Cutting for Stone

As we are ready for take-off back to NYC from Trinidad, I concluded a book on tape, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. A faculty member of Stanford University Medical School takes the time to write some fiction, nice! It is currently on the best-seller’s listing on the NY Times, and from my take, should be.  I really enjoyed the story of the life of the narrator, Marion Stone, a twin, and his life growing up in Ethiopia, yet escapes to the US and receives his medical training.  Ah, but why is he there? Well it all begins with the birth of Marion and his twin Shiva.  They are born as a result of a moment of love between his mother, a nun, and his father, the local doctor, working together at the Mission.  It isn’t until Sister Mary Joseph comes into the emergency room and looks to be dying does anyone know she is even pregnant.  Dr. Thomas Stone, the boy’s father, is there to examine her and the other nurse helps to deliver the children as Stone freezes in the birthing process.  Amazed that the baby survives the critical condition, another astonishment faces the two, a conjoined twin!  Marion and Shiva will never have the chance to grow up with either parent, as mother dies during delivery and Thomas Stone, losing the woman he loves, leaves Ethiopia in the middle of the night.  The story of love, politics, war and connecting the dots occurs throughout.  This is one of those books that everything questioned actually gets addressed so pay attention to each character and each interaction.  The detail that Verghese provides into the characters makes you feel as though you have seen them around your neighborhood, especially in NYC, where in fact Marion moves to complete his residency.  It is hard to believe that this is Dr. Verghese’s first book.  The intricacy of storyline and intimate knowledge on the subject matter reminded me much of one of my other favorite novels, Shadow of the Wind.  I’m not going to ruin the ending of this book, but have no doubt the book will become a movie, no doubt in my mind (hope it isn’t ruined like so many other books).  I really enjoyed this book.  Add it to your list.  Interesting how I finished a book on medical life and didn’t care for it, and the next book randomly selected is from the same field and loved it! A top read for those who are enamored by authors who paint pictures and fully develop characters!