Writing about a book of this length (775 pages) with so many layers of plots and themes takes considerable thought. Verghese is a masterful writer, and his story is multigenerational and multicultural. He has much to say about India’s social stratification and religions. His commentary through stories about these issues and the families affected forces us to consider much about humanity. At its core, it is about water and its power to promote and destroy life. The book includes universal themes of love and loss. Relationships are at the forefront as horrible, heartbreaking events occur, as well as beautiful interactions and discoveries.
The Covenant of Water is a tome that takes persistence to get through. But it is worth it. Big Ammachi, the main family’s matriarch and the basis for the story, is worth meeting. She enters into an arranged marriage at the age of eleven, and she learns much about love. She endures the death of family members and the mystery of the water disease that plagues her husband’s family. However, the story is also about the medical treatment available to Indian citizens and the sometimes surprising characters who address the stigmas attached to leprosy and other misunderstood diseases. Verghese’s medical background leads to poignant descriptions and discoveries for those who provide physical and psychological treatment for various ailments, emphasizing acoustic neuroma, a central condition in this story.
