The Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hooter: Multi generational epic with the common thread of the fear of drowning
If Malayalees and Medicine are your go to, this book combines the cultural echoes of Kerala with a pinch of Madras (currently Chennai) through the journey India itself has as a country from pre-independence to post Independence. In the mix of that historical and cultural context come a mix of multiple characters - most related to one family across generations as they deal with coming of age and coming of death and everything in between.
The book tries to capture a lot - medical procedures, religious customs, societal relations , health pandemics (not the covid kind) and makes for a good read but you need helluva patience to get through it all as it slowly grinds through the western ghats with its sharp descents and sharper ascents as you trek through similar sceneries for a while to suddenly have a breath taking moment that seems worth it and you toil even further.
Big shout out to my favourite character - Big Ammachi who is the backbone of the family through generations.
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