Cutting for stone is proof that medicine and great literature actually have the answers to many perplexing problems not the least of which is an explanation for good and evil. The indian nun, sister mary joseph praise, was a trained nurse who had met the british surgeon thomas stone on a sea voyage ministering to passengers dying of typhus. The surgeon in the book is a doctor stone and his two estranged sons become doctors. Sign me up to get more news about literary fiction books. The title of this book is cutting for stone and it was written by abraham verghese. Set primarily in addis ababa, ethiopia, during the midtwentieth century, cutting for stone opens at the missing hospital with the unexpected and miraculous birth of marion and shiva to sister. It was published by vintage and has a total of 667 pages in the book. Thats the professional promise that doctors make first do no harm when they first become legit doctors, and one of its vows goes a little like this. The author enjoys double meanings, so cutting for stone as well as other terms and events have more than one meaning that weave in and out of the action. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. Readers will be hardpressed to recall any other medicallythemed novel that is the equal of this gem. The novel opens with sister mary praise leaving india to travel to africa as a nurse. Mile stone synonyms, mile stone pronunciation, mile stone translation, english dictionary definition of mile stone. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable.
You may even be delighted by the ethiopian terms, which are all clearly explained, and you may feel like youve learned a lot after you finish this climb. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. Cutting for stone resists easy categorization it is just as much the chronicle of a bond between twin brothers and family as it is a book about medicine, or a story of grace. Feb 08, 2009 those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain the surname of its narrator, marion stone, along with his twin brother. Tell me about it, shiva, genet whispers from behind her book. Cutting for stone questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on cutting for stone. Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese 9780375714368. Cutting for stone is a gorgeous epic tale, suffused with unforgettable grace, humanity and compassion. Cutting for stone discussion questions west maui book club.
A stone marker set up on a roadside to indicate the distance in miles from a given point. It is a beautiful novel because it succeeds in creating endearing personalities. The title cutting for stone is taken from the hippocratic oath, but may also reflect a double meaning. Cutting for stone by abraham vergese book club discussion. Orphaned by their mothers death and their fathers disappearance, bound together by a preternatural. An indian nun and an english doctor have conjoined twin babies in ethiopia. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese 328,596 ratings, 4. While writing that book i found myself living through an intense personal story of friendship and loss that led to a second nonfiction book, the tennis partner. The author must bring it home, that continent, into the readers more defined existence. About this guide the introduction, discussion questions, and suggested further reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of abraham vergheses acclaimed first novel, cutting for stone.
Jun 02, 2009 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. Cutting for stone by robert verghese and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The books climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned story and what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. Abraham vergheses cutting for stone quotes archives. Stonecutting definition of stonecutting by the free dictionary. What does cutting for stone reveal about the emotional lives of doctors. But it has lingered on the bestseller list for weeks. Because it was often misspoken by native speakers, some clerk registered it as missing hospital, and thats what it became. Teresas recurrent vision of the angel was called the transverberation, which the dictionary said was the soul inflamed by the love of god, and. Those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain. Its straightforward and actiondriven, itll keep your feet moving one in front of the other, and itll entertain you along the way. At 500 pages it certainly is a long book, but worth every second, earning five stars rating from this reader. Cutting for stone, by abraham verghese the new york times.
The title of abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, is intriguing, perhaps unrewardingly so. Abraham vergheses cutting for stone quotes 54 quotes im ashamed of our human capacity to hurt and maim one another, to desecrate the body. Mile stone definition of mile stone by the free dictionary. If you like cutting for stone you might like similar books hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet, state of wonder, the invention of wings, the poisonwood bible, snow flower and the secret fan. Orphaned by their mothers death and their fathers disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of.
Cutting for stone is a sweeping family saga which draws you in and transports you to a small missionary hospital in ethiopia. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Feb 03, 2009 a sweeping, emotionally riveting novel with over one million copies soldan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Stonecutter definition of stonecutter by merriamwebster. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. The setting for the book is missing hospital, yet the original name for this institution is mission hospital. Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. It is a saga of twin brothers, orphaned by their mothers death at their births and forsaken by their father. The biological father of the marion and his twin, shiva, is thomas stone, a famous surgeon.
