Across many cultures, water represents both the beginning and the end of life. In Kerala, it is sacred, shaping daily rhythms through sprawling backwaters and relentless monsoons. But in Mr Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water, it is also the vessel for a terrifying family curse.
The story follows a Malayali family, afflicted by “The Condition”, a mysterious ailment where at least one person in every generation dies by drowning. In a land surrounded by water, this isn’t just a medical anomaly; it’s a constant shadow of dread.
We see this epic unfold through Big Ammachi, a twelve-year-old child bride who grows into the fierce matriarch of the estate. Over seven decades, she navigates immense grief: the drowning of her stepson, her daughter’s developmental disabilities, the death of her husband, and eventually, the drowning of her own son, Philipose. Generations later, it is Philipose’s daughter who finally uncovers the truth: that “The Condition” is actually a genetic disease.
Intertwined with Big Ammachi’s family is Mr Digby Kilgour, a Scottish surgeon running from a tragic past who ends up working at a local leprosy clinic. Mr Abraham, a practising doctor himself, uses Mr Digby’s storyline to beautifully bridge the gap between faith, fate, and medical science. Eventually, these two narrative tracks collide in a heart-wrenching twist.
While the characters are deeply human and beautifully developed, the book’s pacing is its biggest hurdle. At over 700 pages, the story frequently grinds to a halt. The pace often gets bogged down in highly technical medical details and local history. For readers who prefer a brisk, plot-driven book, these dense sections may offer the perfect excuse to simply give up and put the book down.
However, The Covenant of Water requires serious patience, but it pays you back with a soul-stirring payoff.
It is a haunting, heartbreaking testament to the ties that bind generations. If you love grand historical fiction and don’t mind a very slow burn, it is well worth the journey.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese is available for purchase on Amazon Singapore.
