‘The Covenant of Water’ Book Review

“The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese is an epic multi-generational saga set in Kerala, India, spanning from the early 20th century to the 1970s. The novel explores themes of family, love, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of India’s social and political transformations.”

This was a book where I didn’t hate the characters, but I didn’t love them either. For the majority of the story, I did not feel an emotional connection to the characters. However, there were times when Philipose and Elsie kind of ground my gears. I think they were supposed to be unlikable, people of their time, but it just wasn’t written correctly. However, I did love the characters of Big Ammachi and Baby Mol; some of their scenes were just so wholesome, and you could tell that Big Ammachi was so filled with love. Later in the book, it talks about how she was practically love itself. However, if we have a book that is 700 pages and I don’t feel a connection to the characters, that is definitely going to impact my reading experience.

With the atmosphere, I did learn a lot about India during the 20th century. There were instances where we had paragraphs just about the history, taking us away from the stories of the characters. This is important for world-building, but it was done in a somewhat clunky way. I can appreciate that; I did learn about this country and even about the St. Thomas Christians, which are a group of Christians in India. I was ignorant and never really thought about there being large groups of that religion in an Asian country. I loved getting to learn about the culture of that group. I would highly recommend this book to Christians because it is a great story of God and what it is like to be a Christian in a non-first world country.

The writing itself was beautiful and thought-provoking. I was underlining and tabbing so many quotes that made me think, or quotes that were just so beautifully written that I wanted to remember and make note of them. I do have to mention the clunkiness of the world-building. We have a few characters in the medical field, and there were a lot of academic and scientific discussions that went right over my head. Those kinds of scenes could have been condensed. We also have to take into account that the author is a doctor himself, and it shows on the page.

The plot was fantastic and exactly the kind of book that I’m drawn to; my favorite author even did a blurb on the cover of the book. This is a big epic historical novel spanning the majority of the 20th century in India, focusing on a part of India that we don’t really see a lot in media. This might even be one of the first Indian books I’ve ever read. I love that during this time, a lot of the unknown is becoming known as the world advances due to breakthroughs in industry and technology, with the world overall being opened up by wars and worldwide travel.

I do want to talk about what I think the main theme of the book is, and that is: we are all human. You might think that is quite obvious and wonder where I’m going with this, but we are all equal and trying to survive in this world. It doesn’t matter your caste, your race, your religion, or your health; no one is better than anyone else. As humans, we need to realize that and take care of one another. We need to be compassionate and empathetic. That’s not just the role of a doctor but the role of every single human being on this planet. To me, that is what the main theme of the story is: compassion and getting through life.

My jaw did drop at times, and I felt emotional, especially in chapter 62. But overall, I just had a little bit of intrigue. This book went places that I didn’t think it would go, but I was never on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen. I will admit the logic in this book is fantastic. Every word on the page had meaning to the story, and the author did a great job of orchestrating this narrative. I did enjoy this book, and I think it’s going to be one that I reflect on for the rest of the year, as it was the first book that I completed in 2025. It was a five-star prediction for me, but I am ultimately giving it a four-star rating. I would still highly recommend picking up this book.

‘The Haunting of Henry Twist’ Book Review

“The Haunting of Henry Twist by Rebecca F. John is a hauntingly atmospheric novel set in post-World War I London. The story follows Henry Twist, a grieving widower who has recently lost his wife, Ruby, in a tragic accident just after the birth of their child. Henry, struggling with the responsibilities of single parenthood and the overwhelming weight of grief, encounters a mysterious man who claims to be the reincarnation of Ruby.”

We are first introduced to the character of Ruby, and you cannot help but feel an emotional connection towards her and sense the romance between her and her husband, Henry Twist, because you know what they don’t—you know that Ruby is going to have a sudden and tragic death. As the story progressed, I really could not believe that Henry was in love with Ruby. The choices he made, his actions, didn’t line up, but after a while, I realized that the love he had for Ruby was haunting him. I still don’t understand some elements that were added into the story and into his character work. For the most part, the side characters were all very one-dimensional. I wish that this book could have kept the emotional grip that it had in the first chapter.

