I’ve read Abraham Verghese’s stunning novels, Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water, and now I’ve finally gotten to his memoir, My Own Country, about his time in Tennessee, working as a doctor/researcher/infectious diseases specialist in the early days of the AIDS epidemic.
Dr Verghese has written about his research into the HIV infection which was spreading out rapidly from the big American cities to the country. He was non-judgmental towards his patients and became involved in their personal lives, showing great compassion. There was a lot of fear of the unknown about AIDS, even among medical professionals, and Abraham worked hard to make sure his patients got the best treatment available. He spent a lot of time with them and their families, and sometimes unwound by having a game of tennis or long, solitary walks after work; this dedication to his work sometimes meant he wasn’t able to give his wife and two little boys the time and attention he should have, which by the end of the book appeared to be leading to troubles with his marriage.
There are a lot of graphic descriptions of patients’ symptoms and medical procedures, but there is also so much of Abraham’s heart and soul poured into this memoir, it all makes for an unforgettable, beautifully literary read.
I’ve just spent some of my Mother’s Day present money on ordering The Tennis Partner, which I will now eagerly await.
Published by Vintage Books
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