots sur ces mots-là?
Emouvant comme c'est pas permis; je suis entrée dans cet univers comme si plus rien d'autre n'existait.
J'ai souri, ri, pleuré.
L'écriture est d'une justesse et d'une vérité; jamais de fausse note.
Il entre dans ma bibliothèque pour toujours.

[· Fany · · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cette histoire écrite par une jeune adolescent hors du temps ( difficile de comprendre à quelle époque ce situe ce récit) qui essaie de dénouer le mystère qui plane au dessus de sa famille et sur cette rivière... Les disparitions se succèdent et il souhaite en savoir plus, il devra se lier d'amitié avec un curé et une jeune fille pour se libérer de cette vie de misère... Sa relation avec Hyménée, si reconfortante lui apportera-t-il la force d'aller jusqu'au bout de sa quête?

Ce livre était destiné pour mon club de lecture mais je ne regrette aucunement de l'avoir lu.

[Andrei Cioată · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbă și profundă.

[Delphine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comment parler de ce court roman si simple soit-il mais si prenant ? Tout cela va vous sembler banal à l’image que certains auront sans doute de cette histoire, mais cette simplicité donne toute la force à ces pages.

Qui est François, cet enfant, me suis-je dit ? Qu’est-il advenu à sa mère, à sa soeur, mais également à Jean-Paul ? Qui est-il ? Des questions que je découvre dans les premières pages. Mais, François, si simple, n’est pas l’enfant que j’imaginais. Il a 17 ans. Et, ce sont les silences, l’isolement, et l’illettrisme qui en font aux yeux de tous, un idiot. Mais François n’est pas celui que l’on croit, même s’il est naïf et bien loin de voir le mal, là où les autres ne discernent que cela. Son but est de partager : des histoires, un peu d’amour maternel, de la gentillesse, des propos, même ceux du quotidien. Tout ce que son père et ses frères sont bien incapables de lui donner.
https://uncoindeblog.wordpress.com//?...

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Now I had the letters, all the letters and the words. I was no longer bonkers. I was no longer a dumb beast. I was still afraid. You're always afraid, that doesn't leave you as long as you live. But this was a different kind of fear."

I don't think I'll forget François's voice anytime soon.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un histoire simple mais émouvant. Le style d’écriture était vraiment belle, mais le format était un peu difficile (sans chapitres).

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little book. Sad but interesting.

[Amit Verma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strongly moving, raw and warm story. This is a small novella about a young boy, Francois, on the verge of becoming a man; who faces day to day adversities in most feeble way possible.
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He fears his aloof father and tantalizing brothers and tries to find answers to his long list of curiosities with the help of friends; a priest, a pig and memory of her lost sister.
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. It tickles reader throughout and makes one to giggle and causes whirlpool of emotions.
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Boy is simple and so is writing which keeps reader's eyes glued to effortlessly flowing prose.
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Translator being a poet #jodygladding; has put magic of poetry into each paragraph.
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I found similarity in writing of author with two other writers I have read recently. Soul of story and human animal connection is very similar to '#Redbirds by #Mohammedhanif and funny prose resembles writing of #fredrickbackman
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Author is Belgian whose debut novel is truly impressive.
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I will recommend it as a two day soothing read which produces elation as well as paints sadness.
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Only weak section is later half when Francois comes face to face with realities and sone hind of stagnation apoears in fast story.
.Thanks #edelweissplus and author for review copy.

[Katie Maggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Cross The River by Geneviève Damas is gorgeous - lyrical, lovely, tormented and mysterious. ⁣
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I was uncertain in the beginning; the pacing, plot and word selection took me a bit to feel comfortable with. But by the end I was enraptured. ⁣
⁣
Set in the French countryside after the war, Damas tells the story of the Sorrente family, specifically Francois, who has been told by his father to never cross the river to the bank with the burned out buildings. His sister Maryse has disobeyed this instruction, prompting Francois to try and understand the reason for his father’s strict prohibition and Maryse’s decision to leave him behind. ⁣
⁣
Part coming of age, part psychological mystery, the novel is notable for the lyrical prose that articulates Francois’ journey from unsuspecting and lost adolescent to manhood. ⁣
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I hope others find and read this short little gem, translated from its original French. After overcoming the initial adjustment required, I found it so, so wonderful. ⁣

[grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book. it wasn’t difficult to read, which i appreciated, and was very well written. i really loved the story altogether- it was lonely and sad, but filled with love. i especially appreciated how the protagonist basically falls in love with a pig, i thought that was fun. (not like in a weird kind of way but i am kind of into the whole animal companion idea). i loved the conversations he would have with her, and how he expressed his affection to her. i thought the whole part where he found out the truth about his mother was very rushed, and i often found myself rereading a few things and desiring a better, more coherent explanation. overall i think this book managed to express the beauty of love- not in a lustful, rushed, or insincere way, but as something pure, as he loved his pigs ,his friend the curé, and his sister.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully translated from French to English

A heartbreaking story that is composed so closely to poetry

What a harrowing sad life for all characters in this short story. If You Cross the River describes so many families who struggle with dire poverty. It is beyond cruel now we can allow that to still continue today!!

