Cutting for stone book club discussion

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. Many readers will tell you that cutting for stone is the epic story of two conjoined twins fathered by a brilliant british surgeon and an indian nun. Cutting for stone is a slow but gripping story of twin boys raised in a mission hospital in ethiopia. Bookclubinabox presents the discussion guide for abraham. 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. Contrast the attitudes of hema, ghosh, marion, shiva, and thomas. Why do you think that the book is divided into four parts. This discussion companion for cutting for stone has been pre pared and written by marilyn. Marion and shiva stone are born one dramatic afternoon in 1954 in addis ababa, the same day their mother a nun, sister mary joseph. What does cutting for stone reveal about the emotional lives of doctors. 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. 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. Cutting for stone abraham verghese, 2009 knopf doubleday 541 pp. The top 12 books for discussion, debate, and enlightenment.

Cutting for stone follows twin brothers marion and shiva stone, born of a secret union between an indian nun and a brash british surgeon. The book s climax unfortunately marks a further major misstep on vergheses part. Chapter two of cutting for stone, by abraham verghese, is titled the missing finger, and we learn how dr. 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, paperback barnes. Christian book club recommendations learn religions. 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. 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. Cutting for stone is a best book club book for discussion, a sweeping first novel and enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. I think it is a bit long, but even having said that, i never feel bored and always enjoy reading the book.

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. Is she really her own person, or more of an invention for marion. Cutting for stone is a perfect book club selection despite its length. It is a saga of twin brothers, orphaned by their mothers death at their births and forsaken by their father. Every bookclubinabox printed discussion guide includes complete. The book includes a deep description of both medical procedures and explores the human side of medical practices. Cutting for stone is very simply one of the best books ever written and read. Find out how you can take part in the club, both on. Provides fodder for me to create discussion questions for the book club. Your top 12 book club books rebecca joines schinsky jun 2, 2016. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese book club discussion. March 8, 2011 throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone.

Bookclubinabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting. 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. 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. Abraham verghese will be on the martha stewart show tomorrow 2311 on the hallmark. Get book recommendations we tailor em just for you. Your use of the english language was extraordinarily beautiful even when discussing some of the. First thursday book club discussion questions cutting for. Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook club. It was liked by mostly everyone and for some our second time reading it.

As abraham verghese quotes it, the line from the oath reads i will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest. Each character is so fully developed from start to finish that the reader becomes deeply involved with each and every one. 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. This bookclubinabox pdf discussion guide 77 pages for abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone includes. Narrated by marion the first born twin we are told of every influence on his and his brothers existence. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. 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.

In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned storyand what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. The book is a roller coaster ride of agonies and ecstasies that too often relies heavily on coincidence to move the plot along. Find out how you can take part in the club, both on the web and in. Verghese said that his aim in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. Join us over the coming days as we discuss the book and check back soon to hear one of our club. Throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. Cutting for stone is abraham vergheses big, bloated panorama of 20th century ethiopia, where medicine and religion meet, and surgeons and carmelite nuns procreate. Cathy with a c led our discussion of cutting for stone by abraham verghese.

Most of the novels characters are living very far from their places of birth. There is an excellent readers guide available which touches on many of the important themes i wanted to discuss and actually some that i. Even if you dont participate in the book club discussion, the book is well worth reading. 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. 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. 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. Bookclubinabox is a unique guide to current fiction and classic literature intended for book club discussions, educational. 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. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at. 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. 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 by abraham verghese preorder our latest book for crossstitchers, lit stitch. The complete package for readers and leaders herbert, marilyn on.

Wikipedia the hippocratic oath meaning of cutting for stone original, translated into english. 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. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. There were a few quibbles, but the story made for a very interesting discussion.

This is a good book for those wanting to examine their doubts or learn to engage. The talk about movies group will meet to discuss movies related to ethiopia. First thursday book club discussion questions cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Almost all of the characters in cutting for stone are living in some sort of exile, selfimposed or forced, from their home country hema and ghosh from india, marion from ethiopia, thomas from india and then ethiopia. Cutting for stone discussion questions and answers readdownload cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia. It s time to get ready for our fall book selection, cutting for stone by abraham verghese. 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 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. At first, i wasnt sure id like the book, as i expected it to be quite sad. They are orphaned at a young age and must learn to navigate. 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. Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia, went to medical school in india, and has lived and worked. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. 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.

Haunting, moving, richly detailed summary from publisher. Cutting for stone discussion questions west maui book club. Plus, a few of you have even commented on what a great discussion book it is. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell. 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. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by abraham verghese.

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. Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. In the case of abraham vergheses cutting for stone, no one disliked the book. I am really looking forward to my book club meeting on tuesday night to chat about the book with my friends. 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. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook. I have two cardinal rules in selecting the best book club books. 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.

What do the multiple epigraphs have to do with each part of the book. Cutting for stone october cc book club selection college. Almost all of our group finished the book and we usually read novels that are half this long. Hippocratic oathi will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is. An indian nun and an english doctor have conjoined twin babies in ethiopia. Jul 19, 2011 read the cutting for stone book club menu ideas discussion from the chowhound home cooking food community. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by.

Discussion of themes and motifs in abraham vergheses cutting for stone. 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. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking. 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. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. 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. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. Cutting for stone is a sweeping family saga which draws you in and transports you to a small missionary hospital in ethiopia.

As you follow his life you will fall in live with his story and come to feel as if you know the characters personally. A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novelan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Cutting for stone throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. Bookclubinabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting for stone. With equal parts humor, tragedy, and suspense, cutting for stone is a book you. Cutting for stone by abraham vergese book club discussion. We often talk about the doors into a book that authors use. Read the cutting for stone book club menu ideas discussion from the chowhound home cooking food community. Read a topical book with a group of friends, and host a discussion event at your home or any quiet space. 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. 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 miraclesand two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined. Feb 08, 2009 the plot of this big, dense book is fairly straightforward.