I don’t normally select my reading material based on the size of the book, mainly because the lengthy ones get too heavy to hold for any length of time, but this month’s selection is certainly worth the weight. (Please pardon the embarrassing pun).
“The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese is an expansive, multi-generational epic set in India from 1900 to 1977, detailing the lives of a Malayali family living in a segregated, colonised society. It begins with a 12-year-old girl, Big Ammachi, being wed to a 40-year-old widower. As she matures into her role as a wife and mother, she grapples with the complexities of India’s caste system, particularly as it impacts her son Philipose’s friendship with Joppan, a boy from the landless caste of pulayan.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, a character named Dr Digby Kilgour leaves his homeland for India to escape his own problems, only to find himself caught in an affair with a colleague’s wife and accused of a fatal medical error. His story ultimately intertwines with Big Ammachi’s family in surprising ways. That is just a small taste of what you will experience if you decide to immerse yourself in the joys and sorrows of this exotic culture.
The story grapples with questions of community and belonging, underscoring the fragility and necessity of love amidst escalating political tensions. A common thread throughout is “The Condition”, an inherited medical mystery that the characters are attempting to solve, which binds the family narrative together.
I must be honest when I say this book requires a committed reader, not just for its length, but its vivid descriptions and sometimes tragic outcomes. In the end, the novel contemplates the idea of human interconnectedness, reminding readers that all actions have repercussions, and no one stands alone.
Title: The Covenant of Water
Author: By Abraham Verghese
Published: May 2, 2023
