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HomeThe Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast. It 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. The family is part of a Christian community that traces itself to the time of the apostles, but times are shifting, and the matriarch of this family, known as Big Ammachi—literally “Big Mother”—will witness unthinkable changes at home and at large over the span of her extraordinary life.

  •  Last updated: September 8, 2023

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Looking for reviews, author bios, and discussion questions to stimulate conversation? We’ve compiled these for you!

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Abraham Verghese Biography

From the author's website

Book Browse Reading Guide Questions for The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

NPR Review of The Covenant of Water

'The Covenant of Water' tells the story of three generations in South India

The Covenant of Water Author Reveals the Real-Life Inspiration Behind His Fictional Masterpiece

Abraham Verghese takes us on a tour of the real world of Oprah’s Book Club’s 101st pick.

The Covenant of Water Companion Podcast

A six-part limited series featuring eye-opening conversations between Oprah and Dr. Verghese.

The Guardian Review of The Covenant of Water

Curses and catastrophes power this immersive, if uneven, story of an Indian family in the 20th century

The Washington Post Review of The Covenant of Water

A decade in the making, Abraham Verghese’s sweeping new book chronicles the evolution of a family in India that shares a dark secret

Wrote a Book Questions for The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Book club questions for The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese explore the richly woven tapestry of love, faith, and medicine that the author has masterfully crafted.

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