Cutting for Stone
Abraham Verghese
2009
658 pages
Published by Vintage Books
“Wasn’t that the definition of home? Not where you are from, but where you are wanted?” -p. 95
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin boys born to a nun that no one knew was pregnant. After their mother, Sister Mary Praise dies in childbirth and their father, Dr. Thomas Stone, disappears, they are adopted and raised by two Indian doctors, Hema and Ghosh. Marion and Shiva are raised within the grounds of Missing Hospital, in Addis Ababa. Although they are of Indian and English descent, Ethiopia is an integral part of their lives.
“Call me unwanted, call my birth a disaster, call me the bastard child of a disgraced nun and a disappeared father, call me a cold-blooded killer who lies to the brother of the man I killed, but that loamy soil that nurtured Matron’s roses was in my flesh. I said Ethyo-pya like a native. Let those born in other lands speak of Eee-thee-op-eee-ya, as if it were a compound name like Sharm el Sheikh, or Dar es Salaam or Rio de Janeiro. The Entoto Mountains disappearing in darkness framed my horizons; if I left, those mountains would sink back into the ground, descend into nothingness; the mountains needed me to gaze at their tree-filled slopes, just as I needed them to be certain I was alive. The canopy of stars at night; that, too, was my birthright. A celestial gardener sowed meskel seeds so that when the rainy season ended, the daisies bloomed in welcome. Even the Drowning Soil, the foul-smelling quicksand behind Missing, which had swallowed a horse, a dog, a man, and God knows what else – I claimed that as well.
Light and dark.
The General and the Emperor.
Good and evil.
All possibilities resided within me, and they required me to be here. If I left, what would become of me?” -p. 349
Verghese does a wonderful job of evoking Ethiopia throughout the novel. The revolution, the people, the food…all play a key role in Marion’s (our narrator) life.
To some extent, this novel is reminiscent of Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, another novel set in Ethiopia during the turbulent time following the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie. Although I think that novel was published more recently, so perhaps I should flip that statement. Both books have strong characters whose lives are affected by the events of the revolution, and both do a tremendous job of portraying Ethiopia. However, I think Cutting for Stone is a more sweeping novel, broader in scope and with deeper characters. Marion recounts his life story, and the stories of his parents, as well as some of Hema and Ghosh’s stories, as well. At 658 pages you might think that this is a chunkster, but it never feels that way. There are a ton of side stories and what initially appear to be meandering reflections, but Verghese ties everything together. And not in a tidy, pat way. It’s just that if he includes a detail, you can be assured it’s for a damn good reason. This book kept me engaged through all of its 658 pages…it was a heck of a ride, and I’m bummed that it had to end.
And if anyone is wondering, including those snoops at the FTC, I bought this book at Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara…a bookstore I dream of returning to.
It’s so rare I read about a 600+ page book where the person feels nothing could/should have been cut! Normally I find long books like this do have some portions that drag or needed a more cut-throat editor, so I’m really impressed to hear you found this the perfect length (or if anything, too short!). I hadn’t heard of this one prior to your review, but I’d certainly like to do some armchair traveling to Ethiopia, so I’m going to put it on the (never-ending TBR) list!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..“Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven” by Susan Jane Gilman =-.
It’s only fair…you’ve made me add books to my list!
Yay, glad to see you enjoyed this one too! It was definitely one of my favorite reads in 2009.
.-= Word Lily´s last blog ..Wanting what’s forbidden =-.
I predict it’ll be on my year-end list, too.
Damn you and your enabling! My wallet groans under your influence. Any book involving children of a nun…soooo right up my alley. This one really sounds interesting, and the chunkiness is not even too much of a scary put-off.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Bloggiesta Update #2 =-.
It’s not enabling! It’s more like we all suffer from co-dependency issues.
I bought this one for my birthday in Feb. but haven’t read it yet. I know it made several best of the year lists though, and I am really excited about getting to it! I am so glad that you loved it and I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!!
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Girl In Translation by Jean Kwok – 304 pgs =-.
I hope you do, too!
Two of the last books I read were less than 600 pages and yet they both were unnecessarily long, so it would be nice to read a chunkster that includes all of its words for a purpose.
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: It’s Such a Challenge to Stay on Top of Things =-.
I was a little nervous about the length, because it seems like a lot of books lately have been unnecessarily long.
