Cutting for Stone

My boss heartily recommended this sweeping, lyrical, and accessible novel, which I am heartily recommending in turn. The story is narrated by Marion Stone, the son of a British surgeon and (compellingly) an Indian nun who dies after childbirth in Ethiopia. Marion and his (initially conjoined) twin brother are lovingly raised on the grounds of the missionary hospital at which they were born by their adoptive parents and alongside the increasingly daring daughter of their housemaid. Though this could be categorized as a coming-of-age novel, the narrative scope is much wider than that and covers the history of Ethiopia over the latter part of the last century while encompassing broad themes, such as compassion, sacrifice and interconnectedness.

The sweeping, almost mythic quality of the story might sound like a grating prospect to some readers, but the author (a surgeon himself) makes it work: the saga steers clear of melodrama and is countered by psychologically astute characterizations, real humor (a woefully unheralded quality in fiction!), and compelling historical and medical detail. The last one- or two-hundred pages had a bit too much plot going on (especially considering the leisurely, decompressed quality of the book's first section), but to the author's credit: he had a lot of territory to cover! Overall, a deeply enjoyable and satisfying read.