Recently published February 3, 2009 by Knopf (a division of Random House)
I’ve been finished with this book for almost a week, and for almost a week, I’ve been trying to figure out how to describe how wonderful this book is and somehow manage to do the story even a little bit of justice. But every time I try to write or talk about it, I am reduced to a babbling, incoherent mess, so in awe am I of Mr. Verghese’s myriad literary talents. It’s not often that I’m rendered virtually speechless, but Cutting for Stone has done it.
Since my many attempts to write a summary have failed, here’s an excellent description from the publisher:
A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novel—an enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home.
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution. Yet it will be love, not politics—their passion for the same woman—that will tear them apart and force Marion, fresh out of medical school, to flee his homeland. He makes his way to America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded New York City hospital. When the past catches up to him—nearly destroying him—Marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.
An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.
Now, I am generally suspicious of the glowing adjectives that appear in publishers’ descriptions and in blurbs on the back of books, but in this case, the description is right on. In fact, I was going to use the words “sweeping” and “riveting” in my review because there really is no other way to say it. Verghese’s writing is intense, detailed, and precise but in no way cold or detached. His characters are fully realized, and their relationships with each other ring of truth. There are moments of tension, surprise, delight, pain, betrayal, confusion, and loss, and every last one is beautifully done.
Readers will gasp in recognition as Verghese deftly captures the universal experiences of hope and despair, love and loss, and they will wonder at his ability to bring their innermost thoughts to light. So many elements of this book—an affair between a nun and a doctor, conjoined twins, love triangles, war—could be (and have been) made melodramatic and sentimental by a less skilled writer, but Verghese presents them with a matter-of-fact-ness that allows us to focus on and identify with his characters’ humanity.
I love-love-loved this book. I hated having to put it down, and I missed it when I was away from it. I found myself daydreaming about the characters and wondering where their roads would lead. It very nearly brought me to tears, and it definitely made me hold my breath. This is a sprawling, expansive novel for which I cannot find enough superlatives. It has the perfect mix of character- and plot-driven elements and is a fantasticy contemporary example of true literary fiction. Hands down, this is absolutely one of the best books I’ve read in the last several years.
When I finished Cutting for Stone, I wanted to turn right back to page one and begin again. This book is good. Really good. Go-out-and-pay-full-price-for-the-hardback good. I’m sure it will be in my favorites of 2009, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it end up in my all-time favorites as time goes on. 5 out of 5.
Click here to read an article about the ways Mr. Verghese incorporates literature into the courses he teaches at Stanford University’s medical school. Don’t miss the author’s website and the reading group guide.
Marie at The Boston Bibliophile also wrote a great review. This is one of those books I can’t wait to talk about with other readers, so if you’ve read it, please share your thoughts here….and if you read it in the future, I hope you’ll come back and share them then.
Filed under: Book Reviews | Tagged: abraham verghese, Book Reviews, books, cutting for stone, Favorites, fiction, reading
[...] Book Review: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese [...]
This book fell victim to my “I’m going to cut back on my ARC requests” policy, even though I thought it looked really good, and your review is making me kick myself for missing it! Hrmph.
I couldn’t wait to read your review of this one, and as usual, you didn’t disappoint me. Great job!
Wow! I guess you liked it
This book sounds wonderful. Adding it to my list now especially after such a wonderful, emotional response to it. I love books that do that to a reader.
Great review. YOu know you’ve read a good book when you put it down and can’t decide how you can put your words together to do it justice. I’ve had this one on my radar for a while.
Awesome! Sounds very sweeping and wonderful. I’ll add it to my mental list of books I must read this year — and to the literal list I’m going to create soon, because there’s no way I can keep track of them all!
You did a fabulous job with this review!
As you know, I loved this book as much as you, and I’m so thrilled that the book is in stores now. This will certainly be in my top 5 of 2009, if not #1.
This one made it to my wish list this week. I’m glad to hear you liked it too!
Wow, Great review. I hadn’t heard of this book before but it’s going on the TBR list. Thanks for the suggestion.
I have the ARC of this book also. Great job with the review. I am going to stop everything I am doing …including grad work and begin this book today. If I don’t finish my paper, I’ll blame you. LOL
Found this review by way of Bermuda Onion’s Weekly Round-Up and I am thrilled that she led me here. With such a glowing recommendation I simply had to put The Cutting Stone at the top of my TBR list.
[...] for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Recommended at The Book Lady’s Blog. With such a glowing recommendation, I can’t [...]
Okey dokey, I believe you…I’ll purchase a copy this week!!!
[...] readers who love really intense, expansive fiction and very literary writing, I’d recommend Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. For someone who wants something just a bit lighter but still very substantial [...]
I just saw this book at the library. It looks great. I noticed EVERYONE that reviewed it on AMAZON gave it a perfect 5 stars. Thanks for posting!
[...] (rave!) reviews: • Books on the Nightstand • The Book Lady’s Blog • The Boston Bibliophile Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)WG: Varying coversThe [...]
[...] Books)38. Nothing Right (At Home With Books)39. The School of Essential Ingredients (alison)40. Cutting for Stone (The Book Lady’s Blog)41. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (Wendy)42. A Dangerous Affair (Nicola)43. Lessons From San [...]
[...] Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Recommended at The Book Lady’s Blog. [...]
I am SOO excited!! I have been checking on and off to see if Verghese had anything new. I fell in love with My Own Country and was mesmerized by The Tennis Partner. I heard him read about 9 years ago and he was fantastic. I can hardly wait to read this! It’s moving to the TOP of my TBR list!
[...] more detailed reviews: The Book Lady’s Blog: “Verghese’s writing is intense, detailed, and precise but in no way cold or detached. His [...]
After reading many reviews, I couldn’t wait to read this book, and am very glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and when I had finished reading, I immediately listened to the story again in audio form….excellent! A voice to go with the words made it all the more real for me. I highly recommed it!
Loved the book, but still cannot understand the title Cutting for Stone. What is the relationship to the story?Please define.
thank you
Evelyn Albert
Please define the title and its relationship to the story.\
Thank you
Evelyn Albert
It’s been a few months since I read it, but there’s something in either the Hippocratic oath or just in the character’s personal code of ethics about dictating that he should not “cut for stone.” It’s about using judgment and discernment, and defining medicine as not just a science but an art, and it comes up several times in the book.
I am in the middle of reading this wonderful novel, it is a must read
[...] 6. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese [...]
[...] so good). No one else in my store really reads the same things I read, so when we get ARCs like Cutting for Stone, A Reliable Wife, and Hold Love Strong, I don’t have much competition for them. When [...]
Read and love Cutting for Stone. My problem is now what. Any suggestions on read equally as good?
It’s much smaller in scope, but Little Bee by Chris Cleave is equally amazing.
[...] for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Recommended at The Book Lady’s Blog. With such a glowing recommendation, I couldn’t resist. Brief Semicolon review [...]
[...] 6. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese [...]