Meeting wrap up from Deb on Covenant of Water by Verghese:

Agreeing with what’s been praised: such hospitality—comfortable setting from the beautifully evolving porch on through & tasty spread: thank you, Kim—& others for additions, everyone for making last night into a special evening centered on a splendid book (my modifier, not the group’s!).  Though we DID all confirm what a really BEST-ever book-group we are, & that heart-felt consensus feels great.  Differing on elements of THE COVENANT is part of what I value, too: varied perceptions, with solid sources.  Maybe it did go on too long with 2 or 3 too many substories, or could have been trimmed.  Though for me, I don’t want to lose any strands or little forecasters: am wowed by all the perspectives brought to this multi-faceted epic—which seemed even more impressive as each of you contributed from your own areas of expertise (as you were noting, Jessica), & awareness, adding more from studies, travel, priorities, + varied takes on weight, direction & credibility.  I appreciate all that input, feel we could meet again on this one!

Also, a couple points (of dozens possible despite our focused discussion) I want to note: late in the book, when under stress speaking to Mariamma  about Elsie’s leprosy (p. 712), Digby’s old Scottish accent slips into his speech.  At first the words hit me as typos but then the accent was acknowledged: another move that could be considered distracting, or an insightful enlargement!  I love it!  And the way that Mariamma realizes the gift she possesses of being able to look at a 2-D rendering & create it 3-D, at 1^st seems minor but as is often the case w/Verghese, the detail grows in significance as the book progresses.  Plus the way she talks to the Stone Woman, acknowledging it’s not a “tumor of thought” as a component of The Condition that she needs to pursue  (as she pours over Philipose’ 200 journals!), or solving its mystery that she is after, but her mother!  (Then she realizes it’s her mother who has held the cup she has put coins into —the Beggar Woman at the corner!  That’s almost too much?) And how many characters lost their mothers?  Many tracks that might be mapped, intersections flagged. And so much that could be learned—like about Naxalites & changes in medicine, including bedside manner & treatment of patients, as noted–that we got a start on!.