The atmosphere is what I have been wanting to read for so long. This is set in the Roaring 20s in London. You are seeing the impacts that the First World War had on society and how society as a whole really changed at this time. I loved all the historical elements that were involved in the story.

The writing was another fail. If you like purple prose, then this one’s for you. There were some really beautiful sentences that were very reflective, but when there’s so much of that in almost every single paragraph, it becomes overbearing, and I would lose the meaning of the story. I would have to go read a paragraph again and again to fully comprehend what it was trying to say because it was just so pretty. There were some really weird comparisons, for example, comparing the moon to a Ferris wheel or when a girl is about to be sick, comparing it to baby birds being fed. It was just really strange.

The idea of the plot is great, and it could’ve been a great emotional character-driven story, but the character work and the purple prose really ruined the story for me. I wasn’t really intrigued; I was bored a lot of the time reading this. I felt myself going into a reading slump. I wanted to love this one, but it did not live up to those expectations. Pick this up if you feel intrigued.

2.85 out of 5 stars.

‘The Alienist’ Book Review

The Alienist by Caleb Carr is a historical crime thriller set in 1896 New York City. It follows Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist (referred to as an “alienist” in that era), and his team, which includes reporter John Schuyler Moore and Sara Howard, one of the city’s first female detectives. They are enlisted by then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt to track down a brutal serial killer preying on young male prostitutes. Using emerging techniques like psychological profiling and forensic science, the group delves into the mind of the killer, uncovering dark secrets while facing resistance from corrupt officials and society. The novel explores themes of mental illness, morality, and the complexities of justice.

This is a book that I think would benefit more from being told in the third-person perspective than in the first-person perspective. Usually, when you are telling the story from the first-person perspective, you can really feel a connection to the character, but here it was the complete opposite. I felt absolutely nothing towards the main character. I saw another review refer to John Moore as an observer, and I think that’s the perfect way to put it rather than him being a player in this plot. All of the characters were developed. This is one of the most developed casts of characters I’ve seen, but again, I did not feel a connection towards these people.

Atmosphere is definitely one of the highlights. I loved that we are in New York City, a city that is still in a way similar because the street names are the same. The neighborhoods are in relatively the same locations, so you have an idea of what the modern place looks like, but then put all the smog and dirt on top of that and you’re going to have your 1896 setting. There was so much research put into the setting and getting those exact street names and those exact locations. It was so easy to picture. This book was full of descriptions.

The writing was very descriptive, as I said. I never felt bogged down, though, or that it was too much or over the top. The chapters were relatively short for the most part; only a handful went on a bit too long. In those chapters that did go on so long, I have no idea how the author expects us to remember every bit of dialogue that went on. However, this book did go by relatively fast, even though it was 600 pages, but the short chapters were a lifesaver.

I’m not really a thriller person, but I did find this book to be extremely interesting. It was incredibly logical; there were no loose ends, and everything was happening for a reason, rather than for shock value. This is the deepest thriller I’ve ever read. It may be the smartest thriller I’ve ever read. There’s so much depth to the story. One of the main themes here is that people are complex. There is context to why a person is the way they are—a person isn’t just born being a killer or being evil. Things lead up to them being the way that they are, things that usually happened in their childhood. This book really shows what makes a killer. Those are great themes, and there is so much logic throughout the 600 pages, but it was lacking intrigue. I found myself getting bored and just not caring. Overall, this is still a good book. There’s a lot of depth, and it was smart. I would recommend picking it up if you’re interested.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

‘Uncle Paul’ Book Review

“Uncle Paul” by Celia Fremlin is a psychological thriller that delves into the tangled relationships of family dynamics, fear, and paranoia. The story revolves around Meg, a woman who finds herself swept up in unsettling events when she joins her two sisters, Isabel and Mildred, at a seaside cottage for a vacation. However, this holiday is far from restful as they are haunted by the shadow of “Uncle Paul,” Isabel’s estranged and possibly dangerous ex-husband, who seems to be drawing closer.

