The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club) | 
Still making my way through this lovely book, and I think I'd like to re-join #LitsyLove but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Can anyone help?
pickIt was good, as predicted. But too long. Couldn‘t this story have been told in 400 pages rather than 715? Enjoyed learning more about leprosy and the Communist movement in India.
pickThis book is 715 pages long and takes place over 77 years in South India, following multiple generations of a family with a hereditary curse involving aversion to water and a tendency to drown. It was absorbing, & I enjoyed it, despite my own aversion to magical realism & gruesome depictions of medical procedures. Around page 400 though, I started getting sick of the relentless tragedy. A memorable, often beautiful novel, but crushingly depressing
"She is twelve years old, and she will be married in the morning."
Tackling this hefty book set in early 20th century South India for book club--I'm normally not a big fan of either magical realism or gruesomely detailed medical procedures, but this is a gripping read so far.
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
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Starting today. I purposely lowered my yearly reading goal to read more chunky books, so here goes!
#bookspinbingo
pickGreat book. Really insightful into life in India over multi generations. Easy to read and captivating
pickI love building these grids because it‘s not until I build one that I consider the entire reading experience. The tagged is epic!
5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F
pickWhat did I just read! I finished sections of this book and spoke out loud to the universe and author as though I could somehow effect change or come to terms with my nooooo‘s. My IRL bookclub does not discuss this book until June so I just want to reread these 715 pages over and over again.
pickI loved this read! It was a long book but I never got sick of the story of the family. Each character was a welcome addition and likable. I could clearly picture Paramble in my mind and would recommend this novel. 5/5
“The Ordinary Man has managed something extraordinary.” 💛 This touched me.
#two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
1. I daydream about the future a lot, I will likely retire this year but I have a lot of unknowns niggling at me. What does the future look like for me and my family. I hope it‘s a warmer location at some point, lots of exploring and finding new purpose.
2. Any magical realism inspires me but also family epics in different places has me wondering about what it looks like. The tagged book right now has me dreaming.
pick“It‘s fiction! Fiction is the great lie that tells the truth about how the world lives!”
so-soIt‘s awkward to be the only person posting about this book who didn‘t love it. I thought it was in desperate need of editing and lacked continuity. He touched on so many interesting topics but didn‘t develop any of them. I think it would have worked much better as a collection of connected stories. Disappointed 🫤
pickI simply adored Verghese‘s Cutting for Stone, and this one was equally fantastic. They both share the author‘s gorgeous prose, fascinating medical plot elements, and evocative descriptions that create an almost tangible sense of place. Covenant of Water spans three generations of unforgettable characters, multiple locations around the globe, and is just impossible to put down. I inhaled it in three days, despite it‘s chunkster status. Loved it.
pickWhat a lovely story. I was so happy it was a lengthy book as I wanted to sink into the story. It‘s interesting, heart breaking at times, and beautifully told. You will be glad you invested the time.
“‘What mistake is that . . . Celeste?‘
‘The mistake, Digby, of choosing to see more in your future mate than the evidence has already suggested.‘”
pickMy second time reading this and I still love it. A real work of art.
pickI loved this book. It is massive and quite an undertaking to read, but it is worth it. Some of the passages are just so beautifully written that they stopped me in my tracks. It follows a family in India through the decades as they deal with the family condition. By the end, the author ties everything together perfectly.
“Lena takes Digby‘s hand. ‘Digby,‘ she says, surprising him by using his first name. ‘How can I repay you? You saved my life. We‘ll be offended if you don‘t visit us at the estate. You need a holiday. Please promise me you‘ll come?‘ Digby‘s sputtering reply isn‘t convincing. ‘Digby,‘ she says, ‘do you have relatives in India?‘
‘No, I don‘t.‘
‘Oh, yes you do. We‘re blood now.‘”
Both of my book clubs this month are reading this chunkster so I probably ought to get started.
Taking advantage of the fact that it is still above freezing and not snowing here to get some lunch (egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit 😋) and a snowball latte (chocolate, vanilla, and coconut). Really enjoying this book so far. For such a #chunkster it moves really quickly!
