The Covenant of Water

by Abraham Verghese
The Covenant of Water cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 11111
  • Added: 2026-02-21
  • Updated: 2026-02-21
  • ISBN: 9781804710449
  • Publisher: Atlantic Books
  • Published: 2023-05-18
  • Reviews: 3

The Covenant of Water is an epic tale that unfolds over 77 years, following a family in Kerala, India, where each generation is marked by a tragic drowning. The story begins with a young girl, Big Ammachi, who is sent to her wedding at just 12 years old, setting the stage for a life filled with profound changes and emotional depth. /n/n This novel is not just a family saga but also a testament to the progress in medicine and human understanding. It beautifully captures the essence of life, imbued with humor, deep emotion, and a rich historical backdrop, making it a masterful literary work.

Reviews
Cristina Sanders · Cristina Sanders · 2024-04-24
challenging 3.00

This is a commitment book that requires consistent reading to follow the thread. The story is engaging but demands attention to detail.

The reviewer emphasizes that this book is a significant commitment and requires consistent reading to fully appreciate its narrative. They find the story engaging but caution that readers need to pay close attention to follow the intricate plotlines and character developments. The reviewer suggests that dipping in and out of the book might lead to losing the thread of the story, making it a more challenging read for those who prefer lighter or more episodic books.

Quick quotes

    This is a commitment book and needs to be read with some consistency.

    If you dip in and out and don't pay attention you'll lose the thread.

    The story is engaging but demands attention to detail.

1 Girl 2 Many Books · 2024-01-17
engaging 4.00

Despite its length and sweeping scope, it's an easy and engaging read that skillfully draws the reader in. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to maintain engagement throughout its extensive narrative.

This reviewer finds the book to be surprisingly easy to read despite its length and broad scope. They highlight the book's ability to draw the reader in and maintain engagement throughout its extensive narrative. The reviewer appreciates the skill with which the story is told, making it an enjoyable and immersive experience. They note that the book's length and scope might be intimidating to some, but the engaging nature of the story makes it well worth the commitment.

Quick quotes

    Despite its length and sweeping scope, it's an easy read, an engaging read, one that I feel is skilled at drawing the reader in pretty much immediately.

    The book's ability to maintain engagement throughout its extensive narrative is impressive.

    The reviewer appreciates the skill with which the story is told, making it an enjoyable and immersive experience.

The Guardian · 2023-06-18
engaging 3.50

The story is immersive but uneven, with curses and catastrophes driving the narrative of an Indian family in the 20th century. The depth of the family's history and the setting create a rich, if somewhat inconsistent, reading experience.

This review highlights the immersive nature of the story, which is driven by a series of curses and catastrophes that shape the lives of an Indian family over the 20th century. The reviewer appreciates the depth of the family's history and the rich setting of Kerala, South India. However, they note that the story is somewhat uneven, with certain aspects feeling more compelling than others. The reviewer suggests that the book's length and scope might be challenging for some readers, but the overall experience is engaging and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    Curses and catastrophes power this immersive, if uneven, story of an Indian family in the 20th century.

    The depth of the family's history and the setting create a rich, if somewhat inconsistent, reading experience.

    The book's length and scope might be challenging for some readers.

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