These characters did nothing for me. Yes, I could tell them all apart. They all had a little bit of dimension to them, but I didn’t care about them. I didn’t care what was happening to them. I didn’t care about their stories. That tends to be true with thrillers or mysteries — there’s not a whole lot to the characters, and there is more focus on the plot in the story, but that’s not even the case with this book.

As for the atmosphere, the 1950s setting does come across strongly, as this book was first published in 1958. I never felt scared, but I wouldn’t say this was a cozy atmosphere either. This is a good transitional piece, going from summer to fall, as the book takes place in a seaside town in the month of August.

The writing was definitely the best part. There are some sentences that are really good. It is fast-paced and easy to read. If you’re scared to pick up a book that came out over half a century ago, don’t be for this one. It reads incredibly modern in terms of the writing style.

The plot is where I was incredibly bored. I feel like so much of this book was just pointless. As I said, this is a thriller, but I never felt thrilled. There was intrigue, and I was wanting to know what the wrap-up of the mystery was going to be. I found this book lacking a lot of logic. I would not recommend picking up Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin.

2.25 out of 5 stars.

‘Horse’ Book Review

“Horse” by Geraldine Brooks is a historical novel that intertwines multiple narratives across different time periods, centering around the life of a remarkable thoroughbred racehorse named Lexington. The story explores themes of art, history, and the bond between humans and animals, particularly through the perspectives of various characters, including a 19th-century painter, a contemporary art curator, and a young Black man in the present day. Through the lens of Lexington’s legacy, Brooks delves into issues of race, class, and the complexities of love and ambition, ultimately showcasing how the past continues to shape the present. The novel highlights the intersection of personal and collective histories, revealing deeper truths about society and the human experience.

These characters could have been so much more. We are first introduced to our characters in the modern plotline in 2019. They really didn’t bring anything new to me. Yes, they are interesting roles, as one is a scientist at the Smithsonian and the other is a PhD student. However, there is a lack of emotional connection to these characters, and I found them to be quite irritating by the time the novel is over. As for the historical characters, I really wish the bond between man and animal, specifically between Jarrett and Lexington, had been deeper; there would’ve been more depth there. Again, it lacked emotional connection.

I did really enjoy the atmosphere of going through all these different time periods, with our main focus being the ones in the 1800s and then in 2019. You can really tell that the author did her research on the locations and historical figures involved. I don’t have anything strong to say about the writing; it was fine, but this was incredibly slow to get through, making it a very slow-paced book.

I love the idea of this plot, how all the storylines across centuries are connected to one another. They’re all linked by this one horse, one of the greatest racehorses of all time. How could an author screw that up? Well, they managed to create a slow-paced and boring book with characters lacking emotional depth. My favorite plotline was personally the one about how the painting was connected to the story. However, this is the one that we saw the least of on the page. As I stated before, the slowness really made me bored, and the book was lacking intrigue. I have to mention that the last 50 pages of this book are so bizarre; the author really wants to hone in on our current times of police brutality and COVID. Those are important topics and do need to be addressed in fiction, but I don’t think this book was the place to do it. This was a fine book, but it was overall lacking in many categories and did not live up to my five-star expectations of it.

3 out of 5 stars.

‘Project Hail Mary’ Review

“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir is a gripping science fiction novel that tells the story of Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memory gradually returns, he realizes that he is the sole survivor of a last-ditch mission to save humanity and Earth from an extinction-level threat.

I had no emotional connection to these characters whatsoever. When all these big events were happening and I should have felt worried for them, I honestly was just like, “Yeah, that’s happening.” I can definitely tell which characters were meant to be the comic relief, which ones we were supposed to root for, and which ones we were supposed to hate, but honestly, I didn’t feel any of that. Ryland Grace, our main character, had dialogue that was over-the-top quirky. Nobody talks like that, and it made me cringe. However, he did really feel like a human being on this mission. My favorite character was Stratt. I do wish we had more resolute endings for our side characters. That’s something that I’m realizing while writing this review: this book was very open.

The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts. You cannot help but feel anxious and claustrophobic while reading this book. You can feel it for Grace being on this mission, being all alone on the spaceship in outer space where no human has been before. You can also feel it for everyone on Earth. There’s this impending disaster that civilization doesn’t know if it will be able to save itself from or not. It felt like a ticking time bomb, not knowing what was going to happen to not just our main character, but Earth as a whole.

