The Covenant of Water, a review by Joanna

It’s 1900 in Parambil, Southern India and Mariamma, only child from a rural Christian family, is only twelve when she is married off to a much older widower after the death of her father. Expected to run the household and raise her young stepson, she fears the worst, but her new husband is kind and hardworking, and as she grows into her role as Big Ammachi, she will experience joy but also heartbreak, because the family is cursed by The Condition – someone in every generation will die by drowning. Meanwhile, in far away Scotland, a young man embarks on a unique medical career.

“ We are born and baptized in this water, we grow full of pride, we sin, we are broken, we suffer, but with water we are cleansed of our transgressions, we are forgiven, and we are born again, day after day till the end of our days.”

This was beautifully written, thought-provoking, educational, and often desperately sad. The author is a practising physician and there is a lot about medicine, surgery, medical training and the psychology of doctors. As with CFS, I don’t think I would’ve appreciated it so much if I were not medical myself, although many friends have given it five stars. The relatively low rating is because I found it such heavy going – I read for entertainment not punishment. There’s so much going on that it was hard to keep track of all the minor characters, and there were long sections where important characters like Digby just disappeared. While I liked the way things were brought together at the end, I would’ve appreciated an epilogue to learn the fate of other key characters. 3.5 rounded down for the present tense, but if length, sadness (including deaths of children) and gory medical details don’t deter you, it is a great book, just not one I can say I enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.