Abscond

A Short Story

De: Abraham Verghese

Narrado por: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Fate challenges a boy to find his place in the world in a powerful short story from Abraham Verghese, the New York Times bestselling author of The Covenant of Water.

It’s a New Jersey summer in 1967, and thirteen-year-old Ravi Ramanathan has the makings of a tennis prodigy. His surgeon father encourages his ambition, while his mother dreams of their only child following his father’s path. Surrounded by his parents’ love, Ravi chafes a bit at their daily routines and little traditions. Then one unexpected day, everything changes. Realizing how much he took for granted, Ravi must grow up overnight and find a new role in the life of his family.

©2025 by Abraham Verghese. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Even though the story is written in the third person, Fajer Al-Kaisi's use of a clear, deep voice for the narrative suggests an adult Ravi who is thinking back on a day in his youth that changed his life. For Ravi's remembered dialogue as a teen, Al-Kaisi uses a voice that is higher and less sure. He renders Tamil phrases naturally alongside American teen slang, reflecting Ravi's own bicultural experience."—AudioFile Magazine

Story of universal human experience

This book triggered a wide range of memories and emotions from childhood. It was profoundy touching without being sentimental or manipulative. A lovely, compact story that deeply affected me.

So inspiring

It was such a good story about love and family and neighbors I just loved it

No surprise, it's wonderful.

As usual, this author hits emotional chords that are universal and profound. This story is both niche and able to be understood by anyone that has experienced sadness, growing pains and parents.

The depth of engagement

Beautiful story. The few language or cultural terms of which I had no educational background were insignificant to my attention to this riveting narrative. It flowed like a stream that becomes a flash flood. It resolves naturally and calmly. The listener knows it is okay now to go. I loved it,

Rhythms of life

Well done short story. In the midst of the cadence of normal family life there is a sobering pause in the pace and reorder occurs. A beautiful story about a close Indian family and profound readjustments they face. Beautifully written and told.

Superior

Verghese is always prescient and even omniscient about the human condition. Enjoy it with another

Stunning

Loved the story and writing. Enjoy this author. The description of the Divine is great

The affects a loss

While this is just a short story, it did a good job at highlighting the real and hard emotions that occur when we loose someone close to us.

Simple

The narrator kept me focused; I did bump up to 1.70.

There are F bombs, and they are completely unnecessary.

The storyistself is okay. The ending was too quick. It needed to be explained more.

Everything he writes is beautiful

Poignant and raw - this story touched my heart. Losing a parent is brutality. I would read anything that this author writes. I have loved his other novels as well.