Play Book Tag discussion

Cutting For Stone – Abraham Verghese
Audiobook performed by Sunil Malhotra
5***** and a ❤

This is an epic story of twin boys, born of an Indian nun and a British surgeon working side-by-side in an Ethiopian hospital, but raised by two other Indian physicians and the staff of Missing Hospital. The tale is told by Marion, one of the twins, and describes not just their insular lives in the hospital compound, but the issues of poverty and political unrest in Ethiopia which so affect their ability to fulfill their mission.

Verghesse is a masterful storyteller, who wields his pen with surgical precision. The landscape and characters come to life on the page, letting the reader experience the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures of Ethiopia and the hospitals both there and in New York where Marion finishes his training.

There are several themes throughout – betrayal, forgiveness, and compassion. At its core is the central question … can you forgive a betrayal from those closest to you? Whether it is a father who abandons his sons, a lover who betrays you with another, or a brother who never seems to recognize the consequences of his actions – how do you find it in yourself to forgive? Who is hurt when you cannot / will not forgive? Who benefits most when you DO?

But we also deal with the issue of compassion and responsibility to those around us. Am I my brother’s keeper? Verghesse, I think, would answer “yes.” Whether it is a family member, an orphaned child, a neighbor in distress, even a stranger – each person deserves care and compassion.

The crisis that leads to the final resolution had me in tears. I wanted to read faster to find out what happens. I wanted to read more slowly to avoid what was coming. I had to finish; I was afraid to finish.

Some reviewers have said that the book was slow … not for me. I was engaged and enthralled from beginning to end. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

* * * * * * * * * *

UPDATE - Nov 6, 2011
I read this in April for my F2F book club # 1. Now two other book clubs are discussing it in November and December, so I decided to refresh my memory by listening to the audio. This review is confined to the audio experience.
Malhotra is pitch perfect in performing this book. He shows the right emotion or restraint depending on which character he is voicing. Shiva is maddeningly flat – this came across in the text but is even more evident in the audio – which adds to Marion’s frustration and anger. The only character’s voice that truly surprised me was that of Thomas Stone; I was expecting a more “cultured” and obviously British accent.

===========================

Update: 26March2021
Nearly ten years later, I re-listened to the audio, and once again was transported and fully engaged in this marvelous novel. It made no difference that I knew what was coming. Verghese is an incredibly talented writer.



My full review HERE

I loved this book. I read it during a terrible bout with an upper respiratory infection, in the winter of 2019. I would curl up on the couch for hours. Lovely review