Cutting for Stone

By Abraham Verghese

International Bestseller

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 25, 2009
• ISBN: 9780307372086

Abraham Verghese

A practicing physician and a professor of medicine at Stanford University, Abraham Verghese is the author of My Own Country and Cutting for Stone. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, and other publications. He lives in Palo Alto, California.

Reviews for Cutting for Stone

[bnbooklady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.Read my full review at The Book Lady's Blog.

[beth.clarke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best book I have read for years. What I like best about the book is that each section of the book was so engaging. I was immediately drawn into the novel and even when Verghese changed to another storyline, I was equally engaged. The writing is superb. I reread passages and even marked specific pages to reference later. I know very little about Ethiopia other than those pictures I'd see in my parents' National Geographic. This book explained the people, the government, the food, in a way that only one raised in the country could do. I feel so attached to the characters. I truly felt their pain and never once did I predict what would happen next.

[kemilyh1988 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Again, don't remember much but remember loving it. I recommended it to a ton of patrons when I worked at a public library, and many came back saying they really enjoyed the book.

[eye_gee-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have one chapter to read before finishing this novel. What can I say about why I loved it so much? The writing is so good that you are not aware of it as the story unfolds. The characters, and their relationships, and the events that shape their lives unfold slowly, yet at the end -- with the vantage point of the years that have passed -- there is a pattern that is very beautiful. I think we all wish for there to be a pattern in our lives and often we can't discern one. That the ending brings things together is a pleasure, but the book would be no less pleasing with a different ending.Verghese is a master storyteller. More than once I went back to re-read passages, realizing only later the importance of the bits and pieces shared in the stories as they unfolded. I think this is a book for anyone who is fascinated by people and the way their lives unfold. Bravo. And when can we expect another book?

[emanate28 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an incredible read! I loved it--the story and the writing, the historical setting, the characters (well, of course I couldn't stand Genet ^^; and Shiva seemed rather flat, but how wonderful were Hema and Ghosh!)... I particularly loved how the sweeping story showed how interlinked we are: how each individual's decisions and actions have an at-times profound effect on those around us, even if one is not around to witness it.I admit that I tended to skim through the medical/surgical details, but loved to sense how much the author, a medical doctor himself, loves medicine.The setting of focusing on Indian healthcare workers in Addis Ababa was utterly fascinating, and I appreciated and (to an extent) empathized what it was like for Marion to grow up entirely in one country but where he was forever seen as a foreigner. I also enjoyed having settled as a reader into the simple life of Addis Ababa and then experiencing the bewilderment of seeing NYC for the first time.I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, but it did bring about a tidy closure to this expansive tale.

[tkcs-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lots to think about in this book: betrayal and forgiveness, lives broken and missing what would make them whole, repair of those things, being one's brother's keeper--all set mainly in Ethiopia against a backdrop of medicine and revolution with some Indian, British, and US influences thrown in.

I have a feeling I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. It reminds me in some ways of The Kite Runner.


(A few of you may want a heads-up that there are some graphic scenes)

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good story, enjoyed this and learned a lot about the times.

[lukes_171461 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When you look at Abraham Verghese’s work load and background, you wonder how he could find the time to write a novel. And when the novel turns out to be “Cutting for Stone,” a gripping, larger-than-life family epic, all you can do is sit back in wonder. I do that a lot when I read, particularly when I encounter accomplishments as impressive as this.What makes “Cutting for Stone” impressive? Dr. Verghese establishes an unspoken, doomed love between a highly skilled surgeon, Dr. Thomas Stone, and a young Carmelite nun, Sister Mary Joseph Praise. Having begun treks in very different circumstances, from very different places, they fall together at a Catholic hospital in Addis Ababa. The love they find is obviously forbidden to both, but Dr. Stone succumbs from time to time to breakdowns, physical and psychological episodes in which he suffers horribly, and from which he emerges with no memory. One of these episodes, during which he is nursed as always by Sister, results in Sister Mary Joseph Praise’s pregnancy. The episode of the birth of the twins Marion and Shiva harrows and frightens us as it completely changes the lives of all involved.As events flow in the wake of this epochal event, through the thirty-or-so years, Dr. Verghese unfolds for his rapt readers the dramas of betrayal, prejudice, treason, civil war, and death, all from the adoptive family of the twins, caring for the various sick and suffering at the Ethiopian hospital. A prominent teaching physician himself, Dr. Verghese achieves his noblest effect by using detailed medical knowledge as part of the plot, to set up the unforgettable act of sacrifice that forms the climax.How to describe this work: balanced, epic, sophisticated, heartbreaking, engaging, wise in its observations of human nature. I highly recommend this; it will thoroughly transport you.

