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lpdx's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Drug use, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Excrement, Body shaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
bisexualbookshelf's review
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A few years ago, I fell in love with Sarah Rose Etter’s writing through her first novel, “The Book of X.” Her second book absolutely did not fail to disappoint. I might have to rebrand myself as the “Chelsea Bieker AND Sarah Rose Etter Fan Club” now.
"Ripe" by Sarah Rose Etter is a haunting exploration of a woman's struggle against the overwhelming void of modern life, marked by dissociation, capitalist exploitation, and the decay of personal identity. Etter's lyrical prose and vivid metaphors illuminate the protagonist's internal battles and the broader socio-economic critiques embedded in this all-too-real narrative.
Cassie, our protagonist, navigates the treacherous waters of Silicon Valley's corporate culture while grappling with her fragmented identity and existential despair. Through her journey, we delve into themes of labor exploitation, the oppressive nature of capitalist demands, and the deep-seated emotional scars inflicted by both society and personal history.
Etter's writing is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her use of vivid, sometimes grotesque imagery to depict bodily disintegration and emotional turmoil is powerful and evocative. Etter’s razor sharp depiction of Cassie's inner world reflects our broader societal malaise, particularly the way technology has become a dissociative coping mechanism, stripping us of presence and connection to our bodies.
The book’s descent through the layers of the pomegranate metaphorically echoes Dante's circles of hell, illustrating Cassie’s journey through the myriad horrors of capitalist, technological, and societal pressures. This journey is beautifully mirrored in the narrative structure, making the reader feel as though they are peeling back layers of capitalism to reveal the rot at the core of whatever’s plaguing Cassie.
The novel is rich with symbolism. Pomegranates, often associated with fertility, life, and death in various mythologies, mirror Cassie’s journey through the dark realities of her life in Silicon Valley. The fruit's seeds, like drops of blood, evoke the visceral struggles and ethical compromises Cassie faces at work. The pomegranate motif juxtaposed with the decay and despair in Cassie’s world poignantly encapsulates the novel’s central themes. Additionally, the black holes and outer space references tie into the overarching theme of the void, both literally and metaphorically, representing the existential crises that pervade the story.
"Ripe" by Sarah Rose Etter is a profound and thought-provoking novel that tackles significant socio-economic issues through a deeply personal and poetic lens. It is a must-read for those interested in exploring the intersection of personal identity and societal pressures, especially within the context of late-stage capitalism. With its lyrical prose, rich symbolism, and incisive social critique, "Ripe" stands out as a powerful narrative of unhinged feminine rage and the struggle for authenticity in a dissociative world. Etter's work is a testament to the power of fiction to illuminate the most pressing issues of our time, making "Ripe" a valuable addition to contemporary literature. I can’t wait to see what Etter does next.
📖 Recommended For: Fans of Lyrical and Symbolic Prose, Readers Interested in Socio-Economic Critiques, Admirers of Vivid and Grotesque Imagery, Enthusiasts of Ottessa Moshfegh’s "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" and Ling Ma’s "Severance."
🔑 Key Themes: Dissociation and Fragmented Identity, Capitalist Exploitation and Labor Struggles, The Decay of Personal Identity, The Intersection of Technology and Alienation, The Search for Authenticity Amid Societal Pressures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Sexual content, Police brutality, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use
Minor: Fatphobia, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, and Child abuse
lunabean's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide
natashax1997's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Having suffered from depression and working a corporate job this book was so relatable to me. It really captured a lot of my own feelings about working a job in a city and how bleak our capitalist society is. Definitely not one to read if you're currently depressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury
errie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Abortion, Medical content, and Police brutality
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
caroisreading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book laid bare all the wounds of my own tech startup traumas. You could read this seriously, or with the levity of dark comedy that it's sold as. It's so exact in its descriptions, the desperate conversations, branded swag, agonizing all-hands, diversity metrics (lack thereof), the hostile undertones that erupt eventually. I felt massive anxiety and nausea reading this.
Cassie is a marketing writer at Voyager, a user data startup promising ROI for its customers. She is far from home, not happy in San Francisco, barely affording rent and needing to buy outlet groceries despite being "senior" in a big tech job. Every day is a new nightmare, as she works endless hours and performs, to be told she's not performing. She relies on drugs, and a half-relationship with a chef, who admits he and his girlfriend are trying an open relationship. Throughout her life, she is followed by a black hole that grows and shrinks. She becomes infatuated with black hole research.
