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September 2011: Cutting for Stone

September 1, 2011

I don’t care who finds me here! So – let’s start reading together again!

This month’s book – Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

Read it when you get a chance and let us know how you feel about it in the comments.

If, after reading the book, you think you might have some good recipes to go along with the theme of the book – put them in the comments of the books and snacks cookbook blog.

And you were worried that I’d disappeared?

I’m looking forward to our comments discussion.

Remember: This is a non-snooty book club. Discuss anything you want to about the book. The story, the cover, how it made you feel, what it reminded you of, etc.

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13 Comments leave one →
  1. September 1, 2011 11:33 am

    Ordering the book today – glad we won’t be losing you from the blogosphere completely :)

  2. September 1, 2011 2:16 pm

    So you are back and in the running. What are you, a Harold Stassen clone?

  3. Mary permalink
    September 1, 2011 5:37 pm

    YAY!

    I’ve (coincidentally) started this book, but was flitting around to others (not because I didn’t like it), so now I have the push I need to get back on track.

  4. September 1, 2011 6:52 pm

    Yay for happy literary returns!!! :D

  5. September 1, 2011 9:05 pm

    Oh, this book! What a beautiful book! Marion, Shiva, Hema, Ghosh, Thomas Stone, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, Matron, Genet. I love all of them! I had no idea where this book was going to go – and isn’t that a wonderful thing?

  6. September 4, 2011 11:48 am

    Ooh, I think this book might be on my “to read” pile. I’m gonna go look right now!

  7. September 5, 2011 7:44 am

    Read 100 pages and love it already!

    • September 17, 2011 6:00 am

      Finished this captivating book the other night. Fell in love with Marion, Hema, Ghosh, Thomas Stone, Sister Mary Joseph Praise, and Matron, but disliked Genet, and was not a fan of Shiva until the end. The medical scenes were enthralling, and added to my immense enjoyment of this remarkable story.

      Here’s my recipe:

      Ethiopian Chickpea Wat

      * 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
      * 1 large red onion, finely chopped
      * 2 carrots, finely chopped
      * 1 potato, peeled and chopped
      * 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
      * 1/2 teaspoon paprika
      * 1/2 teaspoon ginger
      * 1/2 teaspoon salt
      * 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
      * 1/4 teaspoon cumin
      * 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
      * 1 tablespoon tomato paste
      * 1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
      * 1 1/2 cups water
      * 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

      Directions:

      1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and potato, cover and cook 10 minutes longer.
      2.Remove and cover and stir in cayenne, paprika, ginger, salt, pepper, cumin, cardamom and tomato paste. Add chickpeas and water and bring to a boil.
      3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender and the flavor is developed, about 30 minutes, adding a bit more water if needed. About 10 minutes before the stew is ready, stir in green peas and taste to adjust seasonings.

  8. September 17, 2011 7:27 am

    Stephanie – I added your lovely recipe to our book club’s cooking blog: http://booksandsnackscookbook.wordpress.com/

    The thing I kept wondering about Shiva was that he must have had some form of autism. Before autism was even invented. I liked Genet. She was just a poor, suffering soul who gave the book another dimension.

    • September 18, 2011 6:39 am

      Autism…I never thought of that. Instead, I wondered if his problems had something to do with snipping the membrane that attached the twins’s heads at birth…

      • September 18, 2011 9:04 am

        It’s where I went when the discussion came up about his lack of social skills. Maybe the snipping detached…okay, gross. I can’t go there! ;)

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