[addunn3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Twin sons of a doctor and nun grow up in Ethiopia. Very well done story with excellent medical descriptions.

[cmt100 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely wonderful. A big, sprawling, splendid book.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Young surgeon Marion Stone hones his professional skills in Ethiopia and New York City while also dealing with the unusual circumstances of his birth and upbringing.Cutting for Stone defied my expectations. Here I was, expecting the novel to be a highbrow (or at least middlebrow) literary outing, but it turned out to be nothing more than a particularly sudsy, melodramatic soap opera, with lots of medical details and a few unappealing sex scenes thrown in. The novel is slow moving and I had difficulty relating to any of the characters.There were times I was tempted to abandon this book, but I stuck it out. With all the praise this book as earned, I figured it had to get better. A good deal of the narrative could have been left on the cutting room floor. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is a book by a writer who is so in love with his prose, he couldn't bear to cut any of it, even when it is not enhancing the story he is trying to tell.

[lisapeet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good overall, although ultimately the characters never felt all that deeply nuanced. Or rather, the characterization was uneven to the point where they struck me more as vessels to move the plot along than true personalities. But the story was worth moving and kept my interest all the way through, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of Addis Ababa.

[abergsman-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The slow start is one of the only reasons I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Thanks to being around surgeons for the last 10 years, I understood almost all of the medical jargon on first read, and while much of the book focused on medical topics, what made me fall in love with it was the characters, and the country they lived in.

It's very, very rare to see a Western book about Ethiopia or Eritrea, particularly one that rings so true. The elements of Ethiopian and Eritrean language and culture, being viewed as a ferengi despite being born and raised in a country, medical practice in developing nations...Verghese really gets it, and creates a powerful, moving family drama set against the backdrop of these topics.

If you know nothing about that part of the world, do a bit of quick research on relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Emperor Selassie, Mengistu, and the Eritrean Liberation front, before reading the book. Verghese hints at much of the region's recent history and turmoil, and adds to an understanding of the events witnessed and touched upon by characters in this family saga.

The book also left me very hungry for some old friends' injera and wot. :-) I will definitely be visiting an Ethiopian restaurant soon!

[far2manybooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Admittedly, there was some beautiful writing, and a very complex and well-researched story here, but it was overwhelmingly dense in medical and surgical information. Personally, I didn't really want to know exactly how to perform a vasectomy. Most in my book club said they eventually just skimmed, but I am not a skimmer. I want to read and enjoy it all. In this case, I did not savor. I think someone with a medical degree or passionate interest in medicine might like it more than I did.

[shereadsnovels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cutting for Stone is the story of Marion and Shiva, the identical twin sons of Sister Mary Joseph Praise, an Indian nun, and Thomas Stone, a British surgeon, who are both working at Missing Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When Mary Joseph Praise dies in childbirth, Thomas Stone refuses to take responsibility for his children and disappears from the hospital. It falls to two of Missing's other doctors, Hema and Ghosh, to give the twins a loving home and ensure their safety amid the political instability and military coups that affected life in Ethiopia in the second half of the twentieth century.Cutting for Stone has an epic feel, spanning several continents and several decades. All of the characters, even the less likeable ones, have a lot of depth and as we learn more about them, we are able to understand what makes them behave the way they do. But at the heart of the story is the relationship between Marion and Shiva. Conjoined twins, born attached at the head, they have a very special bond which is put to the test several times throughout the novel.There are some very detailed and graphic descriptions of surgical procedures throughout the whole book. This didn't really bother me, and a lot of it was very interesting, but I feel I should warn you so that those of you who are squeamish can be prepared! Without even reading the author bio, it was obvious that Abraham Verghese must be a doctor himself because the language he uses is very technical. The fact that the book was written by a physician gives it a real authenticity and the author's own passion for medicine and healing shines through.I think this is the first book I've read that is set in Ethiopia. Before I started reading I knew almost nothing about the country and its political history, but this didn't matter at all as everything was explained in a way that was both informative and easy to understand. Little facts and details were dropped into the story, building up a clear picture of Marion's life in Ethiopia. I love books like this one that leave me feeling that I've really learned something new while being entertained by a great story at the same time!

