People are always looking for epic novels that keep them engrossed throughout the the read. Someone asked that in the live chat we had last night on The Count of Monte Cristo. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is one of the books that immediately popped into my mind. It always comes up when I talk about excellent books.
A while back I did a video on books based on the continent of Africa and I realized that North East African stories were largely missing from my book shelves. This is one I mentioned and made a note to try to find more.
I learned lots on the political and historical situations of Ethiopia. In addition I learned a lot about practicing medicine in a place where there isn’t very much. The story will have you riveted from beginning to end. I would love to read another fiction book by this author. This would definitely make an excellent gift because it’s going to take the reader on quite the adventure while they learn some interesting things. I recommend it to readers who are interested in Ethiopia, medical procedures (especially performed in
places with the minimum), historical information on North East Africa. And who can resist a book that starts with a map! Love!
First line: “After eight months spent in the obscurity of our mother’s womb, my brother, Shiva, and I came into the world in the late afternoon of the twentieth of September in the year of grace 1954.” (Cutting for Stone, p. 3)
Overview:
An unforgettable journey into one man’s remarkable life, and an epic story about the power, intimacy, and curious beauty of the work of healing others.
Cutting for Stone – Abraham Verghese
Publisher: Vintage Book
Pages: 534
My rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
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Another great nudge in the right direction for me – thanks Didi! Cutting for Stone has been on my TBR for a super long time, and, if I remember correctly, I actually read the opening chapter at one time and remember mentally rubbing my hands together like “this is going to be good one!” but didn’t follow up. Recently I’ve read two books set in Ethiopia, both by Maaza Mengiste (The Shadow King and Beneath the Lion’s Gaze) and set during two different turbulent times in that country (1930s and 1970s, respectively). Maybe now is a good time to read Abraham Verghese’s book. In the video I loved hearing him say that the magic of books is their ability to bring things out in us that are important to us.
YES you’re going to LOVE this book. Thanks for suggesting The Shadow King and Beneath the Lion’s Gaze. I would love to read more from this part of the African continent. I’ve only read this one and Infidel. I’m late. But thanks for the nudge too. 😉