Cutting for Stone is a classic work of fiction by Abraham Verghese. The novel, set in Ethiopia and United States, tells the story of a love story and the spiritual journey of twin boys born of a forbidden union between an Indian nun and a British doctor.
At the center of the novel is twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone. Their father, Thomas Stone, is a British doctor and reproductive specialist; their mother, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, is an Indian nurse who moves to Ethiopia as part of her religious mission. Strictly forbidden to see each other, Thomas and Mary Joseph remain unaware for many years of the twins’ existence.
The story starts with the death of the twins’ mother in labor and follows their journey as they are taken in by their uncle and raised in the Ethiopian hospital where their mother died. Thomas Stone makes a return to the country after a nine-year absence, and resolves to stay and care for the twin siblings.
Throughout the novel, the brothers struggle with the legacy of being born of a forbidden union, with each other, and with Thomas’ expectations of them. The story also explores their struggles as young professionals in the health care industry – Marion as a surgeon and Shiva as a medical intern. Through their journeys and challenges, the twins learn to accept themselves and each other and to recognize the strengths that their relationship has to offer.
The novel was the recipient of numerous accolades. Among them, it was awarded the PEN/Hemingway Prize, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book, a Kiriyama Prize, the Kuemmerley-Freund Prize, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction. The New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani praised it as “one of the most powerful, ambitious and moving novels I’ve read in years.”
Cutting for Stone is a captivating and beautifully written novel. The story of Marion and Shiva is compelling and heartbreaking and ultimately a story of hope and acceptance. It is a profoundly thought-provoking exploration of human life, relationships, and the power of love and reconciliation in the face of great tragedy. Readers who are looking for an uplifting and beautiful story will appreciate this novel.
