Book Review Title: The Covenant of Water Author: Abraham Verghese Publisher: Grove Press UK, 2023 Pages: 724 “What defines a family isn’t blood but the secrets they share.” This massive book explores the intricacies of human relationships with a plot that spans almost a century. The story begins in 1900 with 12-year-old Mariamma being wedded to a 40-year-old widower in whose family runs a curse: death by drowning. The story ends in 1977 with another Mariamma, the granddaughter of Mariamma the First who becomes Big Ammachi [grandmother]. A lot of things happen in the 700+ pages of the novel which has everything that one may expect from a popular novel: suspense, mystery, love, passion, power, vulnerability, and also some social and religious issues. The only setback, if it can be called that at all, is that too many people die in this novel. But then, when death by drowning is a curse in the family, we have to be prepared for many a burial. The Kerala of the pre-Independ...
Wooohhhh!!!! Nice pic... Where is the pic taken?
ReplyDeleteA village in Kerala.
DeleteHope this remains...Btw, is the one behind the banana leaves a Cocoa?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's cocoa.
DeleteBeautiful! Awesome capture!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bushra... Glad you liked it.
DeleteLanes become insignificant when we try to reach heaven. Nice take.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a narrow path leading to a stream...
DeleteBeautiful and truly luxuriant, reminds me of my village.
ReplyDeleteSo much beauty in the countryside, isn't it? Nice to know you liked this.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteGreen and peaceful.
Indeed... thanks.
DeleteThere must be some danger somewhere ...
ReplyDeleteRE
No danger, Raghuram. The path is used just once a day or so when the owner goes to pump water from the river to which the path goes.
DeleteI wonder, why would you even come back.
ReplyDeleteCertain compulsions, Sid.
DeleteWonderful shot of nature.
ReplyDeleteYes, Rajesh. Thanks.
Deletenice capture. Where is this?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely private property in a village in Kerala.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete