The Covenant of Water

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The novel is a long family saga that spans several generations in the life of the Parambil family. Do you enjoy reading narratives that cover this much time, or do you prefer novels set during a more compressed time period (like a day)?
• Have you read Verghese’s debut novel, Cutting for Stone? Which of the two do you like better? If you haven’t read his first one, does reading Covenant make you want to read it? Why or why not?
• When you read historical fiction, or fiction set in another country, how much outside research do you do while reading, or afterwards? If yes, what does external knowledge bring to your reading experience? For example, do you confirm facts, seek out background context, or something else?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• How did you react to the graphic descriptions of medical procedures in the novel? Did the suffering of the patients or the helplessness of their loved ones resonate with you? What difficult medical situations have you or people you know faced?
• Which of the novel’s several romantic relationships spoke to you the most? Which is the most realistic? Which is the most fantastical? Why?
• Despite being a fairly traditional woman,