I loved this book when I read it. I even gave it one of my rare 5 star ratings, but as time as gone on I am beginning to forget about it. It has only been a few months since I read it and I’m shocked at how little I can remember. I wonder if this is because so much happens or because it wasn’t as vivid as I first thought? Either way I loved reading it and highly recommend it to everyone I meet. I hope you do a better job of remembering it than I did!
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..It’s Time for a Bloggiesta!! =-.
I have a lousy memory, unfortunately.
I am so glad to hear you liked this one because I feel like we have similar taste in books. Most of the reviews for this have been great but my mom wasn’t all that thrilled with it, so that, coupled with the size of it made me a little reluctant to pick it up.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Sunday Salon =-.
I’d say what do mom’s know, but, well…they tend to know a lot.
I loved this also. He is very good at bringing the atmosphere to life.
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..2nd Annual Nerds Heart YA Tournament for Underrepresented Young Adult Literature: Interview with Pamela Ehrenberg =-.
And he’s a doctor, too! Why do some people get all the talent?
This was the one book I was sorry not to have read last year. Still haven’t gotten to it…don’t know what I’m waiting for.
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: Hurry Up Summer =-.
Maybe it’s all those other books calling your name?
I don’t stop hearing good things about this book. It sounds like something I would love. And I love the two quotes above! The first really struck me and the second is just so passionate.
.-= mee´s last blog ..Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll =-.
I think you’d like it, too.
Wow, that’s the second time today I’ve heard about Chaucer’s. I am even more filled with bookshop-envy this time than the first time. :p
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Burma Chronicles & Love and Rockets =-.
It was glorious…they have so many books they don’t fit on the shelves, so there are piles on the floor.
This one has been on my shelf for ages and once again I’m reminded of how much I want to read it.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Monday Ramblings & Pics of Buddy =-.
And I’m sure there are a bunch of other books clamoring for attention, too.
I’m so happy to hear it’s worth the long journey! I don’t normally read books this long but I won it and I lent it to a friend for her book club and she said it was great and now you say it’s great and it’s about a topic I know nothing about so I kind of think I’ll like it!
.-= Amused´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday – June 7th – 12th, 2010 =-.
If you made it through Wolf Hall, you can make it through this one!
I have this one my Kindle just waiting to be read … now I’m even more excited!
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..BBAW Is Coming … And My Intent To Register =-.
Yay!
Gorgeous review! I really need to read Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, if this reminded you of it, as I love this book.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..I’m Featured On… LitBlog Spotlight =-.
Thanks Amy!
I’m not quite finished yet. I just got to Thomas Stone’s story. I’m really enjoying it, even if it is taking me forever to read it. I’m just not in a quickly read anything phase right now. I’ve not read anything set in Ethiopia before that I can recall. It’s all very interesting. Great review!
I wish that I could be reading this right now; it sounds so much better than what I am reading:(
Speaking of local book stores, have you read all of the press that the SIBA is getting with their “Get in bed with a blogger” thing? Can you think of any stores closer to us than Chaucer’s that might want to do something like that? With you, Danielle and I working together, we could really give them great coverage.
I am the last person on earth to have not read this. And I own it in print and on audio. I have no excuse.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Day for Night by Frederick Reiken =-.
I adore the opening quote. This book has been on my radar for far too long, and I really hope/plan to read it this summer. I’m so glad to see yet another wonderful review to continue to remind and persuade me.
I do want to read this one at some point, but I just can’t seem to wrap my brain around it. It doesn’t lure me in at all. I was hoping that the paperback had a more visual cover because I am such a sucker for a good cover.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..2010 Summer Reading List or…What I REALLY REALLY REALLY Want to Read this Summer =-.
I’m reading this on my Kindle app on my iPad right now and I don’t ever want it to end!
I have this on my audiobook queue at the library but I can’t imagine how long it’d take me to listen to 658 pages!!
.-= Trish´s last blog ..Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë =-.
haha – look at the date of the last comment and i am just now (Feb 2011) immersed in the lives of ShivaMarion and as I near the back of the page I am preparing myself for the final letting go when the pages stop. i’m not a kindle reader yet (until they are in color), but from from aporox 331 – 351 i am not certain if i breathed..and then it got even more embracing, riveting, and many other things that i won’t be too descriptive on in order to not say too much. i love this book. thank you abraham verghese.