Cutting for stone resists easy categorization it is just as much the chronicle of a bond between twin brothers and family as it is a book about medicine, or a story of grace. Meetingscovid phase 1 stepping stones alano club inc. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at a mission hospital in addis ababa. Sometimes, club meetings are held casually so as to engage the participating members and encourage them to unhesitatingly share their views. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook club. Cutting for stone book club kit hennepin county library. One way to include all members is to write questions on an index card for e. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese book club discussion. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking readers digest. Its not about trying to make sure everyone will like the book. May 06, 2020 an update from our fourth stone soup book club meeting. Jan 14, 2015 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. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Twin brothers born from a secret love affair between an indian nun and a british surgeon in addis ababa, marion and shiva stone come of age in ethiopia, where their love for the same woman drives them apart.
Mar 23, 2015 our book club doesnt have a fixed date for meeting we meet every six weeks or so, so we use doodle to schedule works like a dream. It is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs. Throughout the month of march, npr books will be running an online discussion about abraham vergheses novel cutting for stone. We meet for one hour every wednesday to discuss our chosen book via zoom. Club meetings samples differ from routine meetings in that they dont always follow a formal course. Dates and times of meetings decide on what day and time best fits with the schedules of the members.
Marion stone is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. It is a saga of twin brothers, orphaned by their mothers death at their births and forsaken by their father. Bookclub inabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by abraham verghese book. What does cutting for stone reveal about the emotional lives of doctors. Verghese has said that this line comes from ancient times, when bladder stones were epidemic and painful. Book club discussions are great conversations based on a common book that everyone has read. Wikipedia the hippocratic oath meaning of cutting for stone original, translated into english. 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. In 2009 verghese published cutting for stone, bringing him both critical and popular acclaim. We meet every wednesday for one hour via zoom to discuss our chosen book. From gripping historical fiction to vivid memoirs, these great book club books are sure to get you and your reading buddies talking. As far as running the meetings smoothly, assign a meeting leader for each meeting. The complete package for readers and leaders book club in a box. Bookclubinabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting.
And i totally agree with your line great books dont always make great book club novels. Citation formats are based on standards as of july 2010. Sep 10, 2016 10 generic book club questions for awesome book discussions. Whether your book club is a few close friends or a larger group, hosting a book club party still takes some amount of planning. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an. I was asked to speak at jillians book club, and of course i said yes. Dec 29, 2010 it is impossible to fully explore the incredible depth of cutting for stone within a few paragraphs.
Book club books guaranteed to get everyone talking readers digest. 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. Really enjoying cutting for stone and i loved let the great world spin. Also good for any book club members who want to go into more depth in the book. I enjoyed cutting for stone just a little extra for two unique reasons. Whats mine and yours by naima coster marchs read with jenna today show book club pick. Cutting for stone is a perfect book club selection despite its length. Reading group discussion questionscutting for stone abraham. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon. Here are some neat ideas for your next meeting see more ideas about starting a book, book club, book club. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel. Feb 08, 2009 the plot of this big, dense book is fairly straightforward. At first, i wasnt sure id like the book, as i expected it to be quite sad.
In 1992, irving was inducted into the national wrestling hall of fame in stillwater, oklahoma. A sweeping, emotionally riveting first novelan enthralling family saga of africa and america, doctors and patients, exile and home. Cutting for stone paperback tattered cover book store. Each character is so fully developed from start to finish that the reader becomes deeply involved with each and every one. We often talk about the doors into a book that authors use. A signup sheet is available at the information center if you are interested in learning more about the first book or for joining the group. Cutting for stone is the first straightforward novel set in and largely about africa that ive read in a good long timethe kind richard russo or cormac mccarthy might write, the kind that shows how history and landscape and accidents of birth and death conspire to create the story of a single life. Here are some neat ideas for your next meeting see more ideas about starting a book, book club, book club books. Some of the topics for discussion include the definition of family, love, betrayal, war, medicinehealing, brotherly love, jealousy, relationship between twins, grief. Cutting for stone october cc book club selection college. The stone soup book club is open to all stone soup contributors and subscribers, ages 9, during the covid19related school closures and shelterinplace arrangements. Our allguys bookclub read this in a joint meeting with our spouses allgirls bookclub everyone found this book to be an absolutely.
Book study the meeting is focused on the big book or other approved literature. Abraham verghese has said that his ambition in writing cutting for stone was to tell a great story, an oldfashioned, truthtelling story. His writing and work continue to explore the importance of bedside medicine, the ritual of the physical examination in the era of advanced technology, where as he notes frequently in his writing, the patient in the bed is often ignored in favor of the. 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. Coordinate with your members to set up a pre book club meeting. Summer is drawing to a close and the next thing you know, autumn leaves will be swirling. Email your book club members to inform them of the following. Jul 30, 2019 to cut down on spoilers, ask book club members not to read ahead of the assigned readings. Mary im sorry i missed early books and the lively discussions.
Each meeting will take place at the church from 68 pm. One of the rules that should be highly stressed is that members should come to each meeting having read the entire book. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese reading guidebook. Cutting for stone book jefferson county public library. I called my closest hs friends and got them on the bandwagon as well. Having already identified your niche check and to begun building up a member base check, you are now ready to get into the nittygritty of leading a book club. The list by patricia forde the stone soup book club is open to all stone soup contributors and subscribers, age 9, during the covid19related school closures and shelterinplace arrangements. May 14, 2010 cutting for stone is a perfect book club selection despite its length.