[5eva5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Marion and Shiva are conjoined twins born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon in 1950s Ethiopia and raised by adoptive parents to be physicians, but as difficult as their beginning is, the continuing road to adulthood is fraught with constant personal and political turmoil. This is such an intricate and involving story that gets a little bit to get going, but once you've gotten going, there is no stopping until you get to the resolution at the end. Funnily enough, I picked this up because I had heard that the descriptions of Addis Ababa were very accurate and I was wanting to read something that would evoke Ethiopia for me. I did indeed get plenty of local color, but I also got a group of characters that couldn't help but engage me in their individual fates; each character is so wonderfully fleshed out that even if you don't care for the character, you will still want to find out what happens to them. I should add that I find medical procedures quite fascinating, but have to caution other readers that there are some very detailed descriptions of the same in this book, some more grim than others.

[kaulsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Fiction I loved! It's hard to believe that I had this book on my kindle app since it was published, yet avoided reading it for approx five years! In truth, I had no idea what it was about....and really, never did know the full extent until the end. In a couple of years, I will reread it. I probably missed much worth retaining!

[rlsalvati · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My book club raved about this; my feelings are mixed. It took me a long time, close to 2/3 of the novel, to get into the story enough to want to read it for its own sake rather than as just a book club pick. I like the medical and historical detail included in the story. The writing is superb and paints a beautiful picture. For most of the novel I found a couple of the main characters annoying to the point that I didn't really want to know what would happen to them. On the whole I'm glad I stuck with it although it's not something I would choose for myself.

[schmerguls · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cutting for Stone A Novel by Abraham Verghese (read 2 Oct 2016) Ths 2009 novel by an author born in Ethiopia but long a resident of the United States tells a well-plotted story of twins, Marion and Shiva, who are with difficulty born in Abbis Ababa, their mother dying and their father abandoning them and coming to the U.S. The boys grow up in Ethiopia, both gifted in surgery. When political turmoil requires Marion to flee Ethiopia he comes to the U.S. as well. The entire story is well told, though heavy on medical and surgical accounts which might make a reader queasy. I found the book exciting and dramatic and it is certainly as good a novel as I have read in months.

[corioreo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Whew! That was a long one. It was good, but if you're going to commit this kind of time to a book, I'd give you other recommendations.

[markplunkett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent story set against an Indian/Ethiopian cultural background.

[m0vingon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, if a bit long. It took me an unusually long time to finish this book. Typically, i can manage 700+ pages in a few weeks. This book took me nearly 2 months to complete. It is a character drive tale. The character development is fantastic. I found a bit of everything in this book- laughter, tears, romance, disgust. Even though the story slows significantly at points, I was invested in the characters enough to push through.

[mickeyhadick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book immensely. Abe has a flair for the dramatic. 10,000 years ago, one of his ancestors was likely the hit around the campfire. But Abe brings a lifetime of dedication to his craft, and an appreciation for that which is beautiful and amazing in this world. Pulling it all together is strong morality and conviction of his beliefs in humanity.

The story builds to the strength of a great symphony, and its sounds will echo with me for a long time.

[dawnlovesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

wonderful story but i got bored with all the medical terminology and political stories. excellent characters and plot though

[insolito-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loving this book.

[kdrummond66 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous read!

[morieel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely worth the investment of time!! I typically don't recall memorable lines, but I will always remember and use Ghosh's advice, "Screw your courage to the sticking point". A great tale, a little predictable, but terrific for what it taught me about the history, culture and people of the Horn of Africa. In addition, I loved the surgical and medical references.. particularly the textbook references!

[bkgenie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Elegant writing.

[lmonch_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good!

[binadaat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i'd read this again