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. Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. It was published by vintage and has a total of 667 pages in the book. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and explores the human side of medical practices. Dec 12, 2010 i had low expectations for cutting for stone. In the books epilogue, verghese, a surgeon and professor at stanford medical school, closes with the following explanation, medicine is a demanding mistress. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. 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 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. Blood is thicker than water, and more copious, in this expansive novel. Cutting for stone, by abraham verghese the new york times. The book s climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. 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. The title cutting for stone is taken from the hippocratic oath, but may also reflect a double meaning.
Stonecutter definition is one that cuts, carves, or dresses stone. A stone marker set up on a roadside to indicate the distance in miles from a given point. 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. Hence the proscription thou shall not cut for stone. Cutting for stone throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. Cutting for stone by robert verghese and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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 title of abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, is intriguing, perhaps unrewardingly so. 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. 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. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable. A sweeping, emotionally riveting novel with over one million copies soldan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Abraham vergheses cutting for stone quotes archives.
The author must bring it home, that continent, into the readers more defined existence. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. 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. 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. Abraham vergheses cutting for stone quotes 54 quotes im ashamed of our human capacity to hurt and maim one another, to desecrate the body. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. Cutting for stone is a sweeping family saga which draws you in and transports you to a small missionary hospital in ethiopia.
Teresas recurrent vision of the angel was called the transverberation, which the dictionary said was the soul inflamed by the love of god, and. 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 abraham verghese reading guidebook. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guide. 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. However, the books title cutting for stone may indicate the danger and risk inherent in familiar love. The biological father of the marion and his twin, shiva, is thomas stone, a famous surgeon. The setting for the book is missing hospital, yet the original name for this institution is mission hospital. Stonecutting definition of stonecutting by the free dictionary.
The different personalities of marion and shiva force a distance between. 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 vergese book club discussion. Those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain. The books climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. The removal of kidney or bladder stones by surgery.
Cutting for stone by abraham verghese 9780375714368. 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. Sign me up to get more news about literary fiction books. Twin brothers born of a forbidden union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon in a mission hospital in ethiopia. The surgeon in the book is a doctor stone and his two estranged sons become doctors. It isnt just that the main characters have the surname stone. But it has lingered on the bestseller list for weeks. What does cutting for stone reveal about the emotional lives of doctors.
Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. 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. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned story and what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art. Mile stone definition of mile stone by the free dictionary. Cutting for stone discussion questions west maui book club. I will not cut for stone, runs the text of the hippocratic oath, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest. In the last decade ive read books narrated by characters homesick for.
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. The novel opens with sister mary praise leaving india to travel to africa as a nurse. Stonecutter definition of stonecutter by merriamwebster. The most prominent in the narrative involves the young boys engaged in stonecutting. Doctors ply their trade cognizant that they dont have all the answers. 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. Those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain the surname of its narrator, marion stone. 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. Furthermore, the author alludes to the term cutting for stone when describing shivas fistula repair procedure. Stonecutting definition of stonecutting by the free. An indian nun and an english doctor have conjoined twin babies in ethiopia.
Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Its straightforward and actiondriven, itll keep your feet moving one in front of the other, and itll entertain you along the way. 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. What does cutting for stone mean in the hippocratic oath. It is a saga of twin brothers, orphaned by their mothers death at their births and forsaken by their father. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese 328,596 ratings, 4. To read the first page of cutting for stone is to fall hopelessly under the spell of a masterful storyteller. Readers will be hardpressed to recall any other medicallythemed novel that is the equal of this gem. At 500 pages it certainly is a long book, but worth every second, earning five stars rating from this reader. Cutting for stone is proof that medicine and great literature actually have the answers to. The historical backdrop, ethiopias internal conflicts and coups, impart additional depth to the books realistic atmosphere.
For readers who like the length, depth, and strength of a true saga, cutting for stone by abraham verghese is your story. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese, paperback barnes. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. As the camera focuses on these boys, their frames pitted against the immensity of the mountain, they are dwarfed and made vulnerable by the grueling labor conditions and the seeming inescapability of work as survival. 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 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. It is a beautiful novel because it succeeds in creating endearing personalities. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Addis ababa is the capital of ethiopia, and the major setting of the novel. Cutting for stone is a gorgeous epic tale, suffused with unforgettable grace, humanity and compassion. 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. To ask other readers questions about cutting for stone, please sign up.
Cutting for stone, abraham vergheses debut novel, is nothing less than an epic in prose. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a. I would love to recommended cutting for stone wholeheartedly, such is the strength of vergheses writing, his vivid characters and brilliant settings. Each character is so fully developed from start to finish that the reader becomes deeply involved with each and every one. Contrast the attitudes of hema, ghosh, marion, shiva, and thomas stone toward their work. 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. Mile stone synonyms, mile stone pronunciation, mile stone translation, english dictionary definition of mile stone. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned storyand what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. Because it was often misspoken by native speakers, some clerk registered it as missing hospital, and thats what it became. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese book club discussion. Wikipedia the hippocratic oath meaning of cutting for stone original, translated into english. Tell me about it, shiva, genet whispers from behind her book.
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. Everything you need to know about cutting for stone movie. 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. The true meaning behind the title cutting for stone is debatable.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Cutting for stone kindle edition by verghese, abraham. 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.
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. 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. 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. Orphaned by their mothers death and their fathers disappearance, bound together by a preternatural. When the pull quote on the cover is from usa today, well, its not a big selling point. 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 book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and.
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