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levs's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
kalyfornian's review against another edition
emotional
sad
3.75
The American pastor scene is hilarious, and was perhaps my personal highlight in the novel.
kelsiegentry11's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oco257's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
readinginthe_pnw's review against another edition
Listening to audiobook and had hard time focusing. Would like to try physical book later.
stephxsu's review
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I never mind a long book, particularly when the author is able to take those pages and fill them with the most thorough characterization, plotting, and world-building. THE COVENANT OF WATER is a nearly perfect masterpiece that I didn't want to put down.
Verghese's writing is so rich without being overbearing. Under his masterful hands, Parambil comes to life, teeming with strong-headed or admirable extended family members; crops and trees; and the way the recurring monsoon seasons shape and reshape the land.
It is always a delight when we get a chapter from the perspective of one of the main characters. Each of them is so fully realized that I didn't feel like I was reading a novel, but rather having the fortune of getting to know these people, who felt like they could've existed somewhere outside of the story. Each character's interiority is so well explained that, even when I disagreed with their decisions or actions, I could understand them--for example, when Philipose's fear and love bind rather than free himself and others.
For me the pace started dragging just the tiniest bit from around the 75% mark, which was my only quibble. Because there is no overarching plot to the novel (rather, it takes a detailed look into the lives of several generations of one family), the ending feels less like the endpoint to which the novel was heading, and more like the point where Verghese decided to stop writing about the Parambil and its inhabitants/visitors.
THE COVENANT OF WATER was my first book by Abraham Verghese, and I was thoroughly impressed and enchanted. He is a must-read for those who appreciate sweeping, yet intimate, multigenerational family sagas along the lines of Pachinko or The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Verghese's writing is so rich without being overbearing. Under his masterful hands, Parambil comes to life, teeming with strong-headed or admirable extended family members; crops and trees; and the way the recurring monsoon seasons shape and reshape the land.
It is always a delight when we get a chapter from the perspective of one of the main characters. Each of them is so fully realized that I didn't feel like I was reading a novel, but rather having the fortune of getting to know these people, who felt like they could've existed somewhere outside of the story. Each character's interiority is so well explained that, even when I disagreed with their decisions or actions, I could understand them--for example, when Philipose's fear and love bind rather than free himself and others.
For me the pace started dragging just the tiniest bit from around the 75% mark, which was my only quibble. Because there is no overarching plot to the novel (rather, it takes a detailed look into the lives of several generations of one family), the ending feels less like the endpoint to which the novel was heading, and more like the point where Verghese decided to stop writing about the Parambil and its inhabitants/visitors.
THE COVENANT OF WATER was my first book by Abraham Verghese, and I was thoroughly impressed and enchanted. He is a must-read for those who appreciate sweeping, yet intimate, multigenerational family sagas along the lines of Pachinko or The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois.
lmorisse31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Truly an extraordinary family saga across time. The author weaves together cultural history, medical knowledge, and generational character development to create a deep, rich story. Each chapter had me googling new information, whether it was a term in Malayalam, or a symptom a character experienced. The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars is its length and occasional density.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Addiction
tjpatterson's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
the_lia_library's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
3.5
Literally smack down on the middle for this. It was really hyped up so I had really high expectations but sadly it missed the mark for me a bit.