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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Engrossing, emotional, and epic. This book consumed me to the point that when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about the characters, the places, faith, poverty, and the medicine they were performing. I read it during my commute, and I was crying on the train.
The best book my incredible book club has read. Couldn't put it down.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cutting for Stone is a masterfully told family epic set against the backdrop of postcolonial Ethiopia. Abraham Verghese brings his characters to life with such nuance and depth that they feel both mythic and painfully real. Each figure is layered, complicated, and flawed — bound together by love, betrayal, sacrifice, and silence.
What struck me most as a physician was how love is shown through action — not sentiment, but sacrifice. The medical scenes are unflinchingly accurate, often making me wince in recognition, yet they’re never gratuitous. They serve as a language — one of healing, atonement, and intimacy.
This novel is a rare blend of sweeping storytelling, cultural and political insight, and emotional truth. A truly unforgettable read.
I really struggled through the first half, then loved the second half.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Warning for genital mutilation
This is a brilliantly written first-person narrative from the perspective of a surgeon who was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one of twins fathered by a severe, withdrawn, socially inept brilliant English surgeon and a nun. (This gives nothing away that you don't find out in the opening pages.) The rest of the story traces the lives of the twins, the father, the mother, and the two people who raised the boys, and ranges from Africa to America, in a story covering 50 years. The voice of the narrator is compelling, and the story is moving. This is the second time I've read this book, actually, and I definitely got more out of it the second time. Highly recommended.