Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. A beautifully written short story.

I love Verghese's writing. It's so poetic and lovely, and this short story is no exception. If you're looking for a quick lyrical read, or have enjoyed any other of Verghese's books, you should definitely take the time to read this short story. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Publishing date: 01.07.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

This is a very emotional little estory, and saying much will spoil it all.

The story itself is a little predictable. I found the pacing slightly messy if that makes sense. But it worked. Not necessarily something I will remember sadly.

I can imagine that a lot of people will feel nostalgic and reminiscent of their early teen summers.

I read this in a single sitting. Quick and easy read. If you have a little extra time and want to feel something you should grab this.

Giving this 3 stars. Okay contents, quick and easy, not really for me, but definitely for others. Will be selectively recommending this one.

A tiny little story with profound writing abilities! Abraham Verghese is incredibly talented to evoke such high emotion in just a glimpse of their characters’ lives in this 38 page novella. If you are looking for just a little read with emotion and culture, definitely give this one a try.

In this new short story, Verghese takes his signature topics (Indian family, generational influence, finding one’s way in life) to a small family in New Jersey. It focuses on the family’s teenage son, a talented tennis player who is fielding pressure to follow in his father’s footsteps, and become a surgeon. I read it ravenously and in one sitting.

For such a short story, this one feels like a punch to the gut emotionally . We explore so many emotions in such a short time it almost makes you feel dizzy. At its heart this is A coming of age story where our character was forced to grow up quickly in the face of his father’s death.

You can really feel the main character Ravi changing and maturing particularly through his character voice and thoughts. His grief and the way he tries to rationalise his father‘s death felt very real which I could appreciate. The expression of his mother’s grief as well as Ravi’s reaction to this made sense for the characters.

I feel like Robbie’s relationship with his friend and their cultural differences could’ve been explored a little bit further. However, the friendship did feel wholesome.

Overall, I’d give this a four star rating.

Abraham Verghese captures grief and resilience with honesty, following Ravi as he navigates the sudden loss of his father and steps into new responsibilities.

The cultural detail and quiet intimacy of the rituals are handled with tenderness, making the story feel both personal and universal.

The beginning was a little confusing, and the brevity of the piece left me wanting more depth in some relationships, but overall, the writing is powerful in its directness and emotionally resonant in its ordinary ways. If you love to explore the human experience and existence in a natural and direct way, you will love the way this story looks into the idea of grief.

This was a rather predictable story. Here and there I found it rambling and superfluous. It wasn't really memorable.

Abscond was such a well done short story. It follows 13-year-old Ravi and his parents during the last days of summer in New Jersey. When tragedy strikes, we see how this family has to adapt to their new circumstances. It was impressive how in only ~30 pages I was able to get a glimpse into these characters lives and really feel for them. I could imagine their day to day as a family and was left with a clear idea of some paths their lives might go down moving forward. This is the first thing I have read by Abraham Verghese and I can’t wait to read more!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this short story!

I think that's a new record for how fast I teared up during a piece of literature. This was absolutely beautifully written.

Coming in at just under 40 pages, I recommend everyone grab this one if you're looking to have a look inward and contemplate morality and family.

This was a beautiful short story that I devoured in one sitting. I would expect nothing less from the great Abraham Verghese! This story follows the teenage Ravi who is on track to be a tennis star. He starts his day with his loving parents who he humors with their "silly" traditions and hopes for his future. However, something happens that day that changes everything, and he must learn to grow up overnight. We get to follow Ravi as he sees his future and his responsibilities in a whole new light, as he grows to understand how much family truly means.

Verghese's prose is beautiful and so much meaning is packed into these few pages. I was left wanting more of this family's story but also content with the conclusion as it was. Readers who enjoy stories of Indian culture as well as immigrant experiences and coming-of-age tales will love this piece.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing this e-ARC to review.

This spare yet profoundly resonant short piece lingers long after the final sentence. I agree with those who describe it as "quiet, introspective historical fiction…rich in emotional depth". The author’s signature imagery and compassionate tone render every moment poignant—even though it spans only a few pages, the emotional weight feels expansive. It deftly explores resilience and the rituals that guide us through grief, and though the subject is heavy, the delivery feels gently uplifting. I was struck by how much was conveyed in so few words and how a simple story about loss becomes a universal meditation on healing. This short read is as powerful as it is swift, and I find myself revisiting it, appreciating the solace and insight it offers.

This was a beautiful story about how a son and his mother handle the sudden loss of his father. Verghese has a way of bridging cultural traditions as the family honors and grieves. I found myself wondering what this would look like as a book to follow the main character and his mother.

What an absolute pleasure! It was such a treat to be able to read this short story by Abraham Verghese-I highly recommend it.

While this book was not my cup of tea i see the appeal for certain readers. At times however it was difficult to finish even one page. A very wordy story. However i like the message it was sending overall..

Ravi Ramanathan is 13 years old in the summer of 1967 in New Jersey. He dreams of becoming a professional tennis player, but his mother expects him to become a doctor just like his father. Ravi feels the need to keep a secret self from his parents. He's scared his parents might not support him in his dreams and he doesn't want his days to look the same as his parents' forever. When tragedy strikes, Ravi has to learn to grow up quickly so that he can take care of himself and his family. This was an emotional little story with a surprisingly large cast of characters. All of the characters were well-developed despite the length of the story. I also feel like the tone and setting of the story makes the reader nostalgic for the summers of their childhood. I would recommend this to fans of Verghese and anyone looking for a short story with an emotional punch.

For such a short story, this was sweet, and devastating, and beautiful all at the same time. The writing was beautiful and I loved each of the characters for so many different reasons. I absolutely enjoyed this story.

This short story was beautiful and the writing style was so good too. I love how grief is portrayed in this story it's like you can almost feel it through the pages. This story, while short, it gave me a deeper understanding of what savoring a special moment can mean.

Abscond is so emotionally packed for such a short story. Intense and moving.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I really appreciated how Abraham Verghese was able to pack so much into such a short story. The way he described the mother and the quick mannerisms of the characters were vivid for me. These are things I’ve seen in real life but never really seen written down in this way before.

The story follows a first-generation boy in America, and the tension between generations was something that hit close to home. “A father telling their mother let the boy be” is something I think a lot of kids  (especially first-generation kids) have heard. And “To be a child of Indian parents meant you held a secret self” really hit me.
There are parts of the story rooted in Indian culture that reminded me of things I’ve seen growing up. All the rituals, unspoken habits, the way neighbors are connected without always needing words. Some of it was familiar, some of it new, but all of it felt honest.

As a first-generation Indian American, this one resonated. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and told with care, and I would recommend it.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC.