Cutting For Stone

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born to an Indian nun and  British surgeon at a mission hospital. Orphaned by their mother’s death in childbirth and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a connection that only twins know and can understand; they also come of age as Ethiopia is on the brink of revolution.  Their passion for the same woman will tear them apart and force Marion, just out of medical school, to escape his homeland. In  America, finding refuge in his work as an intern at an underfunded New York City hospital, Marion finds his father in an unsuspecting moment. When trouble causes problems for Marion again,  he must entrust his life to the two men he thought he trusted least in the world: the surgeon father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him.

I was unsure how I felt about this book when I started, especially with all of the reviews that are out there.  I found the beginning incredibly slow and actually very confusing with the names and even what was going on.  After the first couple of chapters it did pick up though.  I found the detail of the customs, the medical procedures and descriptions and even the character's interactions to be very detailed and colorful, so much so that I even dreamed about them. I loved the relationship between the twins: although Shiva was less than an admirable character, their dedication and bond was incredible. I loved the relationship between Ghosh and Hema, the two people responsible for raising the boys, and even Rosina's(the twin's nanny) daughter Genet, who truly was raised by Hema and ended up having a pivotal role in everyone's life as time went on.

Although the descriptions were wonderful, in some areas of the book I also found myself at times struggling to stay with the story and frustrated with the painstaking detail of the medical procedures that frankly  really weren't that important to the ongoing saga of the twins.  I felt  that the story may have been able to end sooner rather than later, especially when we got to Marion leaving the country.  I did like how it tied together in the end and of course was consistent throughout the family tie that bound Marion to his country and ultimately to Hema, his twin brother, and his allegiance to Gosh's legacy which  was what made me end the book with a great feeling of satisfaction. Overall a great story, however it's for a reader committed to really digging in for a detailed heavy read.

On a rating scale I would give the book 3 1/2 to  4 stars out 5.

Beyond All Measure

Ada Wentworth takes a journey to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee all the way from Boston.  Traveling alone and penniless after losing her aunt, father and her fiance, Ada accepts a position as an elderly lady's companion by the name of Lillian Willis.  With the hopes of starting a new life and intending to use her millinery skills, Ada hopes to save money and establish a future for herself.

Lillian Willis, a pillar of the community and her nephew Wyatt Caldwell, a wealthy bachelor who owns a lumber mill become Ada's main friends as well as a mulatto girl, Sophia, at a orphanage in town.  In a town still not completely healed from the civil war, Ada's friendship with the young girl creates tension and Ada is threatened when she refuses to end her relationship with Sophia. A cast of characters both good and not so good fill the story with interesting tales.  A relationship between Ada and Wyatt starts as a friendship and struggles both to grow and to maintain itself after Lillian dies and Ada is forced to look inside herself and trust in God.

Dorothy Love's novel Beyond All Measure was a wonderful read.  A historical romance that made the issues facing the south during that time period a main point.  It was a an easy story to get lost in by really enjoying the characters and story of a young woman coming to terms with who she was, what she wanted out of life and out of love. A great story of love, loyalty, friendship and character that will stay with the reader.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program. *

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze%c2%ae.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.