I have two cardinal rules in selecting the best book club books. First thursday book club discussion questions cutting for. Your top 12 book club books rebecca joines schinsky jun 2, 2016. Join us over the coming days as we discuss the book and check back soon to hear one of our club. It was liked by mostly everyone and for some our second time reading it. Is she really her own person, or more of an invention for marion. Marion stone, the ethiopianborn, halfindian protagonist and narrator of cutting for stone, at one point refers to his adopted mothers voice as both lilting and singsong. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. At 500 pages it certainly is a long book, but worth every second, earning five stars rating from this reader. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell. Jan 14, 2020 the reason for god is a nonfiction book that addresses the most common objections to christianity and presents a case for the rationality of christianity. Marion and shiva stone are born one dramatic afternoon in 1954 in addis ababa, the same day their mother a nun, sister mary joseph.
The title, cutting for stone, refers to a line in the hippocratic oath, and to the last name of the three main characters, all of them surgeons. April 7, 2011 in march, the npr book club read abraham vergheses cutting for stone, and today verghese answers questions posted by the audience on the npr books facebook page. I think it is a bit long, but even having said that, i never feel bored and always enjoy reading the book. Narrated by marion the first born twin we are told of every influence on his and his brothers existence. The introduction, questions, and suggestions for further reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of abraham vergheses acclaimed novel, cutting for stone. The buttery books book club party page for cutting for stone has an wealth of ideas for your book club meetingsome of their suggestions include playing traditional ethiopian music i found one cd from the library with an ethiopian lullaby. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by abraham verghese. This discussion companion for cutting for stone has been prepared and written by marilyn herbert, originator of bookclubinabox. Cutting for stone throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. 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 preorder our latest book for crossstitchers, lit stitch. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on cutting for stone by abraham verghese. The reason for god would be good for a christian book club that wants to talk directly about issues in faith rather than getting at issues through stories. Highlights from the interview include vergheses take on the origin of the story it all began with this image of a beautiful south indian nun giving birth in a mission hospital in africa, the value of a good.
Cathy with a c led our discussion of cutting for stone by abraham verghese. This bookclubinabox pdf discussion guide 77 pages for abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone includes. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook club. 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. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at. Each character is so fully developed from start to finish that the reader becomes deeply involved with each and every one.
Friday is the deadline to sign up for the chance to have author abraham verghese drop in on your local discussion of this months npr book club selection, the bestselling cutting for stone. Abraham verghese will be on the martha stewart show tomorrow 2311 on the hallmark. Provides fodder for me to create discussion questions for the book club. Get book recommendations we tailor em just for you. Jul 19, 2011 read the cutting for stone book club menu ideas discussion from the chowhound home cooking food community.
Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Cutting for stone is abraham vergheses big, bloated panorama of 20th century ethiopia, where medicine and religion meet, and surgeons and carmelite nuns procreate. Discussion of themes and motifs in abraham vergheses cutting for stone. Mar 20, 2012 reading for your book club and socializing with your group members is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be tricky to find a book that no one has read yet and everyone will enjoy. What does cutting for stone reveal about the emotional lives of doctors. There is an excellent readers guide available which touches on many of the important themes i wanted to discuss and actually some that i. Two of the girls in my book club have already read cutting for stone and loved it, but another told me that its taking it awhile to get into it. Cutting for stone march 8, 2011 throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. The top 12 books for discussion, debate, and enlightenment according to the book clubs of new zealand new zealands largest network of organised book clubs share the books that got them thinking, talking and acting on what theyd read. Hippocratic oathi will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is. With equal parts humor, tragedy, and suspense, cutting for stone is a book you. They are orphaned at a young age and must learn to navigate. Throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone.
Find out how you can take part in the club, both on. Verghese said that his aim in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia. Cutting for stone our allguys bookclub read this in a joint meeting with our spouses allgirls bookclub everyone found this book to be an absolutely fascinating read about an area of the world few of us knew much about and a story line, rich characters, and sweeping prose that is first rate.
Maybe youve already read the lovely bones, water for elephants, cutting for stone, the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society. Contrast the attitudes of hema, ghosh, marion, shiva, and thomas. The book is a roller coaster ride of agonies and ecstasies that too often relies heavily on coincidence to move the plot along. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking. Bookclubinabox presents the discussion guide for abraham. Feb 08, 2009 the plot of this big, dense book is fairly straightforward. Why do you think that the book is divided into four parts. The same can be said of sunil malhotras expert reading of this audiobook, a moving story about twin brothers born of an indian catholic nun and an expatriate english. Plus, a few of you have even commented on what a great discussion book it is. Even if you dont participate in the book club discussion, the book is well worth reading. It s time to get ready for our fall book selection, cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Cutting for stone discussion questions west maui book club. Read the cutting for stone book club menu ideas discussion from the chowhound home cooking food community. Cutting for stone discussion questions and answers readdownload cutting for stone by abraham verghese.
