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yolie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
As a South African, stories about sexual violence aren’t limited to works of fiction, but a reality with live with. That being said, Period Pain was not unusual in its content nor the way in which events unfolded in Masechaba’s life.
Masechaba is a young Black junior doctor suffering from burnout out and depression. She’s also experiencing moral injury, and grappling with her own mental health while entrusted with the health of hundreds of patients has her questioning her abilities and the world.
Despite how hesitant I was at times to complete the book, I wanted to see Masechaba’s story through.
I was not a fan of how the book ended, but it is something that gave her renewed purpose after the years of turmoil she experienced so maybe it’s the right conclusion for her.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
niknakreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Body horror, Death, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Colonisation
es_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
rachelmcglinchey5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Xenophobia
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
the majority of characters are different and vivid, though sometimes they can be rendered a lil flat and one dimensional. each of them all got different things going on, and while most of them suffer from at least one form of systemic injustice, the intersectionality of their identities make them realistically imperfect, fully capable of doing injustice to others nevertheless. this is esp relevant to the depiction of black south africans who have triumphed over apartheid yet harbor xenophobia that could devastate lives.
problems in the country's medical system are also vividly depicted through the pov of masechaba, whose gradual indifference and desensitization to patients' sufferings - unfortunate effects of a wholly inadequate system - we witness. her feelings towards her god, their oscillation and her shuffling zeal + rejection from the trials she has to endure are effectively illustrated as well.
i wish, however, that the ending was less abrupt and instead more prolonged to give time for resolution of both internal and external conflicts. it seems strange that the issues, complex thoughts and struggles masechaba harbors throughout most of the book gradually disappear in only a few pgs near the end, all triggered by the arrival of her baby, not to mention my own complicated feelings towards matlwa's utilization of said baby in the book.
overall, an emotional read that could be further improved by its ending.
Graphic: Mental illness, Xenophobia, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Death, Suicide, and Pregnancy
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lilaceous's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
plot - ⭐️
engaging to read - ⭐️
would recommend - .5⭐️
would read again -
really raw and really sad. don’t read this if you’re not in a good place emotionally.
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship