Cutting for Stone
Published by: Vintage
Published on: January, 2010 (paperback)
Page Count: 688
Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction
My Reading Format: A paperback copy that I purchased for myself from Powell’s.
Available Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook
Synopsis 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.
My Review
It took me roughly a month to read Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. This isn’t because it was difficult to read nor is this a statement about the novel’s length. I had a couple of reading obligations going on during that time period and, quite frankly, my desire to read and my capacity has been rather low as of late. Still, I was determined to read something from my own shelf as well. As it turns out, this was the perfect pace for this novel. I found that I could leave Marion and his story and then come back and get involved again easily. In this way, I was able to savor Cutting for Stone. It was a really great experience.
There is so much that I could talk about in my review, so I’ll discuss what stood out for me the most and has stayed with me the longest – the similarities between members of the Stone family and the Holy Family.
- It was no coincidence that Marion and Shiva’s mother’s name was Mary and that she, as a nun, was a bride of Christ. Although we get to know her a little bit while she’s traveling to Africa, she’s shrouded in mystery nearly from the moment she lands there until the day she delivers the twins. After death, she becomes mythical. Her presence is never far from the Theater in which she died.
- It is also significant to me that Sr. Mary Jospeh Praise was an indispensable assistant to Missing’s lone surgeon, Dr. Stone. In that position, he wasn’t far removed from a god there. Then, to have him attempt to destroy his own creation in order to save his helpmate was shocking, especially when he fails on all accounts. Is it no wonder that he deserts his people at Missing and runs away from his failure? It’s both Adam and God fleeing Eden.
- I could not help but associate Ghosh to Joseph. After so long, he finally realizes that he loves Hema, only to find that she’s adopted Marion and Shiva. While he may not have chosen fatherhood in this manner any more than he chose to become a surgeon, he was a model father. Instead of cursing events beyond his control that change the course of his life, he accepts his fate with peace and love.
- Likewise, there are parallels that could be made between Jesus and Marion. He may have been named after a famous gynecological surgeon, but his name always reminded me of Mary. Shiva was not as obviously connected to me, but there were glimpses within his character as well. I do not wish to mention specific scenes, but there are times when I was reminded of Jesus as he draws in the dirt while being asked the fate of the adulterer, of Jesus and the women in his life, and of Jesus dealing with the money lenders in the temple.
Cutting for Stone paints a vivid picture of life in Ethiopia leading up to and including the Ethiopian Revolution. The story’s undercurrents and religious parallels have kept me thinking from the moment I first picked up the book. Could I have read this book from cover to cover if I had had the time? I most certainly could have and would have. In the end, I’m thankful that I couldn’t. This novel was worth every moment of the month I spent with it.
Other Voices
You know what I think. Why not see what other bloggers are saying?
The Boston Bibliophile
Rhapsody in Books
The Book Lady’s Blog
S. Krishna’s Books
Farm Lane Books
Booking Mama
Educating Petunia
WordLily
A Guy’s Moleskin Notebook
Fizzy Thoughts
Brimful Bookshelves
I agree with all you’ve said, Jennifer. I read CUTTING FOR STONE with my book group and it was an amazingly complex story. Very gripping and multilayered. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Wow, I totally never saw any of that! Now I have to read it again to see if I can see what you saw! :–)
Ooohh so glad you loved this. It was a favorite for me last year so I’m happy to see it get lots of starred reviews.
Kay, Jill, and Amy – isn’t this the kind of novel that makes you so happy to be a reader alive today? I know that this novel will stay with me for a long time to come.
Kay, this would make a wonderful book club book. I would love to have a couple of hours with someone to discuss it.
Jill, regarding the religious associations, I am Catholic, which may explain why I would see such things.
Amy, this is definitely on my top 5 list for the year. Maybe even top 2. This and Let the Great World Spin have been such a pleasure.
I’ve read dozens of reviews of this book, and that is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone mentioning the comparison to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Fascinating! I’m intending, someday to read this one, and I’m so glad I read this review first, so I can keep my eyes open for the similarities. Awesome review.
I have always thought this book sounded so gripping, which is why I bought it. My mom wasn’t a huge fan though, which could be why I have yet to pick it up.
Gosh, I reviewed this back quite awhile ago, and yet I can clearly remember the book. A good sign, no?
I didn’t get the religious associations..even though I am Catholic too. But then I am a little dense..lol
Good, interesting review.
This one sounds every bit as interesting as I’ve been hoping it would be. I’ve picked it up repeatedly but been so afraid that it couldn’t live up to the hype. Next time, I’m not putting it back down.
I had no idea it was so long, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book.
Hmmmm, very fascinating review. Like others, I didn’t see the religious parallels either. I’ll have to rethink this later. Unless it’s obvious, like for example, an allegory, I usually miss it.
Here’s my review of it: http://unfinishedperson.com/2010/04/28/cutting-for-stone/
I’ll link to yours later today or tomorrow (on my way out the door) plus all the others.
I really want to read this book, but I have a feeling it’s one I’m not smart enough for – I bet all that symbolism will go over my head.
I didn’t catch any of the religious symbolism, although that’s not surprising since the only Bible study I’ve ever done was for a Bible as Literature class in college.
With a list of other reviews like that you think I would have heard about this book by now. You’d be wrong though. Sounds like a good literary fiction novel…thanks for the review.
I am so glad you reviewed this one. I’m so happy you got through it and liked it. I have this one to read and have just never had a chance. I keep meaning to . Perhaps your review will push me to it. Thanks.
I finished this book a few days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it. It drew me in like only one other novel has: The Poisonwood Bible. I didn’t give much consideration to the religious allegory, although I think you are correct in pointing out that it was there. I think more than just Christian religion was brought into it; Shiva is of course a Hindu god (The Destroyer), as well as the Jewish period of mourning. Not sure if the name was deliberately supposed to invoke the two or not. Stone’s name was purposeful, I am sure, on other symbolic levels. He was a hard person in many ways, but with something beautiful deep down if you could cut into the depths. The fact that a sculpture (which would have been carved out of stone) played such a role in the book also has symbolic meaning.
But I just loved it for the story and how unique it was, the setting (I want to visit Ethiopia one of these days), the technical/medical aspects of it, and the depth of emotion that swept through this book. I couldn’t put it down, and often went back to reread pages. It was beautifully done. Truly a masterpiece.
[...] The Literate Housewife [...]
[...] The Literate Housewife [...]
[...] by Jeffrey Eugenides Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger The Glass Room by Simon Mawer Cutting for Stone by Abraham [...]