Book Review: The Covenant Of Water by Abraham Verghese

 

Written by Safa Alhassan 

At first glance, the size of the book "The Covenant of Water" nearly stopped me from reading – a whopping 715 pages. Skepticism loomed as I contemplated the prospect of diving into a multi-generational saga, a genre not typically on my literary radar. Yet, curiosity prevailed, also being Oprah’s 2023 Book Club pick i decided to give it a chance. Surprisingly, my hesitations dissolved almost instantly as the narrative unfolded. I had an amazing experience with the book, I found myself tearing up most of the time.

Abraham Verghese tells an interesting story about a family haunted by an unusual curse, a drowning fate that befalls at least one member of each generation. This novel is about a family in Kerala who live near water but dislike it intensely. Their house and estate, called Parambil, are cursed by water. The mystery of this curse drives the story. However, the real magic lies not in the ominous premise but in the intricate character development and the seamless integration of India’s history, particularly the captivating Kerala region.

Spanning from 1900 to 1977, the novel brings readers to Kerala, on India’s Malabar Coast. The story begins with a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's Christian community, sent by boat to her wedding, a journey that marks the genesis of a narrative. Molay (which means daughter), is a young bride that arrives at Parambil. She's only referred to by her relationship to others and was never referred to by her real name. Later her stepson calls her Big Ammachi, meaning "mother" in English. Molay travels by boat through rivers, lakes, and canals to reach Parambil. She notices that the house is built far from the canal, which she later learns is because of "the condition." This condition keeps her husband away from water. She finds it odd since she loves swimming in the canal, but her husband avoids it at all costs. Big Ammachi, the young bride, evolves into the matriarch, bearing witness to a life replete with joy, triumph, hardship, and loss.

The book is a combination of different love stories and a true evidence to the word "family." It also tells the strength of a woman. It tells stories spanning seven decades, focusing on three generations of a plantation family since 1900. One story involves Molay, who believes she encounters the spirit of her husband's first wife, who lives in the cellar. Despite the initial fear, Molay befriends the ghost, feeling it watches over her stepson. Once convinced of Molay's love for the boy, the ghost becomes friendly and communicates through signs like dropping objects. There is also the love story between a man and his wife. There was this time I heard from a Preacher that the true evidence of God's Mercy and Love is in the marriage between a man and a woman. Two people who do not know each other or have anything in common, different backgrounds and upbringing and also very different ways of thinking will later come together to be an important part of each other's life. It's miraculous. This is the story of Molay and her husband, a widower who was way older than she is. A man who had given up on love due to his predicaments will love and honour this little woman the best. That love story was my favorite part of the book. In the book, describing her husband, Big Ammachi said:

"Listening is talking to him; there's an eloquence to this kind of attentiveness; it's rare, and yet he's generous with it. He alone amongst all the people she knows uses his two ears and one mouth in that exact proportion. She loves him in a way she didn't know she could before. Love, she thinks isn't ownership, but a sense that where her body once ended, it begins anew in him, extending her reach, her confidence, and her strength. As with anything so rare and precious, it comes with a new anxiety: the fear of losing him, the fear of that heartbeat ceasing. That would mean the end of her."

These words lingered in my mind for so long. The depth of her words and the ingrained sadness, the fact that Big Appachen was partially deaf and uneducated, reason he spoke less and listened more. But he loved her deeply. Another story was that of a married English woman who was unfulfilled in her marriage. Her husband, a failure in his persona as a medical doctor and a very vile man. She fell in love with the young English doctor, which will later bring the end to her life as she died from being burnt overnight, after her escapade with her lover. Depressed and greatly saddened from his loss and the complications that it came with, the English doctor losses his job at the hospital and being in a very controversial situation, he leaves town in search of happiness, i guess. Probably to suit his wounds. But grief doesn't leave one. It hits harder and bites deeper. For him it wasn't just grief, it was guilt also. He will later encounter a doctor turned preacher and then the lepers. Then there was also stories about so many losses. The first loss for Molay was the death of her Jojo (her adopted son), who died by drowning and then the death of her first son. Molay and her husband had a son, Ninan. Her husband was extremely fearful of water due to the family curse and luckily Ninan shows no interest in it either, preferring to climb trees. Sadly, the curse eventually affects the boy, devastating his parents. This led Big Appachen to show Molay a family tree marked with symbols indicating those who died due to the curse of water. Is this a curse or is it destiny?

What sets "The Covenant of Water" apart is its ability bring history and medicine together, into a potent narrative about human connection and frailty. From his perfect descriptions, you'll realise that Abraham Verghese is infact a medical doctor. Water becomes a symbolic force, shaping the destiny of each generation. The novel illustrates the passage of time, and talks about bygone India while celebrating progress in medicine and human understanding. Many tragedies befall the Parambil family until finally, a granddaughter, Mariamma, is born to Big Ammachi. Mariamma's mother, Elsie, unable to cope with their relationship troubles, walks into the canal and disappears. Despite this, Big Ammachi celebrates Mariamma's birth by lighting a lamp, going against tradition. Luckily, Mariamma isn't cursed by the family's fear of water. In fact, she loves swimming in the canal but keeps it a secret from her father. Seeing the suffering around her, Big Ammachi wants a hospital nearby. Since she wasn't able to get Philiphose (her son and Mariamma's father) to become a doctor, she encourages Mariamma to become a doctor, which she does. Mariamma becomes curious about "the condition" that affects her family and, with the help of a mentor, she discovers a possible reason for it.

The book tells the hardships endured by past generations for the sake of those alive today. "The Covenant of Water" is infact an amazing book and I'd totally recommend especially if you're a very patient reader.