Sarah Rose Etter is a talented writer, and doesn't hold back in her relentless descriptions of late-stage capitalism, have and have-nots, sexism, depression, the helplessness and bitterness of an entire generation trying to survive pandemics and a housing crisis.
I had a hard time sorting through the many metaphors being thrown at us -- fruit and seeds, black holes and space, fire and filth, bloody meat, singularity. On top of this, dictionary definitions marked each chapter, which felt oddly campy and a bit of a disservice to the quality of the writing. All of this made for a distracting read, when I really just wanted to sit in the heart of the rage and recollections of our disintegrating narrator.
This is also a cast of horrible people that you'll need to be fine with hating. Even with Cassie, who endures verbal abuse at home and at work, you'll likely become frustrated, and belabored with the self pity displayed on each page.
You should still give this a try if you're okay mentally with a lot of depressing and triggering content, have survived the woman-in-tech experience (weak laugh), and like trippy, unstable narrator reads.
Cassie is a marketing writer at Voyager, a user data startup promising ROI for its customers. She is far from home, not happy in San Francisco, barely affording rent and needing to buy outlet groceries despite being "senior" in a big tech job. Every day is a new nightmare, as she works endless hours and performs, to be told she's not performing. She relies on drugs, and a half-relationship with a chef, who admits he and his girlfriend are trying an open relationship. Throughout her life, she is followed by a black hole that grows and shrinks. She becomes infatuated with black hole research.
Sarah Rose Etter is a talented writer, and doesn't hold back in her relentless descriptions of late-stage capitalism, have and have-nots, sexism, depression, the helplessness and bitterness of an entire generation trying to survive pandemics and a housing crisis.
I had a hard time sorting through the many metaphors being thrown at us -- fruit and seeds, black holes and space, fire and filth, bloody meat, singularity. On top of this, dictionary definitions marked each chapter, which felt oddly campy and a bit of a disservice to the quality of the writing. All of this made for a distracting read, when I really just wanted to sit in the heart of the rage and recollections of our disintegrating narrator.
This is also a cast of horrible people that you'll need to be fine with hating. Even with Cassie, who endures verbal abuse at home and at work, you'll likely become frustrated, and belabored with the self pity displayed on each page.
You should still give this a try if you're okay mentally with a lot of depressing and triggering content, have survived the woman-in-tech experience (weak laugh), and like trippy, unstable narrator reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Blood, Bullying, Infertility, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, and Addiction
pasadenaellie's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
is this a “a surreal journey through our late-capitalist hellscape and
a brilliantly incisive look at the absurdities of modern life,” or is it just what it’s like to live in san francisco?
a brilliantly incisive look at the absurdities of modern life,” or is it just what it’s like to live in san francisco?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
itsagivan's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
virgcole398's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
If you’re struggling with your mental health or healing from narcissistic abuse, please don’t read this book. It just hit too close to home…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Suicide, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Police brutality, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
annagerman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An exploration of life under late capitalism. A quintessentially millennial novel, about mental health, dating and love, friendship and familial ties, social and financial inequality, disillusionment from the "dream job", and corporate greed.
This story manages to explore so many different aspects and difficulties of modern life without being shallow, in a nuanced sensitive way.
I loved the writing, it was wry and sharp yet poignant. The use of magical realism was done just right, reflecting the complexities of the MC's inner-monologue. The structure of the chapters was also interesting.
I really felt for Cassie. Her views were definitely warped by her mental state, but I still found myself relating to many of her observations. The descriptions of depression and anxiety, and even suicidal indentations, were done particularly well. They are complex and subtle, yet emotionally charged and unsettling.
Verdict - 4.5\5 black holes.
A compelling, complex and absorbing read, tackling major issues, with a touch of magical realism and dark humor.
This story manages to explore so many different aspects and difficulties of modern life without being shallow, in a nuanced sensitive way.
I loved the writing, it was wry and sharp yet poignant. The use of magical realism was done just right, reflecting the complexities of the MC's inner-monologue. The structure of the chapters was also interesting.
I really felt for Cassie. Her views were definitely warped by her mental state, but I still found myself relating to many of her observations. The descriptions of depression and anxiety, and even suicidal indentations, were done particularly well. They are complex and subtle, yet emotionally charged and unsettling.
Verdict - 4.5\5 black holes.
A compelling, complex and absorbing read, tackling major issues, with a touch of magical realism and dark humor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Abortion, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical content and Suicide