Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

This is quite a book. Set in Ethiopia, the story is narrated by Marion Stone, who along with his twin brother, Shiva, was born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon. After the mother dies in childbirth and the father runs away, they are raised by an Indian obstretrician and her husband, an Indian surgeon. I mention the nationality of the characters because the novel features a broad cross-section of the Ethiopian population. The plot covers the lives of Marion and Shiva from birth to adulthood, with lots of back stories for other characters along the way. I got very caught up in it and loved many of the characters. One warning: There are many medical procedures described in great detail. I didn't mind this because the author described these from the point of view of a doctor who loves his job and loves his patients.