Cutting Stone

by Janet Burroway

Escaping from a loveless marriage, Eleanor heads west and meets up with Frank, a rugged rancher who desires another man's wife; Lloyd, Frank's hot-headed younger brother; and Maria, a Mexican woman. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Janet Burroway is the author of seven novels including The Buzzards, Raw Silk (runner up for the national Book award), Opening Nights, and Cutting Stone; a volume of poetry, Material Goods; a collection of essays, Embalming Mom; and two children's books, The Truck on the Track and The Giant Jam Sandwich. Her most recent plays, Medea With Child, Sweepstakes, Division of Property, and Parts of Speech, have received readings and productions in New York, London, San Francisco, Hollywood, and various regional theatres. Her Writing Fiction is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and a multi-genre textbook, Imaginative Writing, appeared in 2002. A B.A. from Barnard College and M.A. from Cambridge University, England, she was Yale School of Drama RCA-NBC Fellow 1960-61, and is Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Emerita at the Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mistake this for that other novel with a similar title - this book is a complete treat to read, especially if you care about Arizona history, complicated relationships, or the hardships of living 100 years ago. Or, if you love the great craft of storytelling.

Janet Burroway creates characters complex and curious, and she has a knack for evoking a love of the desert and the American west while at the same time nodding her head at the prickers, dust, and heat, like we're all in on the joke together.

This was a great read.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully written, engaging story

[Jenny Hortin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. I was a little put off at first at the references to surgery. I will admit the first few chapters of surgical directions left me squeamish. Once I got over it, I became caught up in the beauty of Burroway's writing. I definitely recommend this book.

[Giana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great serendipitous find- I was looking to reserve Cutting for Stone and accidently reserved this novel instead, and really really liked it.the author is sort of like a grown-up Jessamyn West.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this by accident (online/used/cheap). I think there's a reason for everything so I'm reading it. It turned out to be a good old salty story that was very entertaining.

[Terry Tschann Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written account of a woman's transformation.

[Juli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5