Successful groups select good books, have interesting discu. Contrast the attitudes of hema, ghosh, marion, shiva, and thomas stone toward their. I was a hs senior in nyc at the time of the book s events and the book was spot on. There were itinerant stone cutterslithologistswho could cut into either the bladder or the perineum and get the stone out, but because they cleaned the knife by wiping their bloodstiffened surgical aprons, patients usually died of. An epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption, exile an epic novel that spans continents and generations, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, compassion and redemption. Orphaned by their mothers death in childbirth and their fathers. Her collection covers her early adult years as she. Provides fodder for me to create discussion questions for the book club. Reading guide for cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Bring one of these funny nonfiction books or funny fiction books for adults to your next meeting for a good time.
This study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of cutting for stone. Jul 19, 2011 read the cutting for stone book club menu ideas discussion from the chowhound home cooking food community. Cutting for stone 2009 is a novel written by ethiopianborn indianamerican medical doctor and author abraham verghese. Jan 03, 2020 book club parties are a good way to get friends together and have great discussion over appetizers, drinks, or brunch. Dec 01, 2010 very perceptively describes issues, themes, metaphors, symbols and meaning in cutting for stone. Does your book club need a little help in creating conversation. Cutting for stone by abraham verghese, paperback barnes. Moving from addis ababa to new york city and back again, cutting for stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and. But there are ways to rid these ripe summer fruits of. Vergheses carefully drawn characters are compelling and unforgettable this is a book you will have to share with others, if you can bear parting with your copy. Heres how you can start a fun and engaging book club.
There is an excellent readers guide available which touches on many of the important themes i wanted to discuss and actually some that i didnt even think of. Watch this video from southern living to learn how to pit a plum without making a juicy, sticky mess so you can enjoy them all season long. Mount prospect public library book discussion questions. Verghese is of indian descent but was born and raised in ethiopia, went to medical school in india, and has lived and worked. But for grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether.
Sep 05, 2016 having great book discussion questions is essential to leading a successful book club, and now that i run an online moms book club i use this lesson to avoid awkward silences yes they can happen online and create a lively, engaging book club meeting each month. Vergheses skill at intertwining so many stories is awesome and prohibits simple description of the novel as a whole. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking. If your book club meetings are taking place during weekends, breakfast would be the perfect time to schedule them. Reading groups for children and parents can bring families closer. This breakfast book club party looks absolutely amazing and the menu is simply mouthwatering.
Join us on the first tuesday of each month for stepping stones book club. The book includes both a deep description of medical procedures and an exploration of the human side of medical practices. Be clear that the purpose of the leader is to facilitate discussion by asking questions, keeping everyone on time, and guiding the conversation. It is only when you stop and look to the rear that you see the corpse caught under your wheel. Roger, a seemingly bland divorced middleaged guy, and. Cutting for stone kindle edition by verghese, abraham. Contrast the attitudes of hema, ghosh, marion, shiva, and thomas. Marion, fresh out of medical school, flees ethiopia and makes his way to america, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded, overcrowded new york city hospital. In what ways is cutting for stone an oldfashioned storyand what does it share with the great novels of the nineteenth century. Cutting for stone discussion questions west maui book club. These great book club books are perfect for sparking discussion and even spirited debate, with or without wine. Cutting for stone is very simply one of the best books ever written and read. Jan 01, 2011 cutting for stone is very simply one of the best books ever written and read.
Though the beginning was slow, after reading through the first few chapters, i couldnt put down vergheses novel. We are never meeting in real life by samantha irby. May 19, 2020 shed some tears with your book club as you chat about what it means to be a family. 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. She has days as frazzled as my daughters, riding range over her small crazy boys. Bookclub inabox discusses abraham vergheses novel, cutting for stone. A community in the piedmont of north carolina rises in outrage as a county initiative draws students from the largely black east side of town into predominantly white high schools on the west. It is up to the chairperson of a club meeting to decide how formally he wants it to get rolling. Reading group discussion questions cutting for stone. Hosting a book club meeting is the hardest part of belonging to a reading group. Closed meetings are for aa members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking. Dates and times of meetings decide on what day and. Once you have a date for your first discussion in place, you can work with your existing members to set up.
Very perceptively describes issues, themes, metaphors, symbols and meaning in cutting for stone. Irby is a writer on the tv show shrill based on a great book club book by lindy west and a brilliant and hilarious essayist. With busy schedules and the immense list of new books released every single day, its hard. Marion and shiva stone are born one dramatic afternoon in 1954 in addis ababa, the same day their mother a nun, sister mary joseph. When the past catches up to him, nearly destroying him, marion must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world. Openended questions help ignite discussions involving the whole group. Bookclubinabox discusses cutting for stone, the novel by. Find out how you can take part in the club, both on the web and in. Successful book clubs select great books, have compelling discussions, and create community.
Dec 09, 2019 11 book club books guaranteed to get everyone talking amy reilly updated. These four celebrity book clubs are surprisingly goodand certainly worth a look. Shop and save on gifts for everyone on your list sections show more follow today setting up a book club for your children will no. It s time to get ready for our fall book selection, cutting for stone by abraham verghese. Almost all of our group finished the book and we usually read novels that are half this long. Abraham verghese is professor and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine at the stanford university school of medicine. Marion and shiva stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful indian nun and a brash british surgeon at.
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