This was pretty captivating, but a little long. I don’t think it’ll make any all-time lists, but it was a very good read.

It’s a family drama that spans 70ish years. It’s broken up into ten parts, each beginning at a slightly different time or place. It’s very concretely rooted in the history of southern India, and tied closely to historical events. And while the story is tidy and engrossing, more than once I had to talk myself into starting the section. Every time I did it was worth the effort — Verghese is a great writer, and his eye for detail makes a lot of moments jump off the page.

The thing that will stick with me longest from this is the way Verghese describes surgical procedures and other medical treatments. More than once I found myself kind of woozy in the same way as when my wife watches medical shows on TV. It’s striking and fascinating stuff.

I’m glad I picked this up.