As stated before, the dialogue was rather quirky, and I found that to be cringey. However, there were comedic moments. It feels weird to say, but I think this book was kind of wholesome. The complaint I have about the writing, though, is that the science and math talk was rather much and went over my head. However, this was a medium-paced book and easy and accessible to get through for a science fiction novel. When I saw the length being nearly 500 pages, I was so scared this book was going to be dense, but it wasn’t.

I do not know if this book was intended to be a plot-driven one, but the plot was definitely the highlight for me. Each timeline that we’re following, one being preparing for this mission, and then the mission itself, has so much intrigue. I was wanting to know if the mission would be accomplished and how Ryland Grace got involved in this mission. To make this book more confusing, I would’ve even wanted a third plotline of following what was happening on Earth while Grace was in space. There was a lot of logic, except one decision in the last 10% of the book made me angry. Also, it’s so open, and I’m so curious. I have more questions after finishing this book, which means I will be going on a Reddit deep dive tonight. I did have probably three big questions, and I was so worried that they weren’t going to get answered, but they did. If you’re worried things are going to wrap up properly, they don’t wrap up 100%, but if you keep going through the story, I promise some of your big, important questions will get answered. This was a good book, but it’s nowhere near being a new favorite book of mine. I would still recommend it.

3.75 out of 5 stars.

‘The Yonahlosse Riding Camp for Girls’ Review

“Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, “The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls” is a captivating and atmospheric debut novel that delves into the complex world of family secrets, guilt, and the cusp of womanhood. Thea Atwell, a fifteen-year-old girl from Florida, is abruptly sent away to a prestigious equestrian boarding school for Southern debutantes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.”

This book is a great example of the awkwardness of coming of age as a woman. It takes place in the early 1930s when there were not a ton of resources for girls going through the teenage experience. I can’t imagine what it must have been like. There are two plot lines in this book: one in the past and one in the present, and it felt like there were two totally different characters, even though these plot lines took place mere months apart. The Thea we meet in the past plot line in Florida is a young and naïve girl, while the Thea we meet a few months later in the mountains in North Carolina is manipulative and knows how to get what she wants. I don’t understand how there is such a big switch of character within only a few months. It would make sense if this took place years apart, but no, it’s only a few months. The side characters outside of the romantic love interests and the family were very flat and one-dimensional, especially her schoolmates. I couldn’t tell them apart.

As for atmosphere, again, this book was the best with its Florida setting. The writing was lush in describing the scenery of Florida, especially old Florida before all the tourism arrived. It even delved into the history of the families involved and the history of Florida, which I found extremely fascinating. The North Carolina plotline was cold, but in a good way, elegant with all the greenery of the evergreen trees in the Appalachians; however, again, the book shined in Florida. I do have two complaints with the atmosphere, though. This book does take place in the first two years of the 1930s, but it doesn’t feel like it does at all. This could take place at any summer camp in any decade before there were cell phones. Yes, there are mentions of the impact that the Depression is having on America and a president might get mentioned, but those are so slim that they don’t really matter. My next issue can really go into the writing section.

The story is being told by Thea as an adult looking back at her life. The flashbacks immersed throughout the story were very disorienting, as they really took you out of the present plot line in North Carolina, and there were even some mentions of events that take place decades later, which had me confused. Now, for what I liked about the writing: the writing was pretty flat, but there were some beautiful paragraphs. For the most part, this is very flat, easy, and accessible. I think it would be great to bring on a mountain vacation this summer.

Once again, the Florida plotline is where this book flourished. There’s so much intrigue around why Thea was sent to the camp. I was so curious where that plotline was going to go, and I was gripped by it. As for the North Carolina plotline, I didn’t really care what was happening because I was so invested in the mystery of the previous one. This is a good book, and as I said, it’s very accessible. I think it would be great if you want to pick up something easy and light as a palate cleanser. I will admit there are some taboo relationships in here that are going to make some readers uncomfortable, so definitely do look up the content warnings before picking up the book because I did not expect those plots at all.

