The curse afflicting the family is a topic that has been the subject of many myths, legends, and stories throughout history. It refers to a supernatural or mystical curse that brings misfortune, tragedy, or even death upon members of a particular family. This curse is often believed to be passed down from generation to generation, creating a sense of doom and despair for those affected. The concept of a family curse has been a popular theme in literature, movies, and other forms of storytelling. It captivates our imagination and plays on our fears of the unknown and the unexplainable. In many stories, the curse is the result of some past wrongdoing or transgression committed by an ancestor.
In many stories, the curse is the result of some past wrongdoing or transgression committed by an ancestor. This transgression could be a betrayal, a murder, or some other act that defied the natural order of things. As a punishment for this act, a curse is placed upon the family, with each subsequent generation suffering the consequences.
Famed author’s new novel explores a family curse and class strife in 20th century India
He credits his ability to have time for writing “The Covenant of Water” to working at Stanford University.
“The Department of Medicine and the medical school are incredibly supportive of my writing, treating it as my research equivalent. They’ve been patient — given how long this book took to come out,” said Verghese, who will make a book appearance June 5 at the University of San Diego, in partnership with Warwick’s.
Advertisement Author Abraham Verghese. (Courtesy of Jason Henry)“I earn my keep with the other things I do. I’m vice chair of education with great responsibility for the experience of the students in internal medicine. I run an interdisciplinary center called Presence. I think there is a sensibility that I bring to the act of writing, together with an urgency that comes first from dealing with life, death, suffering and illness in the daytime. When I sit down to write in the evenings or nights or weekends, the lens through which I looked at the world from earlier in the day is still intact. Conversely, the writing sometimes helps me make sense of the medical issues I see.”
Verghese previously wrote the bestselling book “Cutting for Stone” and “My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story.” In 2015, President Obama presented him with the National Humanities Medal.
Q: What’s your elevator pitch for this novel?
A: “The Covenant of Water” is set in Kerala, South India, during the period of 1900 to 1977. The Parambil clan is part of a long-existing Christian community. The family suffers from a peculiar affliction — in every generation going back many generations, at least one family member dies by drowning. The backdrop to the story is India’s struggle for independence, and the supporting cast includes native and Western physicians, surgeons, estate owners, a leper colony, and an elephant.
Q: How did your mother, Mariam Verghese, inspire this novel?
A: My American-born niece, when she was just 5, asked my mother: “What was life like when you were a little girl?” My mother was in her 70s then, living in Florida. She was so taken by this question that, in her elegant penmanship, she wrote a 100-page manuscript, complete with illustrations, and with many colorful anecdotes of her youth. Her text reminded me of the rich world she came from — a world with the fascinating rituals of our community who believe they were converted by the arrival of St. Thomas from Damascus in 52 A.D.
Q: Please describe two main characters and what obstacles they have to overcome.
A: First is the young bride (big Ammachi) who opens the story on the eve of her wedding to a much older widower. She overcomes this inauspicious start and creates a wonderful marriage full of love, though not spared tragedy. The second character is her granddaughter (Mariamma) who becomes a physician and who ultimately solves the mystery of familial drowning. She must overcome the personal obstacle of not knowing her mother and the scientific challenge of unraveling the familial disease that afflicts the family.
Q: Medical procedures play an important part in the novel. Are they hard to write and explain to readers outside the medical community?
A: I was told long ago that a story that involves family drama, doctors and dogs is always compelling! Also, few of us are spared from suffering or from witnessing suffering. The description of a procedure must be meaningful to the character and also convey something important about the character, even as it entertains the reader.
Q: How did the caste system influence Big Ammachi, the main character?
A: No society in the world is spared issues of caste and hierarchy. In India, caste is ingrained and formalized over many centuries. The grandmother or matriarch of the clan is born into a system that she does not question.
Q: In this novel, “Every family has secrets, but not all secrets are meant to deceive.” What’s meant by this?
A: This is a variant of Tolstoy’s famous quote: “Happy families are all alike, but unhappy families are unhappy in unique ways.” In the arranged marriage culture of India, it didn’t take much for a family’s prospects of marrying off the daughter to be ruined because of some event or some condition. Hence they have to be secretive.
Q: What’s your podcast “Medicine and the Machine” about?
A: I have the great privilege of knowing Eric Topol M.D., who is my co-host, but more importantly, a luminary in medicine, and someone who works at the cutting edge of medical advances. The podcast is a wonderful way for us to discuss things — current things, bring in experts and also celebrate those things that are unchanging since antiquity, namely the need to balance science with the patient in front of you.
Davidson is a freelance writer.
“The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese, Grove Press, 736 pages.
The curse can take many forms, depending on the story or legend. It might be a string of bad luck, with family members experiencing financial ruin, failed relationships, or other personal tragedies. In some cases, the curse brings physical harm or even death to those unfortunate enough to be born into the afflicted family. The curse becomes a part of their identity, shaping their lives and influencing their choices. The curse afflicting the family often becomes a central theme in these stories, driving the narrative and creating tension and conflict. It becomes a source of fear and despair for the characters, as they struggle to break free from its grip. In some cases, characters may go to great lengths to uncover the origins of the curse, seeking redemption or a way to lift the curse from their family once and for all. While the concept of a family curse is fictional and rooted in mythology and folklore, it taps into universal themes and fears that resonate with many people. The idea of being trapped in a cycle of misfortune, unable to escape the consequences of past actions, is a powerful one. It speaks to our own fears of mistakes, regrets, and the lingering effects of our own past decisions. In conclusion, the curse afflicting the family is a captivating and enduring theme in literature and storytelling. It explores the idea of a supernatural or mystical curse that brings misfortune, tragedy, or death upon a particular family. This curse, often passed down from generation to generation, becomes a central part of the characters' lives, shaping their choices and driving the narrative. While fictional, the concept of a family curse resonates with universal themes of fear, regret, and the consequences of our actions..
Reviews for "The Curse's Influence on Success and Prosperity in the Family"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I really did not enjoy reading "The curse afflicting the family". The story was slow-paced and lacked depth. The characters felt superficial and their motivations were not well-developed. The plot seemed repetitive and predictable. Overall, I found the book to be quite boring and it did not captivate me like I had hoped.
2. Jake - 1 star - "The curse afflicting the family" was a complete disappointment. The writing style was confusing and hard to follow. The author jumped between different time periods and characters without any clear transitions, which made it difficult to understand what was happening. The various storylines did not come together well, creating a disjointed reading experience. I found myself skipping pages because I simply couldn't stay engaged. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "The curse afflicting the family" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot was slow-moving and lacked intrigue. The characters were unrelatable and uninteresting, making it hard for me to invest in their stories. The ending felt rushed and unresolved, leaving me unsatisfied. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and not worth the time.
4. Mark - 1 star - I struggled to finish "The curse afflicting the family". The writing style was overly descriptive and dragged on unnecessarily. The pacing was slow, with insignificant details overshadowing the main plot. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The supernatural elements of the curse were not explained well, leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging read.
5. Laura - 2 stars - "The curse afflicting the family" was a letdown for me. The storyline was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were cliché and lacked development. The author failed to create a captivating atmosphere and tension, making the book feel flat and uninteresting. I had high hopes for this book, but it failed to meet my expectations.