In the last decade ive read books narrated by characters homesick for. However, the books title cutting for stone may indicate the danger and risk inherent in familiar love. Wikipedia the hippocratic oath meaning of cutting for stone original, translated into english. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook. Cutting for stone quotes showing of 263 the key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you dont. For readers who like the length, depth, and strength of a true saga, cutting for stone by abraham verghese is your story. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and explores the human side of medical practices. I will not cut for stone, runs the text of the hippocratic oath, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Stonecutter definition is one that cuts, carves, or dresses stone. Everything you need to know about cutting for stone movie.
Hence the proscription thou shall not cut for stone. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned storyand what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. Cutting for stone, abraham vergheses debut novel, is nothing less than an epic in prose. In the first surgical procedure at the newcastle infirmary in 1751, cutting for the stone produced a bladder stone from an edward lough, who later gave formal thanks. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese book club discussion. The historical backdrop, ethiopias internal conflicts and coups, impart additional depth to the books realistic atmosphere. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a. They realize that no money, no church service, no eulogy, no funeral procession no matter how elaborate can remove the legacy of a mean spirit. Cutting for stone is proof that medicine and great literature actually have the answers to. Cutting for stone kindle edition by verghese, abraham.
Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guide. The removal of kidney or bladder stones by surgery. Cutting for stones medical content increases as marion goes on to an internship in new york, and robs the novel of a little of its magic. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese, paperback barnes. The title cutting for stone is a pretty on the nose, but it can take a while to figure it out if youre not a doctor whos memorized the hippocratic oath. Cutting for stone is a best book club book for discussion, a sweeping first novel and enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Twin brothers born of a forbidden union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon in a mission hospital in ethiopia. Cutting for stone the phrase is from the hippocratic oath is about twins born joined at the head, in a mission hospital in addis ababa half a century ago. Time wise, this absorbing novel covers a period of at least 2530 years. Cutting for stone s medical content increases as marion goes on to an internship in new york, and robs the novel of a little of its magic. Addis ababa is the capital of ethiopia, and the major setting of the novel. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. Cutting for stone throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone.
Doctors ply their trade cognizant that they dont have all the answers. Vergheses carefully drawn characters are compelling and unforgettable this is a book you will have to share with others, if you can bear parting with your copy. To read the first page of cutting for stone is to fall hopelessly under the spell of a masterful storyteller. A sweeping, emotionally riveting novel with over one million copies soldan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. To ask other readers questions about cutting for stone, please sign up. Yet it allows me to see the cabalistic harmony of heart peeking out behind lung, of liver and spleen consulting each other under the dome of the diaphragm these things leave me speechless. Ethiopian physician abraham vergheses 2009 novel cutting for stone, a publishers weekly best book of 2009 selection, tells the story of twin brothers marion and shiva stone who are born conjoined but are separated at the time of their birth.
Stonecutting definition of stonecutting by the free. Those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain the surname of its narrator, marion stone. The different personalities of marion and shiva force a distance between. The book s climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. Blood is thicker than water, and more copious, in this expansive novel. May 08, 2009 cutting for stone the phrase is from the hippocratic oath is about twins born joined at the head, in a mission hospital in addis ababa half a century ago. The true meaning behind the title cutting for stone is debatable. I would love to recommended cutting for stone wholeheartedly, such is the strength of vergheses writing, his vivid characters and brilliant settings.
Dec 12, 2010 i had low expectations for cutting for stone. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. Moving from addis ababa to new york city and back again, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miraclesand two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined. When the pull quote on the cover is from usa today, well, its not a big selling point.
Furthermore, the author alludes to the term cutting for stone when describing shivas fistula repair procedure. In the books epilogue, verghese, a surgeon and professor at stanford medical school, closes with the following explanation, medicine is a demanding mistress. Cutting the stone, also called the extraction of the stone of madness or the cure of folly, is a painting by hieronymus bosch, displayed in the museo del prado in madrid, completed around 1494 or later. Cutting for stone is the complex story of the praise family, focusing on twin brothers marion and shiva as they negotiate the hidden histories of their past while working hard to make medical advances for the future. It isnt just that the main characters have the surname stone. The most prominent in the narrative involves the young boys engaged in stonecutting. This study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of cutting for stone. I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
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