“She is twelve years old, and she will be married in the morning.” #FirstLineFridays
Decided to take a day off. Enjoying a hot crafted press, bagel and cream cheese, and a cake pop while starting this book. #CoffeeAndABook
I couldn‘t resist and started in on my 2024 list. This is a re-read for me!
My top two were very different: an epic multigenerational family story vs a book-centered fantasy!
My favorite book of June and of the year. I‘ve been waiting patiently for January so I can read it again. (I have a “rule” against reading the same book twice in one year.)
#12booksof2023
Little one wanted to color together, so I took advantage of the time. I promised my husband I‘d commit to the bookshelf TBR this year, so my lists are LOADED with #Roll100 reads. Also features some #AuldLangSpine choices andddd one VERY long book club book to start off the year. Hoping to be a busy bookworm and kick off the years starting to tackle some major 2024 reading goals! Thank you, hosts!#bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo #Roll100
I plan on doing a round 2 of reading the chunky books from my shelves in 2024. I tagged The Covenant of Water because I forgot that chunker for this picture! But I‘ll definitely be reading it for this personal challenge.
I feel like I have been with my current audible and kindle reads way too long, even though I am enjoying both. They are both chunksters but I hope to finish them by the end of the year (in 7 days!!).
I didn‘t even get halfway through this last time I borrowed it from the library, I had to put it on hold and have waited months to borrow it again. Hopefully I can get it finished this time!
pickThree generations in 20th cent. southwestern India. Tender, personal, moral tone. Epic (LONG) scope w/ detailed if typed characters, like the Dickens referenced. Art & medicine. Fable & legend. Does feel like nat geo, India for the outsider? 2023
839 “She washes up, still marveling at the connections in her world, invisible or forgotten, but there all the same, like a river linking people upstream with those below, whether they know it or not.”
pickThis was a soaring epic following a family in India from around 1900-1970. Gorgeous writing, intense sense of place, and a compelling plot made this fly by. Just shy of 5 stars because I felt it got a little too much in its own head at times and it could have been a bit tighter. But overall a sad but gratifying read.
My idea of a great shopping trip!#BlackFridayShopping#BYOB
“Of course! I have my book”! #TheCovenantOfWater#AbrahamVerghese
Chilly rainy days are meant for reading! #TheCovenantOfWater#AbrahamVerghese
pickOh my, this swept me off my feet. I don‘t always love Oprah‘s picks, but this was a winner.
pick24 Sep-11 Oct 23 (audiobook)
A really good example of why narration is often best left to the professionals - autobiographies excepted . Verghese‘s narration is saved by the fact that it is a good story. Just.
This book spans several generations in Kerala and raises questions about fate, inheritance, vocation and what makes a family. The characters, particularly the women, are strong and their motivation and passions very real.
But the narration..
What did you love or not about this novel? Was it too long?
For those who joined the #BuddyRead or read the book since it‘s release please join in the discussion if you wish.
pickSuch an amazing, immersive, generation spanning story. All the emotions ♥️ loved it.
Todays reading 😁
#Gladstones
This month I managed to read 2 books. And I am thrilled I even did that! I read the tagged book and The Most Likely Club - Elyssa Friedland.
#SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
Favorite of this year (so far).
And with that my #Pantone2023 challenge is completed. @Clwojick
#Bookspin completed @TheAromaofBooks
#TBRTarot completed @CBee
Waiting for train to Gladstone‘s 😁 this book is so good.
pickAfter a false start at the beginning of the month I picked it up, started over and became enthralled. Part 7 dragged for me a bit but otherwise it‘s captivating. #ChunksterMini @Amiable #Booked23 #Featuring3Generations @BarbaraTheBibliophage @alisiakae @Cinfhen #SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView #BuddyRead @Cuilin 4.5🌟
OMG Cindy @Cinfhen - you have no idea how close I was to getting the Verghese for myself! I got some vouchers for my birthday and *nearly* ordered it this morning, but I got distracted with work! 😮💨
Thank you so much for your beautiful gifts; the other book looks fabulous too.
J just said that he thought the choc looked ‘husband-friendly‘ so I told him I thought not! 🤣
And your note is so sweet too! 😘🥰
