Writer, Humanist and Physician Abraham Verghese, THE COVENANT OF WATER & CUTTING FOR STONE
Summary: A profoundly humanist novel tackles the tragedies of life:<br> As a physician I’m perhaps more aware than most people of how perilous our everyday lives are and how quickly they could transition to something quite disastrous. And I think in America especially we exist in a sort of denial of our mortality…As a result we are very shocked when any hint of tragedy comes our way. — Abraham Verghese<br> We spend the hour speaking with <a href="https://www.abrahamverghese.org/biography/">Abraham Verghese</a>, first about his latest novel, <a href="https://groveatlantic.com/book/covenant-of-water/">The Covenant of Water</a>. Then, we look back to our 2009 conversation with him about his novel Cutting for Stone.<br> Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.<br> Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with FrancescaTags Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Twitter @WritersVoice.<br> Love Writer’s Voice? Please rate us on your podcast app. It really helps to get the word out about our show.<br> Tags: Abraham Verghese, Francesca Rheannon, Writers Voice, fiction, India, Kerala, podcast, book recommendations, author interview, book podcast, book show<br> A Peculiar Affliction<br> The Covenant of Water is Abraham Verghese’s acclaimed new novel, fourteen years after his breakout book, Cutting for Stone.<br> Set in Kerala, India, and spanning the years 1900 to 1977, it revolves around a family plagued by a peculiar affliction—drowning deaths occurring in every generation, while living in a coastal community where water is a dominant feature of the landscape.<br> A Tale of Bygone India<br> As part of a Christian community tracing back to the apostles, the matriarch, Big Ammachi, witnesses unimaginable changes during her extraordinary life.<br> Verghese showcases his remarkable storytelling with scenes of medical ingenuity, moments of humor, and deeply moving characters.<br> This beautifully written tale of a bygone India celebrates the resilience of human spirit in the face of adversity and the connections that make that resilience possible.<br> About The Author<br> Abraham Verghese is a best-selling author and a physician. He received the Heinz Award in 2014 and was awarded the National Humanities Medal, presented by President Barack Obama, in 2015. The Covenant of Water is an Oprah’s Book Club selection.<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Water-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0802162177">Listen to an excerpt</a><br> Cutting For Stone<br> The first time we talked with Abraham Verghese <a href="https://www.writersvoice.net/2009/02/verghese-cutting-for-stone-and-weil-healthy-aging/">was in 2009 about his book Cutting for Stone</a>. Like The Covenant of Water, it features the practice of medicine as a major theme of the novel.<br> In Memoriam for Daniel Ellsberg<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/16/daniel-ellsberg-pentagon-papers-whistleblower-dies">Daniel Ellsberg died June 16</a>. He was an exemplar of courage and integrity. A patriot of the highest order, he was a profound source of good for humankind. We spoke with Ellsberg in 2018. <a href="https://www.writersvoice.net/2018/02/daniel-ellsberg-doomsday-machine-michael-klare-trumps-nuclear-posture-review/">Listen here</a>.<br> <br>
