The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

How hard is The Covenant of Water to read?

The Covenant of Water scores 62 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 60 out of 100

The novel incorporates a rich tapestry of Malayalam and Tamil words, such as charu kasera, molay, achen, mundu, and thamb'ran, which add cultural depth. While many of these terms are clarified through immediate context or direct explanation, their consistent presence requires readers to engage with an unfamiliar lexicon, placing it above standard contemporary fiction in complexity.

Sentence structure: 62 out of 100

The narrative employs sentences of moderate to considerable length, frequently incorporating multiple descriptive clauses and subordinate structures to build vivid imagery and detailed scenes. While the prose maintains a generally fluid and accessible rhythm, it occasionally features complex constructions and extended descriptions that demand sustained reader attention, exceeding the simplicity of direct, declarative styles.

Abstraction: 68 out of 100

While deeply rooted in concrete narrative and vivid descriptions of daily life and cultural practices, the novel frequently delves into profound philosophical and spiritual reflections. Characters grapple with themes of faith, destiny, love, and loss, often expressing abstract insights through internal monologues and dialogue, elevating the content beyond mere storytelling.

Information density: 78 out of 100

The narrative is exceptionally rich, weaving together intricate details of South Indian culture, historical context, and the complex inner lives of its characters across multiple timelines and geographical settings. The text demands sustained attention to absorb the extensive descriptions of customs, landscapes, medical procedures, and the nuanced social and political dynamics of colonial India and industrial Glasgow.

Narrative indirection: 45 out of 100

The narrative often explicitly states character thoughts and motivations, such as the young bride's pity for her mother or Digby's internal struggles regarding his past. While initial mysteries surrounding the 'Condition' or the husband's illiteracy require some inference, the text quickly provides direct explanations, minimizing sustained ambiguity. The author frequently supplies cultural and historical context, reducing the need for extensive reader interpretation of implied meanings.

Symbolic density: 80 out of 100

The text is rich with pervasive symbolism, most notably the central motif of water representing connection, destiny, and danger, as seen in the title and the family's 'Condition.' Recurring images like Damodaran the elephant, the 'Water Tree' genealogy, and the concept of home also carry significant meaning beyond their literal presence.

Ironic distance: 30 out of 100

The narrative maintains a largely earnest and empathetic tone, directly presenting characters' emotions and societal critiques rather than subtly undermining them. While situational ironies exist, such as Claude Arnold's incompetence contrasted with his social standing, the authorial voice does not create a pervasive gap between what is stated and what is implicitly meant.

Resolution withholding: 70 out of 100

The excerpt provides significant personal resolutions, including the young bride's development into a capable matriarch and Celeste's decisive break from her unhappy marriage. However, major overarching plotlines, such as the long-term impact of the 'Condition' on Baby Mol or the ultimate future of Digby and Celeste's relationship, remain largely ambiguous and open-ended.

Structural complexity: 75 out of 100

The narrative employs a complex structure characterized by significant timeline jumps, such as from 1900 to 1935, and multiple shifting points of view across different characters like the young bride, Digby, and Celeste. Although chapter headings delineate these shifts, the non-linear progression and interweaving of distinct character arcs demand active reader engagement.

How The Covenant of Water is regarded

The Covenant of Water holds a literary regard score of 40 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Abraham Verghese