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

Loving it!

I am half done and only stopped listening to write this review because I don't want it to end. Beautifully read and it is paced well for an audiobook. I am able to experience the Africa through Verghese's skilled descriptions. His characters are complicated, likable with faults. An extremely enjoyable listen!

Deeply Moving

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

One of my favorite audio books.

Any additional comments?

The combination of real life facts and a deeply moving story makes this book a rare gem.

Engrossing Story - Don't miss this!!!

I really appreciated this book. I wasn't sure I would like it but I thought I would take a risk. I had never listened to this narrator so I was a little concerned about his accent. I can only say that I am glad I took this risk. This is a wonderful story about a family. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much with a different narrator. Sunil Malhotra was the absolute right choice to narrate this book. I know its long but it is worth it. I'm not sure I liked the way it ended but hey, it had to end somehow. This book is definately joining my top 10 list. I just need to figure out which book it will displace.

A coming of age story with a twist ...

So many people have raved and recommend this book on so many lists and publications. I certainly will be another promoter for the author and this amazing piece of work. This is a remarkable story from a remarkable story teller. The book has a wonderful exotic theme that permeates each page and you eventually loose yourself in the dust and poverty that is Addis.

I loved the story of the twin boys, Marion and Shiva, growing up in Ethiopia with their slightly quirky adopted Indian parents. Their love for these two young geniuses is never ending and their maternal guidance is a torch light that never dies. To me, the family’s life with their inner circle of friends and family, all centered around a charitable hospital is pure magic. There is adventure, political chaos, religion, heartache, young love, fear, forgiveness, and many other human traits throughout the book.

The story of these two young men fulfilling their dream of becoming respected doctors in Addis Ababa, all the whilst trying to be good citizens in their parent’s eyes is the real story. As most have found, either you will love the extensive medical explanations in the book or you will skip the pages. I loved each page. At the end, through tragedies of life, the final mysteries of the twin’s lives are finally revealed. This was an incredible read.

Note to author: Please write the same book thru Shiva’s eyes.

A memorable story, beautifully read.

Any additional comments?

This is a story of truly good people doing their best to help the suffering. They have their blind spots and their weaknesses, but somehow even their worst blunders are redeemed. It is an inspiring story. It is the tale of immigrants, of history, of the mix of cultures, of Ethiopia but mostly of love.

Love, betrayal, forgiveness- A story of humanity

How often do we see that our actions have very real consequences, not only for our lives but for those we love? This book takes the reader on a journey into the lives of selfless people who sometimes choose a selfish action that brings unimaginable suffering. However, because of strong and honest character, wisdom is gained leading to forgiveness birthed out of unfailing love.
The first part story takes place in Ethiopia and gives the reader the flavor and history of this amazing country and resilient people. I enjoyed feeling like I was actually there, the descriptions coupled with the reader’s accent transported me to this beautiful land. I was immersed into the lives and complexities of the people who gave all they could, their joys and sorrows, their successes and failures.

I learned much about the medical field as the author gave details about the surgeries that were performed and the studies of the young medical students. I also learned about the hardships of medical missionaries and the insurmountable suffering they see in their patients. I believe this book has made me a bit more compassionate.

The story continues in New York, where the lives of the characters continue to be intertwined. Past actions bring present consequences, some beautiful others painful.

While the ending was not one I anticipated, it was one of hope, perseverance, love and forgiveness. It was an honest story of our humanity.

Amazing narrator, awesome story!

This is the second time I’ve listened to this book over the years and it’s just as impactful now as it was then. There’s really too much to say about this book than for an Audible review. It’s so extensive and rich in its depth. Truly breathtaking! The narrator makes the story come to life. It’s too bad there isn’t a part 2!

Loved it!

This was a beautifully written story. I loved every word.
The characters were so alive, and people I’d like to know.

If you grew up in Ethiopia...you should read this

What did you love best about Cutting for Stone?

The story..the characters ...the setting...

What did you like best about this story?

Everything...I listened to the book while driving. I hated it when I got to my destination as it meant that I had to stop listening to this wonderful story telling book. The characters in the book were depicted quiet well. I was sad or happy by the events in the book.

Any additional comments?

The book was suggested to me by a Co-Worker. She has never been to Ethiopia before, but she knew that I am originally from Ethiopia. I loved the book. I was surprised when I also found out that my supervisor (a gamer: World of Warcraft and a non-fiction addict) loved it. He also stated that he was sitting in his car for a good stopping point. If yo u grew up in Ethiopia, you must read Cutting for Stone. And if you did not grew up in Ethiopia, you must read Cutting for Stone. You will be absorbed by this book and will learn some things about Addis Ababa.

truly exceptional

I didn't get this for the longest time, because the premise didn't seem that exciting. It was a great book.