The desperate poverty to one side, this novel is about a young man finally finding the truth of who he is and it is a painful path.

I have not done true justice in my review to this wonderful piece of literature, there are so many wonderful elements and the story has not been lost in translation at all - so huge acknowledgement to Jody Gladding who maintained the heart and soul of this story

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In its broadest sense a coming-of-age story, but more accurately a coming-to-personhood. The narrator's gruff innocence and aching loneliness, and his frank and complete compassion in the face of impossible circumstances, are both maddening and moving. I loved that he loved pigs. I loved that he gave himself utterly to anyone and everyone who showed him the slightest kindness. I loved the ending, which found a way to be both satisfying to the reader and true to the characters. A beautiful read, at times heartrending but ultimately rewarding.

[Robert B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Longlisted for the 2020 PEN Translation Prize. Damas is a Belgian actress, and this is her first novel. It tells a coming-of-age story about a teenager who takes care of the pigs on his family’s remote farm. His mother has died, his sister has runaway, he seeks out reading lessons from the local priest in order to learn more about his mother, he has a pig as his best friend. The writing is lovely and lyrical at times, but many of the situations and characters seem stereotypical.

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se livre m’a été donné par mes grand-parents quelques années passées. Lorsqu’ils étaient en vie, je ne l’avais quand même pas lus. J’ai décidé de lire se livre pour pouvoir apprécier le cadeau qu’ils m’ont donné. Je n’ai sincèrement pas regretté ma lecture. Une histoire si simple qui capte l’attention en raison de la bonne écriture. Un personnage aimable et humble qui cris de l’honnêteté. C’est un livre qui est paisible. La fin est poétique.

[Marie Dénoue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un roman qui offre une bouffée d'air frais, à l'approche d'un hiver campagnard où le jeune François se lance presque naïvement dans la quête de ses origines. Ayant grandi dans une famille de travailleurs acharnés de la terre, tout sauf permissive et dans laquelle le silence était maître, il fait la découverte de la vie hors de l'enclos fermier, fait ses premières rencontres, et se laisse doucement apprivoiser par sa curiosité, ses questionnements, son cheminement vers la vie adulte.

[Anneke Alnatour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the book is short, there is so much happening that it felt like a complete story. I really liked Francois, though he definitely doesn't make a whole lot of great choices. He really tries to get his life together and work things out, and overall I really enjoyed following his life path for a while, and finally, crossing that river.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le récit est bien construit, on découvre le narrateur petit à petit et l’autrice parvient bien à nous conduire là où elle le souhaite, avec des rebondissements que je n’avais pas vu venir, le personnage principal est attachant et parle depuis les ruraux privés d’éducation, qu’on ne lit que peu. Il manque un je ne sais quoi pour m’emporter totalement mais j’ai passé un bon moment tout de même.

[nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHLALA OHLALA C’EST QUOI CA au debut jvoulais me suicider parce que c’etait un livre pour la school mais a partir du moment ou y a eu le marriage je voulais mourir de stresse d’amour pour le livre merci a ma prof de francais d’avoir mis ce livre dans la liste 🙏🏼🙏🏼 GUYS SVP C QUOI CE POULET

[H.A. Leuschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meilleure livre de l'année 2025 et c'est un livre à relire, un livre qui restera au sommet des meilleures lectures cette année.
Philosophique, convaincant, tendre et délicieusement superposé.
Grand coup de coeur à la belge!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this novel, it kept me a little wondering. It’s a short read and pleasant. I like how the young man finally finds love & peace. Most important a decision for himself that matters the most.

[ClarisseK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lu pour l'école (quatrième)

[Raluca N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

O bijuterie de oralitate, iar traducerea este minunată.

[Françoise Thomart Nimal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un petit bijou (qui m'a rappelé, par certains côtés, Silence de Comès)

[Margaret Bozesky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, bittersweet novel that tells a simple story of Francois’s journey in a search for his past and future.

[Lou Hb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 J’ai bien aimé. Histoire touchante et crédible du fait qu’elle se situe fin 1700. François n’a pas connu sa mère et les cochons sont ses amis. Le personnage est attachant. Belle écriture

[Verona · Rating 1 out of 5]

من نتونستم این کتاب و تموم کنم .
سرعت ریتم خیلی بالا بود ، و اصلا حس داستان درک نمیشد

[Betsabeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

بنظر من ترجمه كتاب خيلى گنگ و نا منسجم اومد
يه جاهايى بنظرم در ترجمه سانسور شده بود و از نظم منطقى كتاب خارج ميشد

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humain, plein de sensibilité … j’ai beaucoup aimé!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Médiocre, aucune intrigue, j'ai détester la plume. Seule les 20 dernière pages sont intéressante