Is it just me, or was this book thoroughly disappointing?

[Carey]

I agree with Keisa and Lily. I appreciated the writing but the story was rather disjointed. There were a lot of medical terms that at times I found I needed a medical dictionary. The second half was much better and moved at a faster rate. Overall, I liked the book just did not love it.

[Andrea]

I found it difficult to get into - but I really enjoyed the book - and am glad I kept with it.

[Beth]

It's just you...

[☯Emily]

Beth wrote: "It's just you..."

No it is not. The book was poorly edited, especially in the first half.

[Barb]

I am shocked that a lot of you did not like this book. I enjoyed it so much

[Patricia]

You are entitled to your opinion, I just happen to disagree. I thought it was a great book. Diversity of humanity......it makes the world an interesting place and allows for the coffee drinkers and the tea sippers!

[Mj]

I think reading different opinions on a forum is what keeps it interesting. I get to learn how other people perceive, think and feel in different ways from me. I understood the purpose of a forum to be an "exchange" of opinions. I don't interpret posting a different opinion as a posting to oppose. I read it as someone just expressing a differeent point of view. As indicated - some of us like coffee and some of us like tea. Differences add spice and interest to life and to forums like this.

[Patricia]

Mj wrote: "I think reading different opinions on a forum is what keeps it interesting. I get to learn how other people perceive, think and feel in different ways from me. I understood the purpose of a forum..."
Mj, thank you for your thoughtful and clear comments. I had no intention to give offense. Cindy's comment sounded as though she was offended by my answer to the question put out to all in this Forum format. A question was asked, I wrote my comment in support of the book but also in support of the questioner who should not feel bad for not liking the book......if one doesn't connect with a book it is not a poor reflection on you or your intelligence. Now back to the question which Cindy never commented on and Mj thanks for your brilliant comments that remove any need for intimidation if someone joins in the discussion with a different point of view.

[Adele]

Of all the books I read this year, Cutting for Stone was my favorite. Want to read more by Dr. Verghese.

[Library]

Loved this book. One of the best I've read. Someone mentioned A Fine Balance - be careful there. FB is well written, but hugely depressing.

[Nancy]

Kiessa wrote: "My hopes for this book soared. I expected an East of Eden style epic. I expected to love, love LOVE it!

Instead, it felt like a meandering piece of literature that didn't know where it was going..."

I agree with you. In order to love a book I have to find a connection to the character, I could not do this with the book nor the story line. I found it odd and contrived

[Graham]

Nancy, I agree with you. Verghese is no Steinbeck. But I did find a compelling urgency in the story as well as a heart rending sadness at things lost that could never be regained. I also enjoyed the ironic twists at the end. We all have different writing styles that appeal to us, and, like you I love Steinbeck. However, berg Verghese opened the doors of Asian writers to me and I have started more and more enjoying their lyric lilting style and obsession with minute detail. It takes time to grow on you.

[Diane]

A good book is good from start to finish. It wraps you in from the start, builds to point and keeps your interest. You don't call a book great if you have to "get through" the first 100 pages.

The book dragged on with words, words and more words that spiraled around without a clear path. I quit at page 59, and no I won't stick with a book because eventually it gets better. The first few chapters reminded me of being stuck at a party with that person that just won't shut up and takes forever to get to his point. Can't wait to get this back to the library.

[Brown Girl Reading]

I thought this book was amazing! However I do agree that the first part of the book, up to page 109 was boring and a bit pretentious, but after that the book came to life for me. Actually his writing style totally changed for the better. The story brought me to a country I didn't know much about. The character development and education on medicine was insightful. I don't really understand how anyone could say this book was poorly written. That some people don't like it, I understand, but poorly written, really? I strongly disagree. What would be well-written then. Verghese had a lot of things to say and I think he went about it in an original way.

[Bobby]

A no-win for authors sometimes. Great character development often comes across in a slow, building and tedious but certainly necessary manner. But very often the complaint about a book is "they didn't develop the characters enough!" There is a fine line mixing a riveting storyline and complete character development and I believe Verghese does a wonderful job with both..

[Betty]

It's just you. This book was intriguing and beautifully written. I guess we are different sorts.

[Barb]

I agree Betty, I thought it was a great book, but everyone is different

[Annette]

There has been so much chatter about this book even since my post. I agree that it was one of my best reads. The reviews have been all over the place. Really great and really low. I'm wondering how this can be! It's puzzling to me. I know that we are all different. But it's so hard for me to believe that some people really hated this book. Oh well, I'm happy I read it. I recommended it to many people. (Same result) Some loved it and some were bored.

[Marcie]

The book's average rating is 4.24. It appears more readers liked the book than hated it. I believe a rating over 4 is quite favorable.

[Linda]

I agree with Megowan. It was hard to get into but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Ended up really loving this book. The whole feel of the story, the character development, the details about the doctors' lives all rang very true with me.

[Peggy]

I have to come down on the side of not liking this book. I was the only one in my book club not to love this novel, but I thought the author ran out of story about half way through, and was grasping at straws to produce a suitably dramatic ending. I totally agree with John about the description of the twins' birth seeming like it took nine months to read! However, I do have to say that it made for a lively discussion!

[Lyn]

I loved this book!

[Aj]

One of the best books I've ever read. Perhaps patience is required. Not a fast read.

