The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)

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

An instant New York Times and indie bestseller and an Oprah Book Club Pick, The Covenant of Water has sold more than two million copies worldwide and was widely named as a best book of the year. Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, Abraham Verghese's long-awaited, masterful novel follows three generations of a Christian family in Kerala, South India, that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning. As the novel opens, a twelve-year-old girl is sent by boat to her wedding, where she meets her husband for the first time. She joins a prosperous household and becomes known as Big Ammachi, the matriarch of an extraordinary family that will endure hardship, celebrate triumph, and witness unthinkable changes over the coming decades.

An exquisite modern classic finally available in paperback, The Covenant of Water is an unforgettable and stunning epic of love, faith, and medicine.

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Published May 6, 2025

768 pages

Average rating: 8.34

1,443 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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Marz

May 16, 2025

5/10 stars

A bit long in the tooth

Renmoews

Jan 18, 2025

5/10 stars

Too long, rambling, and tragic for me. it was hard to connect to the characters.

Khris Sellin

Jul 05, 2024

10/10 stars

Another beautiful, heartbreaking saga by Abraham Verghese.

Gingy

Jun 25, 2024

7/10 stars

Generally liked by the members

ibp_bookclub

May 06, 2024

9/10 stars

From the opening page to the final chapter, this book offers a captivating and intellectually stimulating exploration of history. Abraham Verghese's storytelling is truly mesmerizing. His compelling narrative had me fully immersed in the world of his characters, experiencing their journey as if I were right there beside them. The authenticity he brought to each character through his use of accents further heightened the sense of realism, making the story come alive in a way that was both captivating and unforgettable. While it may be a slow read and it may have you pull out a dictionary/google at times. This book will continuously provide you with reasons to stay engaged and invested until the very end!