Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Genre: Fiction
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 534
Challenges: Support Your Local Library Challenge #20

What an excellent book! Thanks again go to my friend Eleanor because when she rates a book 5 stars, I pay attention. Her review on Goodreads convinced me to get on the library waiting list and I’m so glad I did. I’m actually going to miss reading it now that I’ve finished.

Dr. Marion Stone was born in 1954 and grew up at a mission hospital in Ethiopa. His mother was a nun from India, his father was a talented English surgeon. His mother died after giving birth to Marion and his twin brother, their father abandoned them and disappeared that same day. Raised by two doctors during a turbulent time in Ethiopia’s history, the two boys did not lack for family. Marion and his brother were close friends as well as rivals. It’s incredibly difficult to summarize the story without rambling but I will say that Marion ends up working in a poor hospital in New York where past betrayals reenter his life and the story comes full circle.

Moving between India, Ethiopia, and America, this is a story of families formed and families destroyed. The writing is wonderful and the characters will stay with me for a long time. Even the detailed medical information and descriptions are well written. When I was trying to tell The Hubster about the book I ended up rambling hopelessly because the story is complex. He said it sounded a bit like the style of The Kite Runner and I think he’s right. There’s somewhat of a similar feel although it’s a very different kind of story than The Kite Runner.

I got emotionally involved with this book. The characters became very real for me. Even the minor characters had an impact. It really reads almost like a memoir rather than fiction.

Don’t miss this one. It’s that good.