Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

148 reviews

missjulia92's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Abortion

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Drug use

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction, Police brutality, and Panic attacks/