Can a book make you feel emotions that you’ve never experienced, and connect you to struggles that you’ve never faced? That’s exactly what Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water did for me. Spanning over three generations of a family and knit together by a mysterious “condition” of the water, this 720-page literary art is as huge as the waters from which it draws its inspiration. Meh, I know it’s a bad attempt at being metaphorical, but let’s ignore that and dive straight into the review:
If you’re short on time, you can go through this 2-minute summary on the Book Review for The Covenant of Water on my Instagram handle
This Book is a Multi-Themed Plot That Highly Exceeded My Expectations
While venturing into this book, I already had really high expectations — and let’s be honest, Abraham Verghese has a reputation for brilliance. But The Covenant of Water didn’t just meet those expectations; it blew past them. It’s an eye-opening read, which weaves together medical elements, cultural differences, and human emotions in a way that feels really fresh and original.
Every part of the book felt like it had been written with purpose. While the second part of the book slowed down a bit for me, I appreciated its significance in establishing a crucial connection. It reminded me that sometimes, you need patience to really enjoy a well-written story. And speaking of endings—wow. I’ve trained myself to enjoy endings for how they’re written, not how surprising they are, but this one caught me off guard, in the best way possible.
Abraham Verghese’s Writing Glides Like Literary Butter
Yes, I just said “literary butter,” and I stand by it. Verghese’s writing is so rich and immersive that reading this book felt like gliding through smooth prose. For me, the quality of writing always outweighs the plot, and The Covenant of Water stunningly excels in both.
If you’re someone who appreciates the linguistic polish of Khaled Hosseini novels, you’ll absolutely love Verghese’s intellectual depth and captivating flow. But don’t expect the similar genres of emotional devastation. While The Covenant of Water is certainly moving in absolutely different ways, the comparison between the works of these two authors leans more into the intellectual and cultural resonance than pure emotionality.
Exploring Themes of Family, Culture, and Time
One of the catchiest elements of the book is how it flawlessly handles the passage of time. Moving between generations and spinning in cultural and familial shifts is not an easy challenge, and yet the author does it with such a flair. Each generation in the book introduces something new — probably a twist, a challenge, or a revelation — but everything always stays intact and interconnected.
The significance of water, in particular, was beautifully explored. It’s only as you approach the end of the book that the real significance of the “covenant” and its connection to water becomes clear. The suspense around this is worth every page.
Characters That Stayed With Me
For me, Ammachi’s son stood out as one of the most relatable characters — not because of his exact struggles (thankfully, I’m not an opium addict), but because of his response to failure. One setback derailed his dreams, a sentiment I think many of us can relate to. In today’s world of overthinking and self-judgment, his character arc felt painfully real.
Abraham Verghese has a way of making you feel the pain of his characters, even if their struggles are far from your own reality. That, to me, is the mark of a true storyteller.
The Kerala Backdrop Feels Alive 🙂
I have to talk about Kerala. The book’s descriptive and scenic portrayal of Kerala adds a layer of beauty to the story. As someone with a best friend from Kerala, I was constantly asking him questions about the region while reading the book. “Is it really like this?” “Do people actually say that?”
Coincidentally, I also visited Kerala approaching towards the end of the book, and let me tell you — the cultural relevance in the story felt so real against the backdrop of real-life Kerala. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Final Thoughts: This is A Book Worth the Patience
If you’re planning to pick up The Covenant of Water, here’s my advice: be patient. It’s a long read, and it’s very heavy in emotional and intellectual depth. If lengthy books aren’t your thing, pair it with a lighter read and take your time with it. But please, don’t let its size hold you back. Push through a little, because this book is absolutely worth it.
So, grab a copy of The Covenant of Water and let yourself glide through this literary butter. You won’t regret it.
Until next time,
Ri : )
