Cutting for stone summary and analysis free book notes. Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. To read the first page of cutting for stone is to fall hopelessly under the spell of a masterful storyteller. Those words provide an epigraph partway through abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, and also explain the surname of its narrator, marion stone. When the pull quote on the cover is from usa today, well, its not a big selling point. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. Cutting for stone is a gorgeous epic tale, suffused with unforgettable grace, humanity and compassion. Theres a fine line between a plot whose meticulously wrought structure and thematic symmetries are so artfully orchestrated that they feel organic and essential, and a plot whose design comes across as heavyhanded and neatly pat. Abraham verghese inspiration for cutting for stone youtube. 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.
A sweeping, emotionally riveting novel with over one million copies soldan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Almost all of the characters in cutting for stone are living in some sort of exile, selfimposed or forced, from their home country hema and ghosh from india, marion from ethiopia, thomas from india and then ethiopia. But beyond rhetoric the title does not resonate emotionally throughout different levels of. Discussion of themes and motifs in abraham vergheses cutting for stone. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. He and his conjoined twin shiva are born at mission hospital. 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 the painting depicts the extraction, by a man wearing a funnel hat, of the stone of madness, a keye modern dutch. Abraham verghese is professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine at the stanford university school of medicine. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and explores the human side of medical practices. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of cutting for stone by abraham verghese. The book s climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. The books climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part.
Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. Stone is the shared name of the three main characters but cutting for stone is the name verghese bestows upon the equally important character that medicine and surgery personify in the novel. Dec 12, 2010 i had low expectations for cutting for stone. The story in cutting for stone seems to be modeled after at least a few of dr. Cutting for stone summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The novel opens with sister mary praise leaving india to travel to africa as a nurse. 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the once and future king and what it means. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at. 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.
Voted best debut author of 2009 by bookbrowse subscribers an unforgettable journey into one mans remarkable life, and an epic story about. Though the beginning was slow, after reading through the first few chapters, i couldnt put down vergheses novel. 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. Cutting for stone summary and analysis like sparknotes free. His mother, a nun, died giving birth to marion and his twin shiva, and their angloindian father fled the country after. Cutting for stone by abraham vergese book club discussion. The stone angel is a firstperson narrative that at times almost breaks into streamofconsciousness writing as hagar, the main character, gradually loses lucidity due to old age and illness. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned storyand what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. At 500 pages it certainly is a long book, but worth every second, earning five stars rating from this reader. It is a beautiful novel because it succeeds in creating endearing personalities. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guide. Set mostly in and around addis ababa and new york, the story follows the life of marion praise stone.
Cutting for stone by abraham verghese hardcover, 560 pages knopf list price. The narrative is divided into ten chapters, each of which shifts back and forth between the present time the 1960s and an earlier point in hagars life. But beyond rhetoric the title does not resonate emotionally throughout different levels of meaning in the novel. 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. Find all available study guides and summaries for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. In the cemetery of perelachaise, in the vicinity of the common grave, far from the elegant quarter of that city of sepulchres, far from all the tombs of fancy which display in the presence of eternity all the hideous fashions of death, in a deserted corner, beside an old wall, beneath a great yew tree over which. Women roles in abraham vergheses cutting for stone prezi. But it has lingered on the bestseller list for weeks. Verghese is so attuned to the movements of the heart and of the mind, so adept at dramatizing the great themes of human existence, and he has filled this world with such richly drawn, fascinating characters, that cutting for stone becomes one of those rare books one wishes would never end, an alternate reality that both rivals and illuminates.
These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Book cutting for stone synopsis the best types of stone. In 2009 verghese published cutting for stone, bringing him both critical and popular acclaim. At times, the violence outside their gates even intrudes upon the grounds of the hospital disrupting its humanitarian objectives. The novel opens with sister mary praise leaving india to travel to africa as a. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at a mission hospital in addis ababa. The story is told by the protagonist, marion stone.
Depending on the study guide provider sparknotes, shmoop, etc. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. His writing and work continue to explore the importance of bedside medicine, the ritual of the physical examination in the era of advanced technology, where as he notes frequently in his writing, the patient in the bed is often ignored in favor of the patient data in the computer. Abraham vergheses first novel, cutting for stone, with its huge cast of characters and exotic localesincluding the bronxhas a richness that recalls conrad or forster. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese, paperback barnes. Throughout the book, the political unrest and upheaval of ethiopia is a constant backdrop. Complete summary of abraham vergheses cutting for stone. Ethiopian physician abraham vergheses 2009 novel cutting for stone, a publishers.
An indian nun and an english doctor have conjoined twin babies in ethiopia. 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. Cutting for stone is a sweeping family saga which draws you in and transports you to a small missionary hospital in ethiopia. 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 verghese in conversation with michael krasny duration. A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novelan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Verghese, marion praise stone, the novels protagonist, is also a doctor with south indian roots, born and brought up in ethiopia, who eventually immigrates to the united states in the wake of political unrest. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile and. His writing and work continue to explore the importance of bedside medicine, the ritual of the physical examination in the era of advanced technology, where as he notes frequently in his writing, the patient in the bed is often ignored in favor of the. Orphaned by their mothers death and their fathers disappearance, bound together by a preternatural.
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. Orphaned by their mothers death in childbirth and their fathers. 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. Haunting, moving, richly detailed summary from publisher. Thesis it is implied that the only greatness that any of the female characters can achieve is if a man is by their side or by the sexuality of their bodies and fulfilling their destined role of motherhood women roles in abraham vergheses cutting for stone portrayed as. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from shmoop and verify that you are over the age of. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile an epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile and home that unfolds across five decades in india, ethiopia, and america. 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.
Feb 06, 2009 a violent surfacing of adolescence which has little in common with tarkingtons earlier, broadly comic, seventeen has a compulsive impact. 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 book club discussion. Audio book sample courtesy of penguin random house audio. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile an epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile and home that unfolds across five decades. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. 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 novel opens focusing on sister mary praise, the mother of the novels narrator. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. Jun 02, 2009 stone is the shared name of the three main characters but cutting for stone is the name verghese bestows upon the equally important character that medicine and surgery personify in the novel. Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia, went to medical school in india, and has lived and worked. Nobody big except me is the dream world of holden caulfield and his first person story is down to the basic, drab english of the precollegiate. Each character is so fully developed from start to finish that the reader becomes deeply involved with each and every one. Cutting for stone abraham verghese, 2009 knopf doubleday 541 pp.