Comments on: Book Review: Verghese’s ‘Cutting for Stone’ – A Scalpel’s Slice of Life

By: Pia Quay

Pia Quay — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:35:29 +0000

Breathtaking beautiful intertwining medicine life and most eloquently love With love all is possible and kindness bears the fruit of love. A treasure and gift to read. Thank you.

By: Anne Kennedy

Anne Kennedy — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:35:58 +0000

No one has mentioned Ghosh. To me, he is the most memorable character. I cried when he died. He did not seek out greatness; rather it was thrust upon him. A wonderful doctor, husband and father.

By: Jet Thompson

Jet Thompson — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:04:38 +0000

Enjoyable review.

“Cutting for Stone” is written in a fluid prose that paints
layered images of its characters, provides a venue for participating
in a mundane yet exotic adventure.

I would disagree to the comments in regard to magical realism. There are
elements of that in the story. But the story lives on its own merit, and the
second guessing of whether it would be better, fails to live up to some model
of magical realism seems inane. Just some fodder for critics and others to
ruminate over when they can find nothing better to criticize—get on board
the consensus train.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:13:51 +0000

I read many novels, but this one touched me more than any in recent years. My criteria for a rally good novel is that the characters come alive to me, and I feel as though I am inside their heads. Verghese achieved this for me. It is a story that will stay with me and continue to reveal things that I may have missed in my first exposure. I know little about medicine, but I enjoyed the author’s details. Those details enhanced the story and the characters.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:19:48 +0000

I enjoyed your review, however, you do need to know that Abraham Verghese is a doctor of Internal Medicine. He is not a surgeon. I am a surgeon and he does have a very good insight of this specialty. It was also because of his precise detail of surgery that I did enjoy this book.

By: Lissa

Lissa — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:30:25 +0000

It seems to me that the title, “Cutting for Stone” has something to do with the way the characters love. The phrase’s historical meaning means to advise physicians to leave kidney stones to the surgeons – to those skilled in the task. Many of the characters are doctors who handle their patients with the utmost care, but deal with the physical bodies of their lovers as unskilled physicians using unsterile instruments, their past contaminating their future.

By: Ray

Ray — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:51:47 +0000

Diane -
Yes. Your observation was perfect. The monsoon rains that end with an almost instantaneous blossoming of flowers is (no doubt?) the source of the meaning for ‘Addis Ababa.’ Rebirth is certainly a major theme of this wonderful book.

SW, I hope you will take another view. I didn’t find Shiva’s sexual experience to be celebrated. It was noted, yes, but it stood in stark contrast to the lack of experience of another. Perhaps you only mean to compare to the Dickens reference. I’m not so literate to speak confidently to that level of criticism, but the moral failings of characters are in beautiful contrast to moral ‘successes’ of a number of the characters, particularly of the character you have taken to have been celebrated for his failing. I encourage you to finish the book. Your opinion might change.

By: Fikre Mariam Tsehai

Fikre Mariam Tsehai — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:53:07 +0000

I read “Cutting for Stone” when I travelled to Ethiopia in December 2010. Reading this wonderful novel while in Ethiopia was a kind of ‘memory walk’ for me. Behind the love stories of the main characters in the book, Abraham describes the age-old age-told values and customs of Ethiopians which make the country and the people so unique. Thank you Dr. Abraham Vergehese.

By: marine

marine — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:25:01 +0000

A gripping novel about a beautiful country. Dianne, your comments are mine: thank you for expressing them so well.

By: SW

SW — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:52:02 +0000

I must be the odd man out, for I’ve been laboring through the thing only because a sister-in-law gave it to me. That calling parents or adopted parents by adult names, not Mom, Dad or other alternatives, continues to strike me as distant, unconnected and cold prose. The Gray’s Anatomy references leapt out at me from my old, well-thumbed Gray’s long before he mentioned it, and seems as cool. As to mysticism, the 23 different sexual adventures of the young Shiva strike me as excusing if not validating promiscuity. The celebration of such things and others that I might mention makes me think this anti-Dickens, and not in line with it. The LA Times review of the back page, “You may never leave your chair,” does not apply in my case. After six weeks and little dribs and drabs, it may never be fully read. The continual rebirth of the human spirit involves for me something more than amoral — not moral and not immoral — stance as this book evidences to my perspective. For those that love this sort of thing, have at it. I will look elsewhere for that rebirth of human spirit. My wife has also put it down, but unlike me makes no attempt to take it up again.

By: Abril

Abril — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:30:49 +0000

Like you I was intrigued by the title throughout the novel. Verghese uses twice in his book the fragment of the Hyppocratic oath ” I shall not cut for stone” which puzzled me because it seemed to me something negative that a physician would not want to do. Furthermore, the author alludes to the term “Cutting for Stone” when describing Shiva’s fistula repair procedure. I had to google the term and discover it’s meaning before it all made sense. The three Stones loved surgery and medicine with a passion that goes beyond work and just for this I could have loved this book ( the medical terms and descriptions captivated my intellect), but there was so much more. The Ethiopean culture and history fascinated me. However, what bewitched me more than anything else was the warmth of emotions, feelings and relationships throughout this magical novel. It is not power that makes us strong but fragile, simple love.

