The Karma Suture

by Rosamund Kendal

Sue Carey is a driven, 20-something doctor struggling to preserve her sanity, sobriety, and humanity in the corridors of one of Cape Town's biggest public hospitals. Finding imaginative ways of saving patients is her life's work, though finding a man who wants more than a one-night stand would be nice as well. Both harrowing and hilarious, her journey of self-discovery leads to the bedsides of the patients who make her weep and the men who make her weak. Based on the author's own experiences as a doctor in South Africa, this medical drama packs a quirky, feminine punch as it reveals powerful lessons on pain, sex, love, and ultimately, hope.

Genres: Medicine, Fiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

After studying medicine for six years and then working as a doctor for another five, Rosamund Kendal decided that the creative side of her brain needed some stimulation and enrolled for the Master's degree in creative writing at UCT. She hasn’t been able to decide whether she prefers being a freelance writer or a general practitioner, so she’s come to a compromise and does both part-time.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that only a South African doctor, who knows what a state hospital like Bellville Hospital aka Tygerberg is like from the inside, can really appreciate this. It's all there; the seeming futility, the endless queues of patients, the bizarre humor, the exhaustion & the friends who drag you through.

[Migmog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was conflicted about this book, firstly was quite annoyed that it was marketed as chick-lit, when its actually more a drama with many gritty and disturbing details. A similar book by a male author- the "Dressing Station" was marketed very differently. The pace was good and the struggles of a health care worker in the Cape were well framed, I can imagine it is as gory as described. I was disturbed that Sue had seemed to not be exposed to the humanitarian issues of her work, this made me wonder about the adequacy of ethical and psychological training that doctors get in Medical school, I was also bothered by her inability to reflect on the socio-economic environment in which her patients live and seemed to dehumanise them so much. Having read a great deal about chronic illness management and the coping mechanisms needed, I was cross with Sue's advice to Carol to waste time on alternative treatments and her worries of whether she was doing the right thing promoting chemo, I was also extremely bothered by her taking vitamin C to protect from viruses- when it is common medical knowledge that this doesn't work- are doctors not taught critical thinking? The conclusion of the book resolved some of this when Sue acknowledges the need to embrace uncertainty and take care of people, not medical problems.

[Maresa Botha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book tries to be witty, but comes across as somewhat sarcastic and staccato. A quick read - predictable and lacks any real depth.

[Gugu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh. How come is it that I always seem to have a different experience from the reviewers of books? This is the South African Best Seller....and all I can respond with is 'How?!'.

The novel is basically about a young doctor's life working in government hospitals in Cape Town. This alone makes you think that it is going to be a rich, riveting and exciting book.....not so. It took me ages to finish it, mainly because every time I read it I felt tired - because this poor doctor was tired, all the time. Perhaps we have been spoilt by exciting TV dramas like Greys Anatomy where a doctor's life is fast-paced, full of drama and near-death experiences....

This aside, my main gripe was that this book was quite shallow, when it could have been so deep. Every time she (the main character Sue) seems about interrogate or analyse some of the very difficult and challenges circumstances she finds herself faced with, the chapter abruptly ends and we're on to the next thing.

I also found it very difficult to like Sue....not because she lacked self-confidence or was always tired, but she was extremely judgmental! I found myself rolling my eyes at her often and wishing someone in the book would throw something at her.

Disappointing.

[Megz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Here's a picture of one of my favorite quotes:

For more quotes and my review, click here.

[Phillipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I've been curious to read it for ages, ever since I read about it on Just Up The Dose (do you know how hard it is to find a blog you used to read about 2 years ago .... ). I really enjoyed that blog :) It's also pretty cool reading a story set in Cape Town :) Respect to all my doctor-friends. I couldn't do it.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: mentions of HIV & AIDS, suicide attempts, drug abuse, and cancer.

I liked this one okay. Because the main character (and narrator) is a doctor, much of the book covers her experiences on her shifts or on call. However, the medical jargon was overwhelming, and her life outside of the hospitals is mentioned very little. I understand that she spends much of her time at the hospital, but even her relationships with people she works with was rarely mentioned in the book.

I actually liked most of the characters, and I would have especially enjoyed more of Sue’s burgeoning relationship with Julian. I would have liked to see Sue’s attendance at Leah’s wedding. I just wanted more of Sue’s personal life in general. We get glimpses, such as the philosophy classes and Sue’s friendship with Carol, but I would have appreciated more; some promising storylines were just abandoned.

The ending was too abrupt for me — just when things are picking up and Sue’s professional and personal lives are being more equally mentioned, it ends. I could see that Sue had learned and grown a lot, but then what? I’m torn on whether to recommend this, but I am interested in and looking forward to comparing this to another work by this author, The Angina Monologues.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Kendal has delivered an accurate (terrifying), depressing, yet humorous look at the South African government hospital system. Dr Sue Carey endures over 30-hour shifts, shortages of beds, restrictions due to finances, while still trying to be a good doctor, teach her intern and med students the ropes, while still trying to have a life. Exhausting? You bet. This book made me tired to read it.

