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Kasa Cotugno's Reviews > The Covenant of Water
The Covenant of Water
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Cutting For Stone was a game changer for me, a miracle of a book that grabbed from the very first page and held throughout its considerable length. After a wait of over ten years, I was thrilled to be trusted with an early copy of Dr. Verghese's next book, which he describes himself as a family saga close to his own family. Unfortunately, it never held the power of the earlier book and seemed more of a treatise of the Southern tip of India region, its history and culture, and not fleshed out with a compelling story. As I've said before, it breaks my heart to give a negative review to a favorite author.
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The Covenant of Water.
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Reading Progress
December 20, 2022
–
Started Reading
December 20, 2022
– Shelved
December 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
arc
December 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
culture-india
December 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
genre-saga
December 27, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-26 of 26 (26 new)
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Elyse wrote: "I can’t tell you just how much I agree - and also breaks my heart!!!It was killing me - seriously� and I gave it WAY MORE EFFORT� trying to compensate my deep regret and disappointment �
But Kasa..."
Ah, dear Elyse. I know we don't always agree, but in this case, we do. And it must have been so hard for you given your personal connection to this dear man. I only met him the once and exchanged a few emails, but never had an in depth conversation which you were lucky enough to enjoy.
Yes, let's definitely try and make it face to face in 2023.
I am so so disappointed to read your review. I have been looking forward to this book for a long time.
Same� so disappointed� Cutting For Stone was amazing!
Pam wrote: "I am so so disappointed to read your review. I have been looking forward to this book for a long time."As I've said here and elsewhere, it breaks my heart to give a beloved author a bad review
Interesting to read your review, Kasa. I liked Verghese’s memoirs quite a lot. Cutting for Stone didn’t turn my crank at all and was in no way life-changing for me. I’m around halfway through this. It’s a leisurely read for sure, lots of cultural information, and quite a bit of Malayalam vocabulary, which slows things down. I like the medical bits! The blurb from Honoree Fanonne Jeffers was NOT reassuring. I loathed her (dreadful) book and couldn’t finish it.BTW, a three is not a bad rating as far as I’m concerned! 😊 I don’t think you’ve been unfair.
Canadian Reader wrote: "Interesting to read your review, Kasa. I liked Verghese’s memoirs quite a lot. Cutting for Stone didn’t turn my crank at all and was in no way life-changing for me. I’m around halfway through this...."Hi, Canadian. This is why I love goodreads, the exchange of differing points of view re books. There are many who loved this book, and the NYT gave it a glow, but I would've been untrue to myself had I expressed otherwise.
For me, a three-rating indicates I finished the book (in fairness for a review), but wasn't happy doing so.
Kasa wrote: "Canadian Reader wrote: "Interesting to read your review, Kasa. I liked Verghese’s memoirs quite a lot. Cutting for Stone didn’t turn my crank at all and was in no way life-changing for me. I’m arou..."I think it was wonderful of you to complete it. You gave it more than a fair chance. It’s a big book and I’d likely have quit if I had the experience you did. To me, a three is a very decent score! 😊
I read Cutting for Stone several years ago and have been searching for something as good in my reading journey ever since. It is a hard act to follow. I love your reviews. Thank you for this one.
Annieg wrote: "I read Cutting for Stone several years ago and have been searching for something as good in my reading journey ever since. It is a hard act to follow. I love your reviews. Thank you for this one."Thank you Annieg so much for your kind words.
If you haven’t read the book yet try to get the audio version. The author reads with such emotion, tenderness and love for these characters. I am glad I listened.
I was very disappointed, too. I expected the book to be the same caliber as Cutting for Stone, which I loved. Covenant of Water wasn't even close.
Millicent wrote: "I was very disappointed, too. I expected the book to be the same caliber as Cutting for Stone, which I loved. Covenant of Water wasn't even close."Such a disappointment after Cutting for Stone. Almost as if they hadn't been written by the same author.
Agree Cutting had a profound impact on me as well. Enjoyed every page of Covenant, but could not “fall into� these characters as I did with Cutting. I found his narrative of the child bride and the tenderness with which she was treated by her husband was moving. Wish Digby had more presence and Elsie as well. Interestingly enough this is the second book I’ve read this year with leprosy as a theme.
Your review is spot on! I adored Cutting for Stone and cried when I finished it. Haven’t read a book as good since. Was beyond excited for this release and when it arrived in the mail I almost had a heart attack. I opted for the audio version because holding up a 700+ page hardcover with tiny print was too much (happy to have the book on hand to go back and look at the illustration and spelling of the character names and places though). But sadly, this book didn’t evoke the same deep emotions I felt with Cutting for Stone.
Totally agree. I do wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't expect it to be another Cutting for Stone. Since I also loved The Tennis Partner, I really had high expectations. I'll recommend to my cousin who has traveled to India several times and who is also a neuroradiologist. For others, I'll recommend as a good book, not a great one.
Such a disappointment. All I can say is that the magic of Cutting for Stone is gone.
I respect your opinion here but interestingly I had the opposite experience between the two books.
I liked it a lot more than Cutting...
I just finished it and couldn’t agree more. I really struggled to pay attention through this book.
Anna wrote: "Totally agree!!!"Thank you.
Thank you, Susan.