On April 21, 2010 our book club met at the Abyssinia restaurant
on the west side to discuss our book "Cutting For Stone"
by Abraham Verghese because it was set in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and had many
references to the culture and the food.
The author featured below is a physician who teaches medicine
at Stanford University. One is so envious that a person can
achieve such success as a physician and also write such
well crafted , passionate novels.
Enjoy photos of dinner which is served on "injera" a spongy
pancake like bread with which you scoop the food
as no cutlery is given. There were many uniquely spiced meat and
vegetarian dishes and some people had the special tea to finish.
Some said it was too hot while others liked it hot.
I have tried to get everyone in the photos but sometimes it is challenging.
If I did not get your best side maybe next time.
Our waitress wore a beautiful traditional costume
The owner came to greet us and explained how they
only use fresh ingredients.
Our discussion of the book started before dinner and was well
covered. It is over 600 pages about a set of cojoined twins born
of an Indian nun who dies in childbirth and a british surgeon
who abandons them. They were then raised by 2 Indian Doctors
from Madras who took loving care of them and taught
them how to be good surgeons. One twin goes to America and
works in an underfunded hospital while the other stays in
Ethiopia and becomes a surgeon famous for fistula repairs.
It was a tale of medicine, love, betrayal, and redemption with
a bit of African history along the way. We all agreed that it was
a captivating read. Though big in scope everything was wrapped
up neatly in the end. The title was part of the to the old
hippocratic oath when Doctors would vow not to take a surgical
case on unless they were qualified and of course a play on words
as the surgeon was named Dr. Stone. One of the author's ideas
was that doctors should have a bedside manner and that
generally comes from caring for a patient and developing
a relationship with the patient. Everyone got a chance to say
something about parts that impressed them.
All 10 people present had read the book and unanimously
agreed that it was one of the best we have read.
I was particularly pleased since I had stumbled upon
the book and recommended it to our club.
We think a movie adaptation is imminent.
Nancy chose "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett for our next read
which is to be discussed on June 10, a Thursday since summer
tennis starts and Wednesdays are no longer an option.
I will send out reminders closer to the date.
Happy reading to all!