While the plot that runs through the book is simple, young doctor tries to sort out her life, it is often put on hold for all the medical emergencies she is dealing with. One perhaps would like some feedback on these emergencies, but that never happens, probably very realistic, so they all seem like separate little tales that make up the book.

Overall I really enjoyed this. It is not often I find SA books that are not purely political and stuck in the past. It is nice to be able to read about my country in a different light - albeit still not a very happy one.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible - the best book I've read in ages.

A hilarious, heart-breaking and astounding read, so charismatically written that I simultaneously struggled to put it down and leave it down (in an attempt to make it last). The book describes the working environment in a public hospital in Cape Town, sprinkled with medical humour and the true chaos of what doctors have to deal with in the middle of the night. The questioning of the nature of humanity and what it means to make a difference are thought-provoking topics covered eloquently, especially in the philosophy classes she attends suddenly juxtaposed against the horrible situations in hospitals. Fantastic, highly recommend.

[Elizabeth Kimberley Rochat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it odd to say I “enjoyed” this book because of the subject matter but I really appreciated it. It pulled me in and I devoured it in a couple of days. By the end, I was warmed and tearful. I enjoyed the character development, story line and side bar romance. I think the way it was written lent itself to the themes in the story and the points trying to be conveyed. I really think some of the reviewers who didn’t enjoy this book, missed the point.

I’ve read both her books and I’d recommend them both.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Happy, sad, funny. Just great.

[Yolanda Zunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Interesting.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much I'd read it again!!What a pleasant surprise to pick up this little gem in the second hand shop for only R5.

[Svetlana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down.
Beautiful and heartbreaking...

[Darenna]

I bought this book in a small bookstore in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I devoured it in the two days between Cape Town and Joburg. It's a quick read for one thing. For another it gives a nice sliver of life in Cape Town. It's about a female doctor working on an inner-city Cape Town hospital. She deals with the usual stuff: work stress, diet, extra pounds, finding a decent guy, parents, friends, etc. What it doesn't deal with is racial issues but I got plenty of that in the books I checked out at the library before my trip. I really wanted to read more books like this one before my trip but it's harder than you think to find it and I looked, both at the library and at the various bookstores I visited in Africa. I wanted something written in the last ten years that was about every day life for an every day person. I was happy to finally find it in this book. And I was even more pleased to enjoy the writing.

[Ron Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book that brings Grey's Anatomy to Cape Town. Number 3 South African novel in the country.

Sue Carey is a driven, twenty-something doctor struggling to preserve her sanity, sobriety and humanity in the corridors of one of Cape Town's biggest public hospitals. Finding imaginative ways of saving patients is her life's work. Finding a man who wants more than a one-night stand would be nice as well. Sue's journey of self-discovery is both harrowing and hilarious. The Karma Suture visits the bedsides of the patients who make her weep and the men who make her weak. She discovers that all she ever wanted is waiting for her ...if only she can learn to see beyond the hard science into the mysteries of the heart.

[Saff · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, this was not porn, so hold back the judgement. Second, kudos for a very clever title. Quite entertaining, sometimes hilarious. It almost reads like the day to day diary of a doctor working in South African public hospitals. It provided a shocking insight into what the public health care system is like in this country and touched on other fundamental challenges/barriers doctors face in treating patients, especially the underprivileged. It felt a bit whiney toward the end, but still a good read.

[Rachelle Seymore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sue Carey is a 20-something doctor working in a state hospital in Cape Town. She is trying to cope with a hectic work load in circumstances not nearly ideal, but still attempting to lead a normal life. Love evades her, but she is often too tired to care. She's been called the Bridget Jones in the medical world. I loved this book. I think Rosamund has a lovely writing style and I would recommend it to especially those who like hospital stories.

[Angelbee]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and have been meaning to buy a copy for a while. It had perfect touches of drama, medical information (who knows how accurate) and romance - all of which I like. Also, being oginally from Cape Town myself, I loved being able to closely relate to the areas she described.

[Sunitha Prabhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A one time read.

“Sainthood is not a prerequisite for acceptance to medical school. Perhaps it should be.”

Sue Carey is a driven, young doctor struggling to maintain her sanity and humanity at her work place. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to patients who make her weep and the men who make her weak. The drama reveals powerful lessons on pain, love, and ultimately, hope.

[Paige Nick]

It was completely different to what i was expecting. And completely different to anything else I've ever read. I thought it was very well written. A very enjoyable read. Although at times very hectic.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable, easy read. Main character was incredibly likeable and, as a medical student, I enjoyed going along her young doctor journey a bit. Also enjoyed learning more about the differences between American and South African medicine.

[Teryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the South African setting, the play on words and the background it revealed of becoming a doctor. It is light but very enjoyable.

[Mya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Goretti · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting and real expose of our government hospitals...a first bookclub 'hit'.

[Kate Sidley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging book about a young doctor working crazy hours in a big public hospital in South Africa - whilst also looking for love, of course.

[Han · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy 'fluff-reading', but I liked the setting in which it was written.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought at 2nd hand bookshop in Montagu as a holiday read. Loved the pace and rhythm and general look at life, relationships and work.

[Pumla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, couldnt put it down

[Allyson Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

So South African, without being kitsch. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.