Cutting for Stone: A novel
by Abraham Verghese
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Book Reviews of Cutting for Stone: A novel
Book Review: A stunning and emotionally connected book; beautifully written
Summary: 5 Stars
This wonderful work connected with me at a very soul-stirring level. I, too, am a board-certified surgeon who has worked and taught surgery in both the American as well as the English system. While Dr. Verghese does not disclose his personal surgical experience, the accuracy of the surgical issues in this book is spot on in every instance. I loved his discussion of many of the surgical authors with whom I am familiar such as Dr. Thomas Starzl, Dr. Hamilton Bailey and others. His transplant scenes are written with intimate detail of both the surgical techniques and the feelings of the surgeons as they hold human lives in their hands.
The emotional kickers surrounding the twins are riveting. I have never been a medical missionary but one of my classmates worked in Ethiopia and I got a new appreciation of life in that interesting country.
In short, Dr. Verghese has created a one-of-a-kind book that will be read and thrilled at for generations. I can only hope that a great movie can be made from this interesting plot that, in some ways, rivals Sophie's Choice.
Hugh A. Dame, MD, FACS
Liberty Lake, WA
Book Review: Tried But Failed
Summary: 2 Stars
I overheard a discussion of Cutting For Stone by several readers who all praised it highly. I read over the review quotes on the jacket and thought I'd let myself be swept away with the other enthralled millions.
This novel has a marvelous premise and is set in a fascinating time and location. I tried but failed to make it through the book -- putting it down at the half way point when the story degenerated from interesting to utterly absurd. Verghese's rendition of the sexual awaking of his main characters became more and more preposterous until I felt that, however he might eventually conclude the lives of these characters, I could never again take them seriously past page 411. It's rare for me to set aside a novel, but I felt relieved to do so this time. Relieved yet disappointed -- the book showed plenty of promise. Verghese attempted to create a sweeping, magnificent novel of Ethiopian culture, politics, medicine, and the human condition. He tried... but failed.
I couldn't believe that so many readers liked Cutting For Stone until I thought of it as a Romance Novel with delusions of grandeur.
Book Review: Wow! Knock your socks off book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! is all I can say after reading this book. It's over and I can't stop thinking about it all the time. Beware, it starts off slow and I almost stopped reading it a couple of times. At one point I was almost halfway through and thought there had been just enough gems and surprises to keep me hanging in there, but that it was not turning out to be great enough. Then all of a sudden, everything changed. All the backdrop that was set and the slow, but well-planned education on the various people and places came together so very powerfully. Without you even knowing it, you had come to know certain people so well and had come to love them and was now set to follow all these well-knowns on quite a ride. The book can hardly be put down the last probably 1/3. When it's over you'll be shocked, devastated and happy all at the same time, and profoundly sad that the story has finally reached its conclusion. The characters grow in your heart and the great mystery of the book is not solved fully until the very, very end! This is a book to be loved for the both the journey and the destination. Highly, highly recommended!Book Review: Traveling Without Leaving My Car
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband no longer drives but he has taken over the grocery shopping. While he shops I read and what a romp it is to be reading Cutting for Stone this week! When we return home I begin to search through applicable maps and background information about Ethopia and its history because of the curiosity the book engenders. This novel has a wonderful view of the commonalities of being human with the foibles of love, hate, honesty, giving, forgiveness, learning and being colorblind...not necessarily in that order. The characters are interesting and well wrought. The story is a page turner as one might guess by reading the book jacket. I enjoy being lead to pursue nonfiction subjects that are an integral of a book of fiction. Thank you, Abraham Verghese, for using your medical background to write such a beautifully textured book. I feel that there is much of yourself in the twins, Hema, Ghosh, Matron and Dr. Stone and their needs. You have done an excellent job of pointing up the importance of geography in becoming the people we are, as well. I love your novel and can't wait to read the next!Book Review: Quite a book...
Summary: 5 Stars
This books reads like an autobiography. The descriptions, the characters, the uniqueness of each person and experience... all are interwoven in a powerful, believable story that draws you in. I have no medical background, know nothing about Ethiopia or India, but I was completely drawn in by this vivid story and, ultimately, it's central theme: love. Having lost a brother just a year ago (who was a twin to my brother Ray), I was struck by the depth of the unspoken relationship between ShivaMarion... something I know of, not personally, but because of my brothers. The tears welled in my own eyes, much to my surprise, as the depth of this special bond found its ultimate course. There is a spirituality... and an openness to faith in many forms... that I love about this book and find both comforting and uplifting. The fact that a doctor wrote this book gives us a view into the thoughtfulness, complexity, intelligence, compassion and accomplishment of these professionals. It really does. Reading this book was an amazing journey, one that is staying with me even after reading the last word.