3 out of 5 stars

‘Demon Copperhead’ Book Review

“Demon Copperhead” is a novel by Barbara Kingsolver, published in 2022. It’s a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic “David Copperfield,” set in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. The story follows the life of Damon Fields, nicknamed Demon Copperhead, as he navigates the hardships of poverty, addiction, and the foster care system in rural America.

Demon is one of those characters that I didn’t realize how much they meant to me until the madness starts when things start hitting the fan, and you can’t help but feel emotions coming over you. Every character introduced in the story had meaning or purpose, and all their stories tied together; there were no loose ends. Every action had consequence and purpose for the story. Demon has a constant battle within himself: is he a good or bad person? Is he Demon, or is he Damon? We truly go on a journey with this character, and I could not help but feel every single emotion while reading. There were moments of despair where I just felt depressed after reading a quarter of the book; I truly had no idea where his story was going to go. This book always had me guessing, and I was gripped by the character arcs.

The atmosphere was amazing, and I think one of the main themes you are shown is what life in Appalachia is like. I can attest that this is what small-town rural life is like. I almost believe this is one of those novels where the atmosphere of Appalachia is a character in itself. The writing was very picturesque, and it was very easy to imagine the scenes.

That leads us to talking about writing. This wasn’t my typical go-to for writing; it wasn’t poetic, but as I said, it was picturesque, and I was highlighting so many quotes. We have Damon looking back at his life, and obviously, going through so much in that time, he’s going to gain wisdom from that, and there was wisdom throughout these pages.

There are so many themes, but as I said, I think the main theme is showing what life in Appalachia is like, and how so many things like the pharmaceutical business, coal mining, and even Hollywood have corrupted Appalachia and its people. This book was so eye-opening to just the underbelly of it all. Another thing that I would like to add is that this book doesn’t just show one traumatic event after another. Life isn’t just straight-up bad or good. Yes, Demon is going through all these terrible things, but there are happy moments as well. This book doesn’t just focus on the bad but shows how life is just plain confusing with all that it throws at you. I cannot say enough about how eye-opening it was. How gritty it was. How raw it was. This book needs to be read by all. A five-star prediction that lived up to it.

5 out of 5 stars.

‘A Dangerous Woman’ Book Review

“”Dangerous Woman” by Mary McGarry Morris is a powerful and poignant novel that tells the story of Martha Horgan, a mentally challenged woman whose life is a constant struggle for acceptance and normalcy. Martha’s honesty and inability to understand social nuances make her vulnerable in the small Vermont town where she lives.

Martha’s world is turned upside down when she becomes infatuated with a charming but unscrupulous handyman, Colin Mackey. Colin’s manipulative nature and Martha’s desperate need for love lead to a series of events that spiral out of control, exposing the dark undercurrents of the seemingly quiet community.

As tensions rise, the novel explores themes of isolation, vulnerability, and the thin line between kindness and exploitation. Morris’s empathetic portrayal of Martha provides a deep and moving insight into the challenges faced by those who are different. “Dangerous Woman” is a gripping and emotional tale of resilience, human frailty, and the quest for connection in a world that often misunderstands and marginalizes the vulnerable.”

This is by far the worst representation I’ve seen of mental health. When I read the first chapter of the book and the trauma that the main character, Martha, went through, I was like, “Man, this can be a great book of character development.” I was 100% wrong. Martha was, in fact, a dangerous woman. The title of the book does not lie. She was a stalker and someone who committed multiple acts of domestic violence. I don’t know how we are supposed to root for this character. Yes, you can have unhinged mentally ill characters who are not made to be likable, but in this instance, there was nothing I was gripped by in the character. I do not like this character; it was awful. All of the male characters in this book were creeps. Some of the women did have sense to them, and I did find the character Francis interesting, but nothing can outweigh how bad of a character Martha was.

The atmosphere was reminiscent of Stephen King. I don’t know if it’s because of the New England setting or maybe because Martha had slight vibes of Carrie. Overall, the small-town New England setting was pretty good.

The writing was fine. I had no major complaints about it.

