I met Abraham Verghese at a Book Festival in Austin, Texas where he was speaking about his novels and writing. Cutting for Stone is one of the books I have read which covers a perilous time in Ethiopia where Mr. Verghese was born. His childhood and experiences have given him a wealth of information to write about.
My Own Country follows Dr. Verghese through his first experience with HIV as an infectious disease specialist and later contact with AIDS patients. He became more knowledgeable about the virus than any other physicians in the area. He puts a human touch to the vulnerable gay community and his patients who were infected with the virus. His empathy and non-judgmental approach helps him get more information from his patients and to find out more about the deadly disease while including his new life in Johnson City far away from the bustle of his work in the cities of New York and Boston.