A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novelan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Wikipedia the hippocratic oath meaning of cutting for stone original, translated into english. The book s climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. Christian book club recommendations learn religions. Bookclubinabox is a unique guide to current fiction and classic literature intended for book club discussions, educational.
Cutting for stone october cc book club selection college. Most of the novels characters are living very far from their places of birth. He has also said my ambition was to write a big sweeping novel into which you could disappear, travel away as though in a spaceship, disappear, meet exciting people, and return to find that only a couple of days. Cutting for stone abraham verghese, 2009 knopf doubleday 541 pp. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by. I am really looking forward to my book club meeting on tuesday night to chat about the book with my friends. Cutting for stone is a slow but gripping story of twin boys raised in a mission hospital in ethiopia. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. I have been a part of one or more book clubs for over 20 years, and i have learned a few things about what makes a book club successful and how to get your book club talking. Book club whether or not you are already a member of a book club, this is a great way to start a conversation about global maternal health issues and raise money for saving mothers at the same time. What happened at book club our summary is scarce as our record keeper was away and missed out on the picture nevertheless our book club meeting was fabulous. Bound by birth but with widely different temperaments they grow up together, in a country on the brink of revolution, until a betrayal splits them.
Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. The top 12 books for discussion, debate, and enlightenment. This discussion companion for cutting for stone has been pre pared and written by marilyn. This is a good book for those wanting to examine their doubts or learn to engage. Read a topical book with a group of friends, and host a discussion event at your home or any quiet space. In the case of abraham vergheses cutting for stone, no one disliked the book. Cutting for stone by abraham vergese book club discussion. Chapter two of cutting for stone, by abraham verghese, is titled the missing finger, and we learn how dr. Cutting for stone follows twin brothers marion and shiva stone, born of a secret union between an indian nun and a brash british surgeon. Novel synopsis author information historical background character analysis focus points and themes writing style and structure symbols important quotes from the novel book club discussion questions. 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. Cutting for stone is a sweeping family saga which draws you in and transports you to a small missionary hospital in ethiopia.
Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia, went to medical school in india, and has lived and worked. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and explores the human side of medical practices. We often talk about the doors into a book that authors use. Your use of the english language was extraordinarily beautiful even when discussing some of the. Sep 19, 2018 i have been a part of one or more book clubs for over 20 years, and i have learned a few things about what makes a book club successful and how to get your book club talking. March 8, 2011 throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. At first, i wasnt sure id like the book, as i expected it to be quite sad. Dec 07, 2011 one of our readers contacted us recently to let us know that not only did she have the rare opportunity to meet cutting for stone author abraham verghese this september, but she made great use of her bookclubinabox guide to prepare for her oneonone meeting. Almost all of our group finished the book and we usually read novels that are half this long. First thursday book club discussion questions cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Cutting for stone is very simply one of the best books ever written and read. Bookclubinabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting for stone. Recommended to book clubs by 64 of 70 members marion and shiva stone, born in a mission hospital in ethiopia in the 1950s, are twin sons of an illicit union between an indian nun and british doctor.
The talk about movies group will meet to discuss movies related to ethiopia. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Browse through more discussion questions created by mount prospect public library staff on the check. Almost all of the characters in cutting for stone are living in some sort of exile, selfimposed or forced, from their home countryhema and ghosh from india, marion from ethiopia, thomas from india and then ethiopia. Every bookclubinabox printed discussion guide includes complete. An indian nun and an english doctor have conjoined twin babies in ethiopia. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese, paperback barnes. Cutting for stone is a perfect book club selection despite its length. Bookclubinabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese book club discussion. The introduction, discussion questions, and suggested further reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of abraham vergheses acclaimed first novel, cutting for stone.
The reason for god is a nonfiction book that addresses the most common objections to christianity and presents a case for the rationality of christianity. Haunting, moving, richly detailed summary from publisher. There were a few quibbles, but the story made for a very interesting discussion. The complete package for readers and leaders herbert, marilyn on. Verghese develops his characters well, and his medical background he is a physician allows him to bring alive details about the hospital and patient care.
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