I understand that the overall plot of the story is very important in showing how a rape or an assault can divide a town. In this instance, it just wasn’t done well, and you really had to suspend your disbelief. If you would like a book that follows a similar plot, I would recommend Beartown by Frederick Backman. So much of how the town reacted to Martha was really out there, and the overall development of her character was so bad that I didn’t care for the plot.

This is by far the worst representation I’ve seen of mental health. I don’t know how we are supposed to root for this character. Yes, you can have unhinged, mentally ill characters who are not made to be likable, but in this instance, there was nothing about the character that gripped me. The atmosphere was reminiscent of Stephen King. The New England setting was pretty good. The writing was fine. I had no major complaints about that. I understand that the overall plot of the story is very important in showing how a rape or an assault can divide a town. In this instance, it just wasn’t done well, and you really had to suspend your disbelief. So much of how the town reacted to Martha was really out there, and the overall development of her character was so bad that I didn’t care for the plot.

1 out of 5 stars.

‘Symptomatic’ Book Review

“”Symptomatic” by Danzy Senna is a psychological thriller that delves into themes of identity, race, and belonging. The novel follows an unnamed biracial woman who, after securing a prestigious fellowship in New York City, moves into a new apartment and starts a promising relationship. However, her life begins to unravel when she meets an older, enigmatic woman named Greta Hicks, who is also biracial and works at the same magazine.

Greta becomes increasingly obsessed with the protagonist, seeing her as a mirror of herself and projecting her own insecurities and experiences onto her. As their relationship intensifies, the protagonist finds herself drawn into Greta’s unsettling world, leading to a series of chilling events that challenge her sense of self and safety.

Senna’s narrative is a gripping exploration of the complexities of racial identity and the psychological impact of feeling perpetually out of place. “Symptomatic” is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that examines the intersection of personal and societal issues with masterful tension and insight.”

These character dynamics were extremely intriguing. We have a nameless narrator, which is always fun. I love to unravel why the person remains nameless and how we can get into the head of said person without even having their name. It’s always interesting when an author can do that. However, the story really picked up when the character of Greta was introduced. Both women are in similar circumstances as they are both mixed race, but they experience those circumstances completely differently. We will talk more about that when we get to the plot of the story. This book is for those who love the unhinged woman trope, but this is from the perspective of the friend of the unhinged woman, and I’ve never read anything like that. If you like unhinged women and weird girl books, I would definitely recommend picking up this book.

The atmosphere was 1990s New York City. I always like the 90s and early 00s for New York. It always feels nostalgic for me, even though I wasn’t necessarily there. I think it has to do with a lot of movies and TV shows I watched as a child taking place in New York City, so there’s a bit of a magical feeling. The story does not feel magical, even though I had ideas of how to make this magical realism, but that’s irrelevant.

The writing was good. It was fast-paced and easy to read. However, at times, there were really weird and vulgar descriptions that made me double-take what I was reading.

Now we are back to the plot. The main theme of the story is racial identity. This book was published in 2004 and takes place in the early 1990s, but I still think the story remains relevant 20 years later here in 2024. Both of the main characters come from mixed-race families. Greta is somebody who I think is very lost, mainly about her race, not fitting in with the Black community and not fitting in with the white community. She’s somebody that would very much latch onto labels, wanting to label herself. I think it stems from Greta wanting to feel a part of something.

In contrast, our main character, the nameless narrator, seems more go-with-the-flow. She didn’t really care about her race as much. There is also a big age gap between these two women, with Greta having grown up and been in her 20s during the 1960s civil rights movement. I think that may be why she cared more about race than our main character.

Regarding the main twist towards the end of the book, I would have liked a little more explanation on that. It was lacking some logic. The story was intriguing throughout, but it’s not one that I loved, though it was thought-provoking.

These character dynamics were extremely intriguing. If you like unhinged women and weird girl books, I would definitely recommend picking up this book.The atmosphere was 1990s New York City. The writing was good.However, at times, there were really weird and vulgar descriptions that made me double-take what I was reading. The main theme of the story is racial identity. The story was intriguing throughout, but it’s not one that I loved, though it was thought-provoking. This was a good book and I would recommend picking it up if you are inclined to do so.

3.25 out of 5 stars.