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A review by bookbowlchallenge
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
4.0
This book didn’t come with a TW/CW so I’ll give it one: Blood. Graphic descriptions of childbirth, caesarean section, FGM, self-harm, suicide, and sexual encounters. Mentions of abortion, infant/child death, and r*pe. Detailed medical descriptions of various conditions, surgeries, and procedures.
That list alone makes the book sound terrifying, but my reading experience was anything but. The main characters are some of the best written characters I’ve encountered in a while. Verghese expands on the question, “what makes this character who they are? What experiences have they had to make them this way”. While reading, you feel this deep sense of intimacy and empathy for these amazing characters.
I loved the peaceful coexistence between science/medicine and faith. Even as a non-religious reader, I found myself smiling at the divine intervention and ‘signs’ from late relatives that freckle this story.
In addition to my adoration of the characters, I appreciated Verghese’s loving descriptions of the setting. A great sense of pride seeps from the pages, and you can’t help but be engrossed in the beauty and culture of Ethiopia.
Now for the dislikes: The abrupt TW and medical content would be difficult for some squeamish readers.
I mentioned my love of the characters, so I’ll try not to contradict myself. While I liked the characters, I wish there had been some more diversity in the women. There are definitely two female archetypes established. 1. Maternal and pure or 2. Hyper sexual, deviant and promiscuous. Once you notice the formula, it’s hard to not notice how similar the female characters are within those two boxes.
The passage of time from chapter to chapter wasn’t obvious. I often found myself flipping back trying to answer, “wait, how old are the boys now?” and not finding the answer. This could just be my own failing, but a more explicit mention of the year or character age would have been welcome.
Warning: I was exceptionally hungry while reading the mouthwatering descriptions of the plentiful and authentic Ethiopian and Indian fare. I hope you have an Ethiopian restaurant to patronize after reading.
4/5
That list alone makes the book sound terrifying, but my reading experience was anything but. The main characters are some of the best written characters I’ve encountered in a while. Verghese expands on the question, “what makes this character who they are? What experiences have they had to make them this way”. While reading, you feel this deep sense of intimacy and empathy for these amazing characters.
I loved the peaceful coexistence between science/medicine and faith. Even as a non-religious reader, I found myself smiling at the divine intervention and ‘signs’ from late relatives that freckle this story.
In addition to my adoration of the characters, I appreciated Verghese’s loving descriptions of the setting. A great sense of pride seeps from the pages, and you can’t help but be engrossed in the beauty and culture of Ethiopia.
Now for the dislikes: The abrupt TW and medical content would be difficult for some squeamish readers.
I mentioned my love of the characters, so I’ll try not to contradict myself. While I liked the characters, I wish there had been some more diversity in the women. There are definitely two female archetypes established. 1. Maternal and pure or 2. Hyper sexual, deviant and promiscuous. Once you notice the formula, it’s hard to not notice how similar the female characters are within those two boxes.
The passage of time from chapter to chapter wasn’t obvious. I often found myself flipping back trying to answer, “wait, how old are the boys now?” and not finding the answer. This could just be my own failing, but a more explicit mention of the year or character age would have been welcome.
Warning: I was exceptionally hungry while reading the mouthwatering descriptions of the plentiful and authentic Ethiopian and Indian fare. I hope you have an Ethiopian restaurant to patronize after reading.
4/5