At least one book club member should listen to it. For one thing that way everyone will know how to pronounce the names. Some of the club members who read it found it tough going with some of the surgical descriptions/reading but listening to it read was better for me.

A well written book that develops characters, tells a wonderful story and evokes emotions. I would recommend this book to everyone. We read it for our book group and everyone loved it!!!

---the absorbing story of a young doctor and the people who played major roles in his life –from his traumatic birth through his training to full maturity as he comes to terms with his estranged twin, his father who deserted them, and the girl who betrayed him. Such an honorable man, Marion deserves someone to love him like he loved Genet. Contrast great between medical training and care in Ethiopia and the United States. Ending unexpected but satisfying.

Even though the book was difficult at times and had some errors, it had some interesting moments. Our book club was divided on it.

Cutting for Stone is an intimidating length, but worth the time investment. Memorable characters and life lessons about priorities and family are the reward. Graphic medical scenes may be tough for some readers.

A beautiful story about relationships, love, and the consequences brough about by our choices. This book is so well written. The charachters are wonderful, even is not always likeable and the story builds in lots of suspense as it unfolds.

I found myself trying to describe the book to a friend, but in relaying the premise, felt I fell short of really captureing all of the emotion and feeling that the author builds in. You must read it to really get it.

Wow what a great book. I want to read it again and really soak up all this good story. I was rushed to finish and feel I missed some important details. The book club liked it very well also and look forward to our next month selection.

Engaging story by a Stanford University professor that emphasizes the importance of taking care of the whole patient not just the patient's body. This can be extrapolated by any of us to our own work.

I was hooked from the first page. It was deeply moving.

excellenty written, informative bringing us from birth 2 death, including drama, love, jealousy,
violence, war
a little too heavy, but bearable, open 2 lots of comments 2 explore

Couldn't put it down and it's characters haunted me for long after I was finished. Easily one of the best books I've ever read.

This book was engaging, informative and graphic in an interesting way. For those who have a medical background and those interested in medical themes this book is perfect.

interesting, but hard to get into

detailed medical information that maybe overwhelming to a layperson, but story eventually becomes addicting, deep and very dramatic. can't wait till the movie comes out

LOVE LOVE LOVEd ths book. The characters are well-developed, the writing is beautiful, and the intricate plot really draws you in. I didn't read if for book club but I wish I had because I'd love to discuss it!

The book did not get interesting until the middle to end of the book. The writer used so much detail it was hard to follow and read each word. If you are not interested in medical terminology, I would not recommend this book.

Wonderfully written. Verghese drew me in right from the start and transported me across the ocean to Ethiopia. Great story of human drama that includes so much about a country and a culture that I had known next to nothing about before I read this book. Fabulous characters in a rich setting - couldn't put it down!

I could not put this book down! I was mesmerized by several different angles. Since I am in the medical profession, I automatically connected with the main characters. There was adventure, intrigue, and romance as well as suspense and the unexpected. I became so absorbed in the Ethiopian culture that I found myself looking in reference and history books to learn more and gain a deeper insight. I even started buying Ethiopian music and dining at an Ethiopian restaurant. It was the type of book that grabs your attention instantly on the first page, accelerates your voracious reading appetite and then causes you to start braking toward the finish line because you don't want it to end.

Brilliant and beautiful story, addictive...

I couldn't put this book down. It was beautifully written and and extremely interesting.

I was jealous of any minute I could not spend reading the book until I finished it. It hooked you and didn't let go even after you were done reading. For one thing, the book took place in Ethiopia and included a little of the history in the story as it affected the characters' lives. The chapters dealing with surgery didn't just touch on the topic but carried the reader into the operating room where the action was occurring. Even when the main character came to New York, the story stayed fascinating. Five of the six readers in the club loved the book. It was definitely not the usual plot or characters.

A very intense story that sometimes wanders around a bit before getting back to the theme. I found myself going back to re-read portions when i lost the thread.

Everyone who finished the book loved it. Some gave up on it within the first quarter of the book (a shame, in my mind!). We had good conversations about the complicated characters and their interactions. We all agreed that it had a good mix of storyline and history and all of us appreciated that it was written by a surgeon. Highly recommended as a book and as a discussion book.

A very interesting book but was a little hard to get into at first, but worth staying with the book for a powerful story.

Thaumbs up all around.

