Cutting for Stone discussion

My phenomenal reads this year include some true five star books, namely

Cutting for Stone by Abrahame Verghese
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (a re-read)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The House of Silk by Horowitz (the last one is a wonderful Doylesque stylization)

The second tier books (still very enjoyable ones, and I had hard time giving them only 4 stars)

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

I would have felt much better if I had not spent time reading the trash like The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, and The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum.

What are your 2011 favorites? Which of them are sheer waste of time?

This will be by far one of my most favorite books of al times! I could have read a thousand more pages of the continuing saga. . . The trip across Africa to the U.S. was so intense and filled with so much history,I learned so much and I enjoyed his book so much,I ordered two other of his books that are on my to be read shelf. . . He is also part of my facebook page!

Actually, Cutting for Stone was on my list for worst books read in 2011. It took 250 pages to get interesting and needed a good editor. The ending was far-fetched. However,the middle was fascinating and might have been a more rewarding read if he had stayed in Ethiopia.

Favorite--Every Man Dies Alone, Fallada
(Close Second--A Month in the Country, Carr)
Worst--Cutting for Stone, Verghese

rarely give 5 stars...Cutting for Stone easily made the grade. I was engaged on page -1-, the writing was simply lovely.

Favorite reads of 2011:
Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand; Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks; Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris; The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL by Eric Greitens; SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper by Howard E. Wasdin; The Last Convertible Anton Myrer; and In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines by Stanley Karnow

I picked up the book (Cutting for Stone) in a 2ndhand paperback bookstore simply based on the title--I recognized it from GR. I thought it might be about cutting for diamonds in Africa. I wasn't sure. Picked the book up, began reading, and did not want to put it down. It was incredible!! Loved it!! I need to see what else the author has written. Phenomenal!!

I would have to agree with Emily on one point...I also wish Marion had remained in Ethiopia. It was a far more interesting country to read about for this particular story.

One of the best books I have ever read....it is truly a masterpiece. I really did not want it to end and was so one with Marion....felt like I was living his life every emotion and journey he took. Have highly recommened it to sooooo many people....

Suggestion for you, Zulfiya: Try Peter Rock's, "My Abandonment". It's not perfect but it stays with you. I stand behind my recommendation!!