Renowned talk show host and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has selected “The Covenant of Water,” a new novel by Abraham Verghese, as her latest book club choice. Released on Tuesday, this multigenerational novel is Verghese’s first work of fiction since the million-selling “Cutting for Stone” in 2009. Winfrey praised the book, set in India from 1900-1977, and called it one of the top five books she’s read in her life. The story follows the Parambil family, cursed with an inability to survive in water, as they navigate love, loss, and faith through the medium and metaphor of water. The novel spans almost a century, including a medical component featuring a young Scottish doctor who comes to India for training.
Verghese, an Ethiopian-born physician who has authored two memoirs, expressed his joy at receiving a call from Winfrey for his latest offering, describing the experience as a miracle. At 724 pages, the book is a literary masterpiece, portrayed with great attention to detail, including the history of South India and the practices of cooking and medicine. The book has received starred reviews from various publications, such as Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, among others.
Verghese’s involvement does not stop at writing, as he also auditioned for the audiobook narration of his own book and got the role, as announced by RBmedia, the world’s largest audiobook publisher. The company has described the upcoming audiobook version of “The Covenant of Water” as immersive, with the author performing the story with grace and elegance. The RBmedia audiobook is available for pre-order and expected to release on May 2, 2023, on Recorded Books’ flagship audio brand. The hardcover version of the book is set to release the same day by Grove Press, followed by its release in the UK by Grove UK on May 18, 2023.
May’s new book releases include various other titles such as Mary Beth Keane’s “The Half Moon,” Kwame Alexander’s “Why Fathers Cry at Night,” Alexandra Auder’s “Don’t Call Me Home,” R.F. Kuang’s “Yellowface,” Samantha Irby’s “Quietly Hostile,” Ore Agbaje-Williams’s “The Three of Us,” and Megan Abbott’s “Beware the Woman.” Despite these releases, the standout literary work of the month has been Verghese’s “The Covenant of Water.”
In a related event, Winfrey, who served as a producer on the upcoming film adaptation of “The Color Purple,” talked about her “full-circle moment” in a virtual event alongside the cast members, including Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino. The movie is co-produced by Steven Spielberg and is set to be released in theaters on Christmas Day.
Notably, Donald Trump’s upcoming book, “Letters to Trump,” has also been making headlines, featuring correspondence he received from various famous personalities, including Winfrey, Princess Diana, Bill Clinton, Kim Jong-un, and others. The book is expected to release on April 25 and is being published by Winning Team Publishing. In one letter, Winfrey acknowledged that they would have made a great team if Trump was running for office. However, Winfrey never spoke to Trump again after he announced his candidacy.
In conclusion, Abraham Verghese’s “The Covenant of Water” is a significant work of literature that has been rightfully recognized by Oprah Winfrey as her latest book club pick. The novel’s immersive quality and attention to detail make it stand out among the various May releases, while Verghese’s involvement in auditioning for the audiobook role adds another level of intrigue to this epic tale.