I was completely fascinated by the story, the characters, the history of Ethiopia, all woven together by beautiful and moving writing. I loved reading it.

I couldn't finish this book. I tried to force myself to continue because of all the fantastic reviews I read. It was long, drawn out and at least 260 pages in, I still could not see the point of the story.

I was transported to Ethiopia in this book. Most of our book club enjoyed a great portion of the book (while the story was set in Ethiopia). There are so many layers to this well-written book, I highly recommend it to everyone.

Pleasantly surprised. After struggling to get started on this book, became engrossed in the lives of the characters and couldnt put it down. A must read.

Inspiring book of coming of age in Ethiopia, country mired in poverty and on the brink of political upheaval. The main characters are doctors and much detail is given to operations performed. One brother betrays the other and leads to many years of being split. The book spans a couple of generations and takes one from India to Ethiopia to America.

It was my best read for 2012.

One of the best books I read in a long time.

This book has many characters who effect each other in profound ways. It can be very graphic and detailed in sections. It is not as religious as I had thought it would be. The title comes from a medical situation and it keeps going back to a medical setting. You have to be ready to think about how 1 event links/supports a 2nd event; it is not a quick read.

Have some tissues available because like life it is not always a happy story.

My book group just started up again and this was our first book to get back into the swing of things. We found a lot to talk about with this book. The characters are memorable and bring up many questions. We each rated the book and it came out with an average of 4 stars.

Our Book Club really enjoyed this book and it generated quite a discussion about the 2 boys and how they approached life's difficulties. Once you "travel" outside of Ethiopia, the action becomes addicting.

Engrossing book with very well developed characters. You will feel as if you know them all personally. Gives you an immigrant's perspective, among other informative aspects. Enjoyed it very much.

Very detailed, old-school style of writing that is both informative and beautifully descriptive. Stay with it- it keeps getting better and better.

The story of Shiva and Marion Stone will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It is an unforgettable tale of Siamese twins and their accomplishments, trials, heartbreaks, triumphs, and undeniable bond. Their Ethiopian family's ties and closeness make up the main theme as we also get a glimpse into medical terminology and procedures. It is an immersion into a way of life wrought by strife, war, dedicated doctors, and suffering citizens.

Cutting for Stone is a remarkable book with unforgettable characters. Once you have read the book, you will realize how amazing our health care system is in the United States . You will also realize that there are committed, talented doctors all around the world that do the best they can with what they have in terms of equipment and supplies.

Don't give up because of the lengthy, detailed explanations and slow-moving beginning. As you become attached to the characters, the story unfolds and becomes one you will be glad you didn't put aside. The book is incredible. 4/5 only because of the LENGTHY beginning.

This book was a challenge for some of our members to get through as it was so full - full of information, of amazing charactors, emotion, history.... it was a force! Everybody loved it though. Would recommend to those "serious" groups out there who have plenty of time to read. It is an amazing book.

Excellent book. I highly recommend. I would recommend listening to this book, rather than reading.

Dramatic story about different kinds of loving relationships told over several decades and in several countries. Loved the descriptions of Ethiopia and immigrant reactions to NYC. Fascinating information about identical twins and their unique relationship. Much fascinating information about medical procedures, maybe a little too much for me.

Cutting for Stone is one of my top ten all time favorite books. It is fascinating to read and outstanding to listen to. Abraham Verghese has the knowledge base in medicine, the writing talent and the insight into the human condition to create a story this compelling.

Gets better with every page turn!

Though this book is well written, it is graphic and disturbing (especially the creepy sexual overtones) in many places. I finally stopped reading it 2/3 way through when I realized I didn\\\'t care enough about the characters to subject my mind to any more sickening scenarios/characters. I still don\\\'t know what happened to them and (unusual for me) I don\\\\\\\'t care.The best way I can describe it is like finding gold nuggets here and there . . . but being forced to search for them in a septic tank; eventually the value if the gold simply isn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t worth the sickening bits. And unlike physically digging through a septic tank, there is no way to clean off the filth from your memory once you have read it.

This book was amazing! It was well written, had a good story line, and held your interest. It was hard to put down.

It was by far the best book we've had in awhile. Everyone enjoyed it, and the discussion flowed.

A beautifully written story of love, betrayal and hope coupled with medical drama in a place and time of cultural and historical significance.

Profound, thought-provoking, stays with you.