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...
Wow..That is so intense and I really have no words..It teaches so many things in this 3 simple sentence..hats off to you Sir.. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Harsha. You give me some kind of a reassurance.
DeleteTouche!
ReplyDeleteTouch, let me say!
DeleteYou better ask the teacher to send that student to me, i promise he will spend rest of his lyf in bending position.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha
DeleteFunny and sad.
ReplyDeleteTeaching has become a ridiculous profession, Sid.
DeleteIts the devoted nature of a human which makes him/her a teacher. Now a days ask students want to become an engineer , doctor, CA and what not but teacher. And unfortunately these fellows blame teachers !
ReplyDeleteThe system is responsible for it to a large extent. Students are given too much liberty and too many rights without making them aware of their responsibilities and duties. Teachers do more work nowadays than students!
DeleteSo precise and intense ! the actual scenario :-(
ReplyDeleteYes, it is actual! But i must not forget that there are many, many wonderful students too as a consolation for the teacher.
DeleteOh that was a lump in d throat tale....excellent writing there
ReplyDeleteSociety makes th tales, Ritesh.
DeleteWhat to say about today's students! And now I am sounding like a very very old lady :D
ReplyDelete