Talking About Books: Cutting for Stone
This blog is all about initiating conversations regarding books and reading.
So… we’re starting a new feature here on the Okie Reads blog that is literally talking about books. We’re going to do short interviews with friends and colleagues about the books they have been reading, and share their thoughts with our readers.
First up: Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone. Verghese is a doctor and academician who has written extensively about disease and its impact on individuals and cultures, as well as about medical ethics and the physician/patient relationship. Cutting for Stone is his first work of fiction.
I noticed fellow library staffer Rebecca Barker reading the book last fall. Since Verghese’s novel takes place in Ethiopia, where he grew up, and Rebecca had been to Ethiopia, I was intrigued to get her take on the work.
Q: What does the novel’s title, Cutting for Stone, refer to?
A: At first, I saw the title referring to the connection between the gall bladder surgeries performed on patients and the Hippocratic Oath’s inclusion of “do no harm.” Toward the end of the book, I related the cutting away of issues between the characters to establish relationships between father and sons.
Q: So, some cutting away needs to be done in order to find the connections?
A: Yes, to find the love. I think the theme of the book is love; love of brothers, man and woman, adoptive parents. Love of country, medicine and self.
Q: How does the author balance his interest in medicine with the format of a novel?
A: The book is full of stories about particular afflictions Ethiopians suffer and the medical procedures employed to help them. I could easily envision the surgical procedures since he describes them so well. At the same time, there is a theme in the book of keeping the patient’s welfare at the forefront. I was interested to learn that Verghese works at Stanford and interacts with patients regularly. He teaches interns to focus on the patient rather than the medical equipment for diagnosing disease. Sounds like a man with a heart for humanity.
Q: You’ve been to Ethiopia, and you have friends there. How well do you think the author captured this part of the world? Did you learn more about the country than you previously knew?
A: Verghese brought back vivid memories to my mind of the country and the people of Ethiopia as I saw on my trip. He included a historical perspective of which I knew only a little, but by and large, he refreshed my memory of beautiful people who live graciously in a stark and difficult environment.
Q: Sounds like this book gets a definite thumbs up from you.
A: I highly recommend this book, one of the best I’ve read in the past few years. The warmth and passion kept me engrossed from beginning to end.
And there you have it, an unqualified recommendation.
You can read the first chapter of the book here. And, there’s also a Reading and Discussion Guide so that you can book club it with friends!
Have any of you out there in the blogosphere read Cutting for Stone? If so, what was your take on the work?
Let’s talk!
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Comments
I would have normally passed this book up until after reading the interview, above. After reading the comments, statements and views of Rebecca Barker, I would now look for the “Cutting the Stone” and not walk by it.
Thanks, Anthony. I often give books a second take when I find out friends and colleagues have enjoyed them. I was unaware of Verghese before I saw Rebecca reading the book. It’s been rewarding to learn about this intelligent and compassionate man.
Wow! Rebecca sent out an e-mail to friends about her interview on the Okie Reads blog, and the comments have been flying in. So, I’m going to be sharing them, starting with her friend Donna, who wrote:
Rebecca, I enjoyed your review. I read the book when it first came out, but forgot that I had read it. It came back to me as I read your comments, and I visualized seeing it as a movie. No movie has been made of it, but I guess his writing is so vivid, that when I reread the first chapter I could see all the action in my mind. That’s why a well-written book is better than any movie made from it. I just knew that I had seen the movie, but apparently none exists yet. In the process of looking for it I found a video interview of Verghese on the Barnes and Noble website. Go to the paperback edition and click on the book cover (see below) and go down the page. The web address is very long:
Rebecca’s friend Linda e-mailed her this message:
Oh, Rebecca, thanks for sharing this! I really enjoyed the interview. Coincidentally a book club I’m familiar with read “Cutting for Stone” recently and everyone just loved it. Now I want to read it myself. I think I’ll recommend it to my book club for our next read. We are now reading “When Crickets Cry”. I’ve just started it so I can’t comment yet. Mark gave me “John Adams” for Christmas. He read and loved it. I’m enjoying it but have to read it a bit at a time. There is a lot of food for thought in it.
Anthony, who commented above, wrote Rebecca an e-mail where he states:
Based on your comments, I like Verghese already and I haven’t read his book. But, I would now. I am a fan of those who are inspired to help others and to express and promote love towards one another….not “select” others…but to ALL!
And friend Marlene told Rebecca the review makes her “want to read the book.” (Hey! that’s what this blog is all about!)
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your comments with Rebecca. It’s always great when a blog “newbie” gets such wonderful confirmation!
Rebecca received another comment via e-mail from her friend Helene:
That was great. I’m on a list for the book at the library. Book Club read it last month and gave is a big thumbs up.
E-mail friend Marcia sent this missive to Rebecca:
“You have inspired me to try the book. I’ve downloaded it on my Nook and started reading it last night.”
Great! Let us know what you think, Marcia.
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