
Contemporary Books Discussion Group - The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 · 6:30 PM CDT · Bettendorf Public Library · Bettendorf, IA
Get more events like this
Free daily picks for live events around Bettendorf. No account needed.
Unsubscribe any time.
About this event
Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India's Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants. Books are available on a first-come basis at the Information Desk. You may also call the Library at 563-344-4179 to have a book signed out to you and placed on the Holds shelf. Remote attendance is possible; please register in order to have the login information sent to you. If you plan to attend in person, there is no need to register. This program is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.