[Aj]

Example of poor editing? I'd like to know. I seem to remember finding one typo in this book. Can't remember where!

☯Emily wrote: "Beth wrote: "It's just you..."

No it is not. The book was poorly edited, especially in the first half."

[Lyn]

I am a writer and sadly I find typos in almost every book I read, so for the person that posted about the editing, this is not the only book. I had a book where I pointed out a typo to my editor twice and it never got corrected. I was horrified.

Lyn

[☯Emily]

There was one place where one of the characters is specifically mentioned as having no belt on, but a few paragraphs later, he has a belt which he uses. It has been a year since I read the book and since it is not the greatest book in the world, I didn't keep the book. But I still laugh, especially since most people didn't catch it. Which goes to show that most people don't comprehend what they read.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :)]

this is one of the best books I've read in 3 years! It is so expertly written and the characters described in depth. I just finished listening to the audio version of the book and it was wonderful! Recorded in each character's voice and thoughts, hearing the accents really rounded out the characters. I felt like crying at the end of it. An amazing accomplishment.

[Paula]

I agree with all the positive comments. This book was one of a kind. Riveting, exciting and bold in topics covered. The plot was a unique one and offered readers a little history lesson into customs of that culture. Loved it and still remembered how compelling it was after reading it a few years ago.

[Dee]

Kiessa wrote: "My hopes for this book soared. I expected an East of Eden style epic. I expected to love, love LOVE it!

Instead, it felt like a meandering piece of literature that didn't know where it was going..."

I'm so sorry Kiessa didn't enjoy "Cutting for Stone," which is one of my all-time top 50 books. Different strokes for different folks--I wrote a review (I'm listed as Dee Turner), for anyone interested in why I love it so much. Like others who've responded to Kiessa, I couldn't put it down. Although I read it just a couple of months ago, it's a story I hope to return to and reread in several years. This is the kind of book to measure your life's progress by, when returning to it after a while to see how your responses have changed or remained. I hope Kiessa returns to it someday.

[Susan]

Loved it!!

[Kelly]

One of the best books I've ever read.

[Marianne]

Totally do not understand how anyone could not like this book. Beautiful story of humanity, love, and redemption. One of my all-time fave books. It should be recquired reading.

[Meseret]

Cutting for Stone is one of my best reading ever.

[Stan]

This book was highly recommended to me by a book critic who thought Verghese did a masterful job shaping his characters, and on that point, I concur. He also had a few zingers that impressed me..."the air was so cold, so much as a sneeze would surely have shattered it like glass." (paraphrased) Half way through the book, I couldn't decide if it was one of the best books I had ever read, or among the worst, so I felt compelled to finish it. Reviews of this NYT Bestseller show how paradoxical reviews can be. I stretched for a 4.

[Jane(Pixie)]

Ditto,again, with the slow to get into. BUT , My criteria to visit a different time and place was met. The characters were like no other and the story was like no other. This was time well spent. I plan on following this author. posting from Guam

[Judy]

This was a favorite for me! Loved it.

[Tree]

This was a wonderful book! Loved every bit of it.

[Liz]

I absolutely loved this book! Once I got into it, I was hooked. I loved this book and the interesting characters. I recommended this book to a few friends.

[Liz]

Vanessa wrote: "I'm surprised how many people didn't care for this book! I thought the writing was beautiful and this was definitely one of my favorite books this year."

I totally agree with you! One of my all time favorite books now!!!

[Maggie]

I enjoyed the book but it didn't need to be as long as it was. We chose this for a book club and I was the only one who finished it.

[Theresa]

A wonderful book. I'm sorry that some people didn't like it. It was wonderfully written and the story line was great.

[Patricia]

I totally loved this book!

[Erin]

I enjoyed this book so much that I had a "book hangover" for weeks. Nothing I picked up could compare- love love loved it.

[Robin]

I enjoyed the book very much. I cannot say that If loved it but I found the pace and voice of the author to be quiet and meaningful. Ending are always difficult and this one is no exception; nevertheless, I learned to fall back and listen instead of trying to predict the end. This made a big difference in my reading pleasure.

[Michael]

I thought this was a poorly written, trite and overrated book.

[Marc Gerstein]

Michael wrote: "I thought this was a poorly written, trite and overrated book."

I totally agree.

I did not think any of the characters were believable, especially the adoptive mother of the twins (whose name I forgot), who veered back and forth between Mother Theresa and Real Housewives of Addis Ababa. The only tolerable, sort of, parts for me occurred when somebody went in for surgery; I knew I'd be able to comfortably skim a lot of pages of material in which the author tells the reader "Hey look at me; I'm a surgeon and know all about this stuff! How cool am I!")

[Viviana D.]

I enjoyed "Cutting for Stone," I can't find any reason not to like it.

[Darlene]

I had a hard time getting into this book. I know the culture and people are amazing, but I slowed reading. My book club loved it!

[Pam]

Patricia wrote: "I totally loved this book!"

I so agree :-) Loved it. I've tried to get into his other books, but am still mourning CFS.

[Deborah]

If I hadn't read the comments of others, I would say...yes, it is just you!!! This book was definitely in the top 5 books I have ever read. I always wanted to be a doctor and found myself putting forth diagnoses along with the characters of the book. The depth of the characters, the development of the plot and the uniqueness of the story line....amazing!!!