Book Review: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

I'm pretty picky about my romance novels {I'm picky about them in general}. I don't do Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Piccoult style novels, on purpose; I don't like going into a novel knowing that I'm going to cry. I also don't generally do Harlequin style romance novels either; I like my erotica {and let's face it, Harlequins are erotica} to be straightforward and to the point without all the angsty, lovey stuff tied in. So, if I am recommending a book with a romantic undertone to you, believe that I loved it. I couldn't put it down. I stayed up at night, got up early, and generally did that annoying thing where you're talking to me while I'm reading and I'm saying "uh huh, mm hmm," because I wasn't paying attention.

The story starts out with the story of Sister Mary Joseph Praise, and the birth of her co-joined twins in Ethiopia's "Missing" {Mission} Hospital. Their father, Doctor Thomas Stone flees, and they are raised by the Indian Obstetrician Hema, and the general doctor Ghosh.

This tale follows these two boys {Marion and Shiva} through childhood, adolescence, medical school {for Marion}, heartache, searching, betrayal, loyalty, death, and all of life's ups and downs.  It's a rollercoaster of a story; Marion is forced to flea Ethiopia, his brother sleeps with his true love, people die, they find their father by accident, etc. What makes this story, though, is how well Verghese crafts the characters and writes his prose.


He is a master.  I could feel what the characters were feeling. I imagined myself living in Ethiopia with an Eritrean nanny. I was terrified when Marion had to flee Ethiopia because of a betrayal during a coupe. I was frustrated and angry when Marion discovers Thomas Stone, and heartbroken at the appropriate points that I was supposed to be heartbroken {I don't want to ruin too much!}.


I eagerly awaited each new page. I finished this book feeling satisfied; just a slow, comfortable read that I couldn't put down. Read this book, folks. You'll be SO glad that you did.