Abraham Verghese, "The Testament of Water," Moscow: Phantom Press, 2024

No quick read, just a solid epic with an Indian twist. The stellar doctor and author Abraham Verghese writes the story of several generations of a Kerala family, covering a considerable period of time. By tying together the destinies of different people and the circumstances of the time, Verghese reveals not only the individual but also the history of a country about which, as it turns out, the average European still knows surprisingly little. A family saga? Perhaps. A philosophical novel? That too. And a masterfully crafted and embellished book that will appeal to both leisurely readers and those interested in Indian culture. 

"The past is hazy, like ghostly, faded ink, crumbling paper. Among the family's founders are slave traders, a couple of murderers, and an apostate priest named Patrose..."