Cutting for Stone: A novel
by Abraham Verghese
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Book Reviews of Cutting for Stone: A novel
Book Review: Wonderful story, unsatisfying ending.
Summary: 4 Stars
There is much to admire about the writing and also about the compassion shown through so many wonderful characters (particularly Ghosh and Hema). It's one of the most compelling stories I've read after a long stretch of unforgettable books.
I only have a couple thoughts regarding the ending. SPOILERS AHEAD:
Once Marion lands in NY, the story stalled for me. The author had too many objectives. Taking just one relationship, that of father and son, and bringing some sort of resolution would have been enough. But having to resolve things with so many other characters (who have to be brought all the way from Africa to do so) seemed contrived.
I finished the book wanting more of Sister Mary Joseph Praise. I wanted to hear her voice. I wanted to know more about her faith journey after what we can only assume was a rape, her love for Stone and the conflict that brought with her vows, and her feelings and fears in the face of her pregnancy. This is the mystery with which the book began. I could have sacrificed many of the other sub-stories for more of her. Instead we got a cryptic letter, less than a page long, which raised more questions than it answered.
Book Review: A Diamond in the Rough
Summary: 3 Stars
Cutting for Stone is alternately brilliant and quite contrived. Non medical
readers may be overwhelmed by the torrid surgical and medical detail, much of which
is necessary to the plot, but as a physician myself I applaud the way in which the art of medicine
is exemplified in the character development. There are more than a few good pointers here for any student of medicine.
The early chapters in particular attest to the writer's skill in evoking life in Ethiopia.
Paradoxically, for a first person narrative this was the time when the narrator was a mere child
and could have no such recollection(especially of his own birth)!
The use of twins as a plot device I found unnecessary and derivative; the novel describes a vast sweep of time & space
without resorting to "coincidences" of that nature. Any astute reader is ready for the circular conclusion common
to twin stories, and for what? Even without the twin motif, we have here a novel steeped in issues of politics,
healthcare, poverty, disease, world history...not to mention coming of age, families, traditions. Whew, that would have been enough, and I think better.
Book Review: Love, Healing and Forgiveness...
Summary: 5 Stars
To put into words what human beings go through in life's journey from birth is indeed a feat. This book took me through many emotions even if I did not grow up in another land.
Love is still love...no matter what we go through with blood family or extended family, forgiving of self and others is paramount to continue to grow and not be demolished by our experiences. Whether love lost or love not fulfilled we can choose not to become hard and embittered..feeling old when we are still youthful.
One could find flaws in just about any work of fiction...that is easy due to what we bring from our experiences when we choose to read a book. What gives me joy and I mean absolute joy is when the story knocks down what I thought I knew about life and human behavior and gives me wings to soar!
This book reinforces my ability to love and be loved. To remain open to life's possibilities and forgive my father. If some fiction is just made up by an author, well I guess I will remain gullible and continue to take risks when I decide to read. Especially when it touches me. This book is truly a love story on many levels. Take a risk and enjoy the ride.
Book Review: EH!
Summary: 3 Stars
I looked forward to reading this after reading many good books this summer (for a change...good stuff out there). This was NOT one of those books in the end. It started out moving quickly, and fascinating, but soon became a standard story about half way through. As someone who has searched for his birth parents, I thought this would have a stronger impact on me. The scenes involving Ethiopian history and culture grabbed me, but half way through the story sunk down into melodrama, and wandered all over the place. The ending was expected, and did not move me. Several other books this summer had me in tears at all different points throughout, but this one left me cold. The writing was beautiful in spots, standard in others, and overly dramatic in many. Good first attempt at a novel, but not quite there. As to the meidical scenes..I agree, almost too much detail and not necessary to the story as a whole other than showing one protagonist's growth to a certain degree. I liked it, didn't love it.
Read THE HELP, SARAH'S KEY, and especially LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN ..they are beautifully written, far more moving and meaningful in the end. Can't win them all...
Book Review: Good but not great
Summary: 4 Stars
Although this novel was a compelling read, I found myself somewhat disappointed. I absolutely consider My Own Country one of the best modern books I have read. Verghese's voice is positively lyrical in that first book. The Tennis Player disappointed me although it was still very readable. I actually purchased Cutting for Stone in hardback and I NEVER do this but did so because I would love to read another book as moving and true as My Own Country. Cutting for Stone is very readable and does have some compelling truths but in the end seemed almost more like an Iowa Writer's workshop exercise in writing Important Fiction. It had many great details about the settings (you could practically feel the green grass of the wet season in Ethiopia) and the inner workings of the mind of the human creature (great characters, very believable) but they just didn't hang together in that way where you exclaim - that is art! and I felt let down after finishing the book.
Like a technically well executed sculpture in a lovely piece of stone that is somehow missing that extra something that makes it come alive... or maybe my expectations were too high?