We have a surprising first in our book club as a result of the vote.
But before we get to those result, I want to introduce you to Gebre Kristos Desta. According to the BBC, he was both a famed Ethiopian poet as well as the artist credited with bringing modern art to Ethiopia.
His art is so moving as is his poetry as you can see below. This particular poem struck a chord in me with its beautiful reference to books.
Gebre Kristos Desta, Ethiopian Poet & Artist
“Work in progress
growing continually
whiling away the days.
A small room,
shelter from the world’s ills.
A small chair
that hugs
that braces.
Old clothes
worn out comfortably
thread-bare.
Old shoes
that have served
that have worked.
A decanter, a plate, water
water to wash in.
A towel, rough.
A stove, charcoal fire,
fire, warmth.
A crumb of bread,
milk in a bottle
fruit on a plate.
A cigarette,
half gone,
smoking.
A letter,
a note-book of memories,
a newspaper.
Kinsmen in a frame,
photo of a friend.
A bedside lamp,
on the wall shadows
a picture.
Books,
books,
books
(to lean on, to run to, to hide in)
that are company,
that teach,
that bait a dialogue.
A bed, a mattress, a pillow
a bed to sink into
repose.
Sleep,
sleep,
sleep.
Also others,
also many
many others.
Provide solace.”
“A Long Day” (1979)
“Remembering Marga” (1963)
“Crystalline” (1975)
But what book are we reading next?
The book chosen by the club has been nominated for awards & has wonderful ratings: 4.6 stars on Amazon with 5,300+ ratings & 4.3 stars on Goodreads with 342,000 ratings! People adore this book, but it’s a first for our club because it’s a longer read. Because of this, we’re giving you extra time to read—instead of discussing it beginning Feb. 28, you’ll have until March 20 until we begin.
A sweeping, emotionally riveting novel with over 1 million copies sold—an enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home.
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.
Moving from Addis Ababa to NYC and back again, Cutting for Stone is an unforgettable story of two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined.
“A masterpiece. . . Verghese expertly weaves the threads of numerous story lines into one cohesive opus. The writing is graceful, the characters compassionate and the story full of nuggets of wisdom.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“Lush and exotic. . . Shows how history, landscape and accidents of birth conspire to create the story of a single life. . . . Verghese creates this story so lovingly that it is actually possible to live within it for the brief time one spends with this book. You may never leave the chair.” —LA Times
“Absorbing, exhilarating. . . . If you’re hungry for an epic . . . open the covers of Cutting for Stone, [then] don’t expect to do much else.” —The Seattle Times
(A special thank you to book club member, Christine Jensen for the suggestion.)
Happy reading!