Book of the Week

‘Covenant of Water’ by Abraham Verghese

Reviewed by Isabella

‘Covenant of Water’ follows a Christian Indian family from 1900 to 1977. A family that seems cursed by what they call ‘the condition’, with each generation seeing one or more members die by drowning. This is the red thread through this incredible book, but just as the branches of a tree (a reference recognized by those who have read the book) the story reaches out in many, multifarious directions through a formidable cast of characters, each and every one memorable, and as if by magic Verghese manages to beautifully weave them all together in what feels like a comforting blanket of new friends you want to spend as much time with as possible.

At the turn of the century a 12 year-old girl is sent to marry a 40 year old man. The young girl will in time become Big Ammachi, the family’s matriarch and bear witness to decades of change, immeasurable joys and immense pain. Big Ammachi and her home, the estate of Parambil, are at the heart of this novel that reaches out across the country through descriptions of historical events - some well known, some more obscure to many of us outside of India and all truly fascinating - as well as through characters that flow in and out of Parambil and much of Kerala (with few but important offshoots to Madras).

At its core ‘Covenant of Water’ is the story of a family, of love and sacrifice and thanks to Verghese’s background as a physician, we are also made privy to the incredible medical strides of the 20th century by brave and brilliant doctors and nurses and how they come to benefit even the least fortunate in a society defined by castes. The novel also manages to weave stories of politics and religion, of societal inequities and, of course, what it meant for India to be colonized by the British.

Verghese is a master at humanizing the inhumane. Your heart will go out to each every one of the (flawed) characters. You will empathize, be shocked, mourn and rejoice throughout ‘Covenant of Water’, so if you haven’t read it yet, a great adventure awaits!

Happy Monday and happy reading!

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Book of the Week

‘The Colony’ by Audrey Magee reviewed by our very own Catalina (here in a beautiful book/outfit/window matching photo 😉)

‘Audrey Magee's "The Colony" left me deeply moved in so many ways! 🌟 This powerful novel introduces Mr. Loyd, an English artist seeking solace on a remote Irish island to immerse himself in his art.

His peace is however disrupted by the presence of Mr. Masson, a French linguist, who is studying the Gaelic language and its resistance to English influences.

Throughout the summer, Loyd and Masson engage in unpleasant exchanges about language, power, and colonialism. But what is really compelling is that both men might hold different views, but they do come to the island with their own agendas, united in their disregard for the wishes of the Irish people.

They arrive, upheave lives, reshape perspectives, and depart, leaving the island's inhabitants to grapple with the aftermath of their actions.

A striking illustration of this dynamic is seen in James, the island's youngest inhabitant, who draws inspiration from Loyd and dreams of escaping the island to showcase his own art in London. As the narrative develops, it becomes clear that Loyd's motives may not be entirely selfless, and he seems to use James's ambition to further his own artistic pursuits.

In short, Audrey Magee's compelling message serves as a poignant testament to the far-reaching atrocities of colonialism worldwide. 🌍✨ ‘

The book is in stock and if you drop by, Catalina will be more than happy to talk about this engaging novel.

Happy Monday friends - and happy reading!

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Book of the Week

‘Cursed Bunny’ by Bora Chung

Reviewed by our very own Catalina 📚

‘In this collection of short stories, Bora Chung ingeniously crafts narratives that entwine eerie fairytales with 'Black Mirror'-esque elements, delving into themes ranging from societal pressures on women and greed to the unsettling prospect of AI dominion.

In these tales, a figure emerges from waste and excrement to assume control over a woman's life, a menstruation triggers an unconventional pregnancy, and avarice leads a man to trap a fox for its golden blood.

Each story navigates unexpected twists that evoke tension, discomfort, and at times cringe, captivating readers with their horror-adjacent nature.

Chung's masterful storytelling skillfully dissects dark desires and resonates as an allegorical reflection of contemporary anxieties.’

Not sure if ‘Happy’ is the right word here, but we’ll go with it anyway 😉…. Happy Monday and happy reading, friends ☀️
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Book of the Week

‘Tom Lake’ by Ann Patchett reviewed by Isabella

‘Tom Lake is classic storytelling in its finest form and a reminder that we all have a past that defines us for better or for worse; a past that, for the most part, we forget, but one that can be coaxed back to shed light on who we have become and why.

‘Tom Lake’ is a true Patchett experience. A story of family, quiet love (for lovers, friends, parents, grandparents and children) and quiet heartbreak. The novel is full of relatable experiences, of friendship, disappointment and self discovery. Of life that just happens.

Lara, her husband Joe and their three adult daughters are spending lockdown on their cherry orchard in Michigan. Lara is (guiltily) enjoying the fact that everyone has to stay put and isolated. The girls for their part are taking advantage of the time to get their mother to talk about a time in her past when she (almost) became a movie star - and dated a man who did indeed become one.

This is a story of young love and aspiration during rehearsals one summer for that quintessentially American play, Our Town, and a later story of more mature love.

Tom Lake is a gloriously generous, at times thorny and always honest, story of family, of what matters in life, of the beauty and drama of the everyday.

The novel unfolds with expected (and unexpected) turns on a firm base of genuine appreciation for other human beings.

Tom Lake is not an edgy, uncomfortable, pull you out of your comfort zone kind of novel. Plenty other excellent books serve that vital purpose. Tom Lake has another, very different, and important role to play.

One Ann Patchett addressed in a recent interview with ‘The Guardian’:

"If the world is kicking me in the teeth, in terms of the news and all the things we have to worry about, that's not what I want in my novel. I don't need to be lifted up.

But I would like the kindness of humanity that surrounds me to have a moment" she says. "There I am. That's what I do.’

And boy does she do that wonderfully well!’

Happy reading!

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