Abscond by Abraham Verghese may be short in length, but it delivers an emotional depth that lingers long after the final page. Centered on a boy named Ravi, the story unfolds with quiet intensity as he returns home to the devastating news of his father’s sudden death—a man who was both a physician and a powerful presence in Ravi’s life.

Verghese’s writing is elegant and deeply human, capturing the fragility of life and the often-unspoken bonds between parent and child. With subtle prose and powerful themes, Abscond serves as a poignant reminder to cherish every moment and live each day with intention and presence.

Despite its brevity, this story packs a big punch. It’s a moving reflection on loss, legacy, and the things left unsaid—and it resonates with anyone who’s ever had to face the sudden shift of a world without someone they love.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers, for the opportunity to listen to this. Abscond was not bad at all—short, crisp, and well-written, just missing that extra wow factor I was hoping for. Still, a good read and worth picking up if you enjoy compact, thoughtful storytelling.

I am a huge fan of Abraham Verghese so when I saw this title I of course wanted to read it immediately. It did not disappoint. I love his writing style that pulls you into the story right away and keeps you engaged until the last word. The characters are relatable, and themes of love, loss, friendship, and grief are universal. This was a beautiful story.

This was a really lovely but also heartbreaking short story. I often struggle with short stories because it can be hard to develop attachment to the characters in such a short number of pages, but Abraham Verghese had me tearing up reading this. All three of the family members really came to life for me -- it felt like they were my own neighbors. This is a really raw and honest story about grief, and particularly to how it can affect the relationships of those left behind. I absolutely recommend it!

I enjoyed this short story about a teenager aspiring to a career in professional tennis instead of following in his father's footsteps as a doctor when tragedy intervenes. I knew I liked Abraham Verghese's writing and this short story reinforced that. However, there were 2 too many uses of the word "coochie" which felt icky to me, even if it was from the perspective of 13-year-old boys.

Fine short story!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Series for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Warm and heart-felt short story about grief, family traditions and growing up. The author has a beautiful way with words and I felt a great deal of tenderness in this story about 13 year old Ravi, an Indian-American boy living in New Jersey. Ravi wants to become a professional tennis player and his gentle physician father supports his dream. Ravi's mother though is more traditional and wants him to follow in his father's footsteps. When a tragedy happens, Ravi must comes to terms with what it means to be a man and how important it is for everyone to follow their own dreams. Short stories are often the perfect vehicle for delivering a pivotal moment in time, and this author did a great job with this story. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

This book is a perfect slice of life about grief and growing up. Also a great way to get a peek at cultures that may be different than your own.
Anyone who enjoyed Cutting for Stone or A Covenant of Water will also appreciate what Abraham Verghese can do in such few pages.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc.

"Abscond" by Abraham Verghese is a powerful and poignant exploration of grief, identity, and family dynamics. The story follows 13-year-old Ravi, a tennis prodigy and son of Indian immigrants, as he navigates the aftermath of his father's sudden death. With lyrical prose and nuanced characterization, Verghese masterfully captures Ravi's emotional journey, exploring themes of cultural identity, family expectations, and personal growth. This short story is a beautiful and evocative read, offering a profound exploration of the human experience.

Thank you Amazon Original reads and NetGalley for an ARC of this short story.

Abraham Verghese has been on my TBR list for too long so I was very happy to have the opportunity to read this short story.

I was quickly drawn in to this book by both the writing style and the characters.
Themes of love, ritual and the true self sifted through this short story, which was accompanied by beautiful writing.

I am exciting to dive into his previous two best sellers now that I have experienced his writing first hand.

A lovely story. We start with an ordinary morning in the life of an Indian-American family, from the perspective of the 13-year-old son. When loss hits the family, we stay with them for the next day or so, as the boy comes to terms with this shift in everything he knew.

It is a sad story, but is lit up by the relationships between the characters. I was particularly touched by the friendship between the boy and neighbor, so close they may as well be brothers.

There honestly isn't anything I disliked about this story, aside perhaps for making me cry. Highly recommend

This was a quiet, tender read. I stumbled in the first couple of pages, so I worried I wouldn't connect with the story, especially since it's already so short, but once I found my footing, I was really touched by the exploration of grief and loss.

In this short story, Ravi is the young son of Indian American parents - his surgeon father is generally supportive of his ambition to be a tennis pro, and his high strung mother pressures him to be a surgeon as well when he grows up. He has a sweet friendship with an Irish American widower across the street .When a terrible event happens, his family needs support from their extended community to get through it. Ravi ends up needing to do some growing up, fast.
This isn't a particularly complex or surprising story, but it's a little heartwarming and I appreciated sitting with Ravi as he gets through things.

I just finished a great short story. Abscond by Abraham Verghese was amazing, just as I expected. Pick this one up.

This is a short story from Amazon Original.

Abscond is beautifully written and very sad. Also much too short! I wanted a resolution to the issue between Ravi and his mother about his future especially now that the peace maker is no longer there to smooth things over.

So although I very much enjoyed what was there I guess I just wanted more.

Abraham Verghese is a master of language, which is evident in this short story, with a very provocative title. The main character, a young man, wants to become a tennis pro but his father is a doctor, so there is this pull for the young man to become a doctor, like in many other Indian American families in their community. Then, as a result of a family tragedy, the young man is forced to grow up fast.
If a reader is looking for a fast paced short story where a great deal happens fast, this is not that. However, there is still a clear plot but the emphasis is on character development and, of course, language and Verghese, the master of such elements is highly successful.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with this short story in exchange for my honest opinions.

Having read novels by Verghese, I was looking forward to this one. This story beautifully described the immediate reactions from an unexpected death from a devoted wife and teenage son. I found myself crying while reading it.

I read this immersively while listening to my ALC copy so it helped me both with pacing focus and separating the characters in my head.
I felt the story itself was an emotive snapshot-style exploration of those few days surrounding big life events like death, and I really appreciated a window into how another culture approaches such a universal experience. I maybe would have wanted a slightly longer ending, on how Ravi and his mother are perhaps a week down the line or something, but the story as is still felt strong and I liked the ending. While it was short, I felt the world was built richly and I cared for the characters. I look forward to reading more from this author!

A heartfelt short story about a boy who must navigate the challenges of growing up quickly in the face of an unexpected tragedy and culture expectations.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This short story in less than 40 pages had me shook. What starts off as an unremarkably routine Tuesday changes his life. An avalanche of change and emotions hit him even as he begins the day thinking that it's been the best summer time ever - summer of 1967, he was 13, stronger, taller and faster now, he realised the quick growth spurt in his body that he played tennis really well.

That Tuesday, unlike any other, he joins his doctor/surgeon father for an early, almost pre-dawn breakfast before the latter leaves for the hospital/ Operating room more precisely. Even as the day unfolds normally with soft idlis served by his mother, dark clouds hang over his fate around afternoon.

Abscond is a kinda coming of age story that through the web of familial relationships, loss and grief highlights how important it is to remember that with our loved ones, every arrival should feel like a celebration and every goodbye like a farewell. You never know when the light of love can be snuffed out in a cruel twist of fate.

What stood out for me is the writing, simple and evocative language in which the pain of loss doesn't pierce you sharply but envelopes you gradually. Some of the traditions and beliefs that we never embraced, we do when the time is right is pointed out so well. How two people react to the same situation very differently is also highlighted well. The expectations of Asian or Indian parents from their kids, the differences in cultures between the native and immigrant communities and how each one tries to understand the other are all explored well.

Nothing pathbreaking in here, just a story that through the prism of love and loss shows how family shapes and remoulds you every single day, even in sudden and unexpected ways.