The Covenant of Water

De: Abraham Verghese

Narrado por: Abraham Verghese

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • SUBJECT OF A SIX-PART SUPER SOUL PODCAST SERIES HOSTED BY OPRAH WINFREY

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret

“One of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. It’s epic. It’s transportive . . . It was unputdownable!”—Oprah Winfrey, OprahDaily.com

The Covenant of Water is the long-awaited new novel by Abraham Verghese, the author of the major word-of-mouth bestseller Cutting for Stone, which has sold over 1.5 million copies in the United States alone and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years.

Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.

A shimmering evocation of a bygone India and of the passage of time itself, The Covenant of Water is a hymn to progress in medicine and to human understanding, and a humbling testament to the difficulties undergone by past generations for the sake of those alive today. It is one of the most masterful literary novels published in recent years.

©2022 Abraham Verghese (P)2022 Recorded Books

Story Telling At Its Best

Cutting For Stone remains on my all time favorites list, so I grabbed this as soon as I saw it was available. What a beautifully crafted masterpiece. A wonderfully written saga, following a family thru 3 generations, with characters so well drawn, so fully fleshed out that they leap from the page and break your heart as they suffer human frailties. Generational trauma taking its toll even before birth. Every family have secrets, but not all secrets are meant to deceive...

Perfect narration as well, right down to the accents and characters voices. A triumph for anyone, let alone the author himself.

Do not be daunted by its length. I didn't want it to end, and its so worth your listening hours. And now it sits in my To Be Re-read pile as well as on my all time favorites list.

3/2024: I re listened to this amazing book because my book club selected it. Loved it as much a year later and second time around!

No one but A. Verghese…

Masterful! Verghese brings explanation and dignity to a caste and raj system; brings understanding (however limited from this reader) of complex medical conditions, surgeries and treatments; and brings a tapestry of unique characters woven in another masterpiece of ancient India brought into modern times! I’m left breathless at this breathtaking novel!

Not enough stars

I feel fortunate to have even read this beautiful book. It most certainly is my favorite book and I'm 65 years of age. The details, told the story. So much time, love and knowledge was packed in this lovely bounded gift.

A masterpiece

Do yourself a favor and listen to this book. A beautiful multigenerational story of human frailty, secrets, love and triumph. My heart feels expanded. Another classic from Abraham Verghese. I wish Audible would record his memoir “my own country.” Everything he writes is magic!

Reluctant to leave this story when it ended

Such a wonderful cast of characters and setting that I hoped the book would never end. I learned a lot about Indian history and culture, too.

Captivating Family Saga

I did not want this 30+ hour listen to be over! What an exceptional and brilliant man. To both comprehend and to describe so eloquently and compassionately the complexity and depth of our human condition through multiple generations of this family. Thank-you for this gift of a heartwarming story.

Was transported through time and place

A multigenerational story that brings to life Indian culture. The characters and settings are intricately and beautifully described. The author’s voice breaths life into this captivating story. A must listen.

magnum opus

These stories were magical and enthralling! The author so thoroughly described the characters that I feel as though I personally meet each and every one. I have been waking up missing Big Amechi! The interconnected lives are profound and bring clarity to events in a very gratifying way! BROVO!!!!! Can't wait for the many movie and mini series...Absolutely LOVED IT!!!! Masterfully told and brought me through time.

Wow! Just fantastic!

When I loaded this right after Oprah announced her choice I was certain 31 hours would last me a couple weeks, wrong, I listened almost non stop. I’m only sad it’s done. All the twists and turns, history and feelings. Thank you for such a beautiful piece of art for our world today.

A must read!

A beautiful story. It unfolded with with grace around every twist and turn. Rich is description and depth.