Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My sister Alice Jane has recommended some wonderful books to me over the years. She prefers nonfiction, usually, so my ears perked up when she mentioned a novel she really enjoyed. I went to the library and was a little daunted by the heft of this book, but decided it was worth a try. After all, it's winter in South Dakota; isn't that the best time to sit by the fire and read?

This story is amazing. It follows the incredible journey of how a young doctor and an Indian nun, working in Ethiopia, produced a set of twin boys. They were raised by two other doctors and their story reveals aspects of a fascinating African culture. The story also moves to New York City and uncovers sad aspects health care disparities.

The author's training and practice as a doctor permeates the story. In fact, at times, it was too much for me. The blood and suffering are great and intimately described. There are painfully horrific scenes that are haunting. There are also lovely scenes and altruistic characters who are heroic in their efforts to ease suffering. I found the descriptions of how the twins communicated and complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses fascinating.

I was positively amazed at the level of detail and description of food, people, medicine, travel, etc. that are included along the way. This is an epic panorama of a fascinating place, people, and time.

October 27, 2025

I just reread this epic story and was totally captivated again, especially by the last two hundred pages where the characters come full circle and karma is revealed. We got home from the temple yesterday about 4 PM, I napped briefly, then walked, than dug back into this novel. I couldn't stop! I read all evening and finally finished around midnight. It was so satisfying. I felt so grateful I could read to my heart's content and enjoy the winding up of the lives of these fascinating characters.

This is the book we will discuss at my Monterey book club and these women really do dig in and talk about what we read in some depth. When we met last month, I was the only one who had already read it, and they asked me what it was about. All I could remember was that it was long, hard to witness the suffering, and was set in Egypt!!! This shows how fickle my memory is!

One of the main "characters" is Ethiopia, and it is revealed in all of its complexity by an author who clearly loves this country and its food and its people and all of its flaws and challenges. 

Another aspect of this novel is the theme of Marion's acute sense of smell! It is amazing what he smells and how he makes sense of it. Sometimes the medical details, especially near the end where complicated surgeries are explained, got to be beyond my understanding. Still, it was impressive to think that a doctor with this level of knowledge was also such a gifted writer. This is an intriguing book with completely fascinating characters. The twins' parents, especially, made me feel like a person who gives too little to the world. Hema and Ghosh are such passionate, altruistic, and unselfish people that it's humbling to witness their lives in story form. And Marion and Shiva's complexities are interesting because of Marion's self-reflection and his impressions of Shiva. 

I'm motivated now to read Verghese's next novel, but will take a break before I take it on. I need a little rest from the heaviness of these lives...but maybe not. Maybe it's good for me to be challenged by my easy way of life?