By: Dianne

Dianne — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:32:49 +0000

I appreciate your review, but would like to take issue with one comment. You write that Verghese represents Ethiopia as a proud peacock in all its glory whereas in reality it is a plain bird(paraphrasing). I do not pretend to be an expert on Ethiopia, but I have spent some time there and for me it is indeed a magical land. I don’t believe Verghese’s homage to Ethiopia is out of guilt but out of an appreciation for the mysticism that shrouds the country from head to toe. Outsiders see only the poverty and problems, but for those lucky enough to know Ethiopia “in the flesh” it is so much more. Cutting for Stone is a tribute to the continual rebirth of the human spirit, an unflowering if you will. Thus Addis Ababa, or new flower, is the perfect backdrop.

By: Therese Monaghan

Therese Monaghan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:22:45 +0000

Thank you for a meaningful review, Chloe.

I have just finished this magnificent book and wanted to remain silent for the rest of the night to absorb its impact on me–spiritually and emotionally. While the emphasis on medical detail made it hard to read at times, I was gradually drawn into it, finding
a deeper understanding of the medical field quite enjoyable.

But the story itself gripped me and Marion’s transformation struck deep in my heart.

The writing is powerful.

Sister Therese Monaghan–Dominican nun

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:53:00 +0000

Well done.

By: Dave Miles

Dave Miles — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:40:12 +0000

I think it is significantly incorrect to say that Marion and Shiva were “seperated at birth by their father surgeon father” when in fact the surgeory was actualy preformed by “Hema”(assisted by Stone).

By: susan

susan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:30:49 +0000

Thomas Stone didn’t separate the twins, Hema did.

By: Interview with Dr. Abraham Verghese at Tadias Magazine

Interview with Dr. Abraham Verghese at Tadias Magazine — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:58:52 +0000

[...] York (Tadias) – Earlier this year, Tadias reviewed Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone, an epic novel about a young man’s coming of age in [...]

By: Phyllis du Mont

Phyllis du Mont — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:40:57 +0000

An insightful review of a lyrical book. For the thousands of persons in medicine and related diciplines, Verghese captured the familiar wonder and facination of medicine as both context and character. His depiction of the exotic, magical world of Ethiopia is allows us a glimpse of the known through the device of the unknown. But I note one error of fact in your review: it was Mena, not Stone, who separted the twins.

By: mhpatrick

mhpatrick — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:15:56 +0000

Chloe, thank you for the very insightful review of “Cutting for Stone”. It will surely enlighten my reading enjoyment.

By: fikre germa

fikre germa — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:02:16 +0000

This is a beautifully written novel. Dr Verghesse is to be congratulated. Let us also not forget that he has done Ethiopia a titanic favor. He has portrayed the country as a fascinating, beautiful and complex society. I read in a recent interview he mentions the highest respect he has for Ethiopian Airlines and its staff . This fact mentioned also in an interview he gave on the Tavis Smiley show. Folks yes this novel is extraordinary! But let us also celebrate the fact that Dr veghess has also paved the way in portraying a positive image of Ethiopia , it people , its history and institutions. In America perception is everything. I nominate Dr Verghesse as a hero for placing Ethiopia in a positive light in the western imagination!

fikre germa

By: selam T

selam T — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:37:31 +0000

I have read the book it is one of the best books I read in the last 2 years. It took me a week to finish as I can’t put it down. The ending was not predictable. He is a very good writer. I enjoyed it.

By: ethiopialover

ethiopialover — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:14:27 +0000

What an outstanding essay. Whoever you are, Chloe, you have made me extremely interested in reading this novel. I have always had a passion for all things Ethiopian and after reading your review, I went to the bookstore to pick up my own copy of Verghese’s manuscript.

Thanks!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:25:38 +0000

I started reading Abraham Verghese’s latest book and when I did not progress more than few chapters after couple of weeks, I switched to listening its reading on CDs. Now I am half-way, listening to it while driving to work and elsewhere. I think Ethiopians would find this book fascinating reading as it describes our life back home particularly in the good old days as well as our life here in the U.S. To cite an example: the sounds from D.C restaurants around 18th street competing with the sounds of ‘El Rincon’ or other Latino establishments in the area, the likely places you will find Abeshas etc. the various renditions of TIZITA by Ethiopian popular musicians and so on.

When the Author was in DC area and had book event at Politics & Prose Bookstore, I was not able to attend due to my work schedule. However, I notified some Ethiopians to attend the event and couple of them have told me they enjoyed the event. Actually the same week Diane Rehm interviewed him and just last week on Memorial day NPR rebroadcasted that interview. Here is the link: http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/05/25.php#26626

My only complaint is that for the audio book I wish the publisher (Random House) has arranged with the Author or another Abesha proficient in both English and Amharic to read the book. Though Sunil Malhotra the reader (most probably of Indian descent) did all his best, because the novel has lots of names and phrases in Amharic even in Italian, an Ethiopian familiar with these words could have sounded better. The likes of the Leulseged Kumsa came to my mind.

Dear Tadias Editors,
It is stated above your interview with the author is coming soon, please ask Dr. Abraham if he will visit DC area again? If so, I can help arrange a book event.

By: Brenda Jackson

Brenda Jackson — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:00:29 +0000

Just found this article on Google. I have read the book and it’s an unforgettable novel. My first real introduction to life in Ethiopia. Verghese is not only a person of great knowledge about medicine, but also an exquisite write. I will check back for your interview with the author.

Thank you.
BJ

By: a girl called helen

a girl called helen — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:22:32 +0000

I enjoyed reading your review Chloe. Especially your rendition of the postmodern/realist philosophy of whether a writer is his art or not. Or whether one’s writing is entirely subject to the reader’s interpretation, and not something the writer would have complete authority over (the subject matter of the fiction that is). Who knows if Verghese is writing his life story in magical realism format. As for “bedroom Amharic” being the same as “bedside Amharic” it was quite entertaining.