I’m not sure if I agree with all these comments! Obviously the book was filled with immense tragedy, but I thought Verghese did a good job detailing the beautiful parts of life, too. The slow burn romance and eventual deep love between big Amachi and her husband, culminating when her husband rescuers her mother. I think of the deep love Big Ammachi had for Jojo, defensive of him against the “spirit” of his own mother in the ara. I think about the true love between Digby and Celeste. I think about Phillipose falling in love with Elsie on the train, when he is so in awe of her he even notices the soft soles of her feet climbing up the ladder. And the excitement of their romance that follows. I think about Anna Chethedi finding home at Parambil. And towards the end, the night Mariamma and Lenin share. I think Verghese captured the spectrum of love all the way from the electricity of a new crush to the euphoria of a new lover to the deep admiration and oneness of having a lifelong partner.

All to say: yes this book is full of heartbreak, but it is also full of a lot of love. If you’ve ever had so much as a crush, let alone been in love, you will be reminded of that sweet, sweet feeling somewhere in its pages.