What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Covenant of Water
Abraham Verghese · Book · 2023
If you loved The Covenant of Water, start with Avatar: The Way of Water (James Cameron, 2022) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Covenant of Water across media.
If you loved The Covenant of Water, you likely crave these sprawling narratives that untangle deep generational secrets through an intimate, human lens.
Films on the same thread
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron · Film · 2022
Explores: Environmentalism, Colonialism, Family Loyalty.
Much like the expansive world-building in The Covenant of Water, this story emphasizes family loyalty and the lengths parents go to protect their children across changing landscapes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Fans of the emotional resonance found in The Covenant of Water will appreciate how this narrative uses hidden secrets and unlikely bonds to explore the healing power of connection.
The English Patient
Anthony Minghella · Film · 1996
Explores: Forbidden Love, Adultery, Betrayal.
Those drawn to the atmospheric, epic scope of The Covenant of Water will find a similar preoccupation with how memory, loss, and forbidden love shape individual destinies.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
If the moral weight of medical ethics in The Covenant of Water captivated you, you will find this examination of scientific legacy and guilt equally compelling and profound.
Series on the same thread
Pachinko
Soo Hugh · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with The Covenant of Water: Cultural Identity, Family Saga.
This sweeping saga mirrors the multigenerational structure of The Covenant of Water, masterfully tracking how cultural identity and resilience are passed down through a family across many decades.
The Underground Railroad
Barry Jenkins · Series · 2021
Explores: The horrors of slavery, The fight for freedom, Hope amidst despair.
The Covenant of Water highlights the endurance of the human spirit, a theme that drives this harrowing journey as characters seek freedom and identity amidst systemic historical trauma.
Moving
Park In-je · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with The Covenant of Water: Family Secrets.
Like the buried secrets that anchor The Covenant of Water, this story reveals how past trauma and hidden family histories dictate the lives of the current generation.
Bridgerton
Chris Van Dusen · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with The Covenant of Water: Family Secrets.
Viewers who enjoyed the complex family dynamics in The Covenant of Water will recognize the influence of family secrets and societal expectations on the lives of these characters.
Podcasts on the same thread
Making Space with Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb, TODAY · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human resilience, Emotional healing, Self-discovery.
This podcast explores the same themes of human resilience and emotional healing that define the character arcs within The Covenant of Water, offering a deeper look at self-discovery.
The Oprah Podcast
Podcast
Explores: personal development, self-improvement, mindfulness.
Since The Covenant of Water explores the profound nature of human experience, you will find these conversations with cultural changemakers to be a natural extension of those themes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Covenant of Water based on a true story?
The Covenant of Water is a work of fiction by Abraham Verghese. It is a magisterial epic set in Kerala, South India, that follows three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret rather than a factual account of real events.
Does The Covenant of Water have any connection to Cutting for Stone?
The Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone are both written by Abraham Verghese. While they share the same author, they are distinct stories and are not part of a series or connected by plot, characters, or setting.
Is there a podcast series available for The Covenant of Water?
Yes, Oprah Winfrey hosts a six-part Super Soul podcast series focused on The Covenant of Water. This series provides additional context and discussion regarding the themes of love, faith, and medicine explored throughout the book.
What is the primary setting of The Covenant of Water?
The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, South India. The narrative spans three generations of a family living in this region as they navigate a strange secret and explore themes of love, faith, and medicine.