Cutting for Stone in Retro Chapter Chicks

Dec 24, 2016 Candi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: africa, book-i-own, historical-fiction, favorites

"Wasn’t that the definition of home? Not where you are from, but where you are wanted?"

This book is both brilliant and breathtaking. I absolutely loved it. Abraham Verghese is not only a distinguished physician, but an extremely talented writer. The prose is some of the very best I have encountered in a novel, and the story itself is hugely compelling. Verghese takes his time setting up the story and introducing the cast of characters that will be thoroughly developed throughout the course of t "Wasn’t that the definition of home? Not where you are from, but where you are wanted?"

This book is both brilliant and breathtaking. I absolutely loved it. Abraham Verghese is not only a distinguished physician, but an extremely talented writer. The prose is some of the very best I have encountered in a novel, and the story itself is hugely compelling. Verghese takes his time setting up the story and introducing the cast of characters that will be thoroughly developed throughout the course of the novel. I gobbled this stuff right up! It’s a book about home and belonging – both to your country and to your loved ones. Family is defined by those people to whom we feel the greatest connection, whether through blood or through the fulfillment of our greatest needs in life, including love, loyalty and dependability.

In Addis Ababa, near the soaring heights of the Entoto Mountains in Ethiopia, Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born to an Indian who is both nun and nurse and a British surgeon working together within the walls of Missing, a missionary hospital. Literally joined at birth, the twins also share a bond of brotherhood and loss that will be both strengthened and painfully tested throughout their lives. As the boys grow, they also learn the practice of medicine, both in its clinical form as well as its very compassionate service to human beings. This knowledge is gleaned through the most admirable of characters, Hema and Ghosh. I loved these two, but in particular Ghosh who is possibly one of my favorite literary personalities of all time! There is a plethora of medical descriptions here that I found quite fascinating. One is not required to have a medical-related degree to enjoy this book, but a curiosity and appreciation for the field of medicine will go a long way here. I have to issue a little word of warning here for those that may feel a bit squeamish when presented with some of the more graphic details of medicine. Although I may have flinched once or twice, that didn’t stop me from reading!

Due to family social ties to some very powerful forces within Ethiopia, Marion and Shiva find that they are not exempt from the effects of the political upheaval during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. When catastrophe lands on their own doorstep, the twins will learn even more about the true meaning of family. I found that I learned quite a lot about Ethiopian history and current events and it was all very illuminating. I gained a better understanding of the geography of this African country and absorbed some very vivid images like this one:

"I stepped out to the lawn. I remember the air that night, and how it was so brisk that it could revive the dead. The fragrance of eucalyptus stoking a home fire, the smell of wet grass, of dung fuel, of tobacco, of swamp air, and the perfume of hundreds of roses – this was the scent of Missing. No, it was the scent of a continent."

Heartbreaking and uplifting, Cutting for Stone is a treasure that I highly recommend. Medicine, foreign cultures, politics, coming-of-age, abandonment, betrayal, and love are all elements woven together to construct a real masterpiece of writing. The ending was both poignant and astonishing. I loved it.

"The world turns on our every action, and our every omission, whether we know it or not." ...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library, concierge, strong-women, own, africa, audio, book-club, literary-fiction, new-york, culture

Audiobook performed by Sunil Malhotra
5***** and a ❤

This is an epic story of twin boys, born of an Indian nun and a British surgeon working side-by-side in an Ethiopian hospital, but raised by two other Indian physicians and the staff of Missing Hospital. The tale is told by Marion, one of the twins, and describes not just their insular lives in the hospital compound, but the issues of poverty and political unrest in Ethiopia which so affect their ability to fulfill their mission.

Verghesse is a m ...more

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Feb 01, 2019 Joanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-read

This book had it all-Romance, Mystery, Family Drama-heartbreak, love, and war.

It is the story of Marion and Shiva Stone-twins born to an Indian Nun and an English Doctor at an Ethiopian Hospital called Missing (because the Ethiopians could not pronounce Mission). Their mother dies, their father leaves and they are swept into the arms of Hema, an Indian Doctor who loves them the minutes she holds them. Her love for the twins leads her to the love of a man, Gosh another doctor, who adores her. The ...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Tasha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, africa

I was hoping (expecting) to be wowed, but i wasn't. It took me a while to get connected to the story and the writing didn't sweep me off my feet as I had hoped based on all the amazing reviews this book gets. Halfway through it shifted and I definitely got more interested but it's not one of those stories that grabbed me. I love stories set in africa so overall it was a good read. 3.5 stars
...more

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Feb 16, 2012 ˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

Well written. I wanted to continue to read this book from the very beginning. After a while I felt like I knew and cared about the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

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