Cutting for Stone

A Novel

By: Abraham Verghese

Narrated by: Sunil Malhotra

Length: 23 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of The Covenant of Water: A beautifully written, page-turning family saga of Ethiopia and America, doctors and patients, exile and home. • “Filled with mystical scenes and deeply felt characters.... Verghese is something of a magician as a novelist.” —USA Today

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.

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 miracles—and two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined.

This sweeping, emotionally riveting novel that "shows how history and landscape and accidents of birth conspire to create the story of a single life" (Los Angeles Times).

©2009 Abraham Verghese (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Abraham Verghese is a doctor, an accomplished memoirist and, as he proves in Cutting for Stone, something of a magician as a novelist. This sprawling, 50-year epic begins with a touch of alchemy: the birth of conjoined twins to an Indian nun in an Ethiopian hospital in 1954. The likely father, a British surgeon, flees upon the mother’s death, and the (now separated) baby boys are adopted by a loving Indian couple who run the hospital. Filled with mystical scenes and deeply felt characters–and opening a fascinating window onto the Third World–Cutting for Stone is an underdog and a winner. Shades of Slumdog Millionaire.”–Jocelyn McClurg, USA Today

“A novel set in Africa bears a heavy burden. The author must bring the continent home to help the reader sit in a chair and imagine vast, ancient, sorrowful, beautiful Africa. In the last decade I’ve read books narrated by characters homesick for Africa; books by or about child soldiers; books about politics; books full of splintering history.... Lush and exotic . . . richly written.”–Susan Salter Reynolds, Los Angeles Times

“Any doubts you might harbor about a 534-page first novel by a physician in his 50s will be allayed in the first few pages of this marvelous book. Abraham Verghese has written two graceful memoirs, but Cutting for Stone, his wildly imaginative fictional debut, is looser, bigger, even better.... The doctor in him sees the luminous beauty of the physician’s calling; the artist recognizes that there remain wounds no surgeon can men. ‘Where silk and steel fail, story must succeed,’ Marion muses. This one does.”–Jennifer Reese, Entertainment Weekly; Grade: A

Best ever!

I listen to audiobooks during work (I work in a lab) and every morning during the week that I was listening to "Cutting for Stone" I couldn't wait to get to work! The last 5 hours fell on a Saturday and I was so captivated by it, that I ended up going to work just so I could finish the book. I enjoyed ever minute of this book. Apart from the book itself, the reader (Sunil Malhotra) is amazing too. I love his accents and his voice. Great job! Best book ever!

Gasped Aloud at One Transcendent Surprising Scene

Well, with 2,488 titles in my Audible library since 2007, and fewer than ten (mostly crabby) written reviews, I've decided to start writing some more rational reviews so my children might know more about the inner 'Me". I'm starting with the books in the order they come to mind. This is the first. While this book in its entirety is engaging and worth reading it did take me a couple attempts to get into the flow. I do recommend it in general but deem it Essential due to one most monumentally surprising scenes in my literary history. Having journeyed through many thousands of books and being a rare book collector for over 50 years, I've experienced the joy of discovering a great book/author, have laughed, wept and so on, but am not often surprised. (My son still has never forgiven me for whispering "He's dead" about 10 minutes into "The Sixth Sense".) I must say that this book contains a scene ever so slowly unfolded the sweet surprise, shock and transcendent awe of my reading life. Eventually, I imagine Audible with allow discussion sections for readers to share such experiences and/or allow you to call me crazy, without spoiling a book for a new reader. A couple hints: This Wow! caused me to immediately order a book (not this book) on Amazon.com and to take a trip of many thousands of miles a few months later. So, this is my 1st little vignette...2,487 to go. Perhaps on to Bel Canto...?

One of the Best

This is the perfect book to listen to. I am very picky about the narrators I choose to listen to and though I did not read the book I truly believe that the author and narrator are a perfect match here.
I thought it started out a bit slow but still I listened and I am very glad I did. I will purchase the book just to "re-read" some of the passages that not only moved me but made me want to ponder them a bit longer. Thank you Audible for making this book affordable otherwise I might have missed it and that would have been a shame.

Riveting, authentic, ideal listening

This is a terrific book by any measure. The characters, the history, the medicine and the richness of the Ethiopian, Indian, and Bronx settings are riveting and authentic. Most important for the listener, the reader plays every accent perfectly and gives each character his or her own personality. I almost would say it was better to listen to than to read, the ultimate compliment!

Loved it!

What made the experience of listening to Cutting for Stone the most enjoyable?

The character development was excellent. Learning a bit about Ethiopia was great. Peaked my interest to learn more. I had a hard time putting the book down.Loved the narration. I am having a hard time finding a book I like half as much.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cutting for Stone?

The strength of human character. People being able to pull together to endure and to help others.

Have you listened to any of Sunil Malhotra’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A journey of life and the human character.

Any additional comments?

Please write another book!
Sunil please narrate it! Love your voice!

One Of The Best!!! In fact, THE BEST!!!

One of the best audio books I've ever listened to. This is an epic...just a fantastic story. The narration is magnificent. You are missing something if you don't get this book.

An Idea Within Will Enhance Your Life

Where does Cutting for Stone rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

After some 500 audio books, this one is in the top 10 percent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Thomas Stone. Even though he was "gifted" with ability to be a superior sugeon, it turns out that even with genius, he was but a factor of his human frailitites.

What does Sunil Malhotra bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His cadence changes and embellishes each small entomological history of the family's past (each little sub -story blending into one overall tale).

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What is valuable in life!

Any additional comments?

After hundreds of audio books (and half as many written works) this is the first time I am providing an after read comment. I have always used prior commentator's to help me choose which book or which edition. Their tales have helped provide me with the right mindset to begin my read/listen; which has set me up for enhanced enjoyment. I decided I am a cheat if I too do not become a commentator. If I had to put this book - Cutting for Stone - in one word: Wow! Read the book, listen to the audible. It will give you a better appreciation of what to value in life.

Excellent -

The book is beautiful, the characters and the writing. One note - I must agree with the comment from another reviewer, I found the ending disappointing. The performance of Sunil Malhortra is one of the best I've ever heard, simply fantastic.

Overall, every minute was a pleasure.

Good Read

Large cast of Characters were warm, funny, believable, mixed with Ethiopian culture and history, made this a really fascinating read.

Interesting Listen

Good book; well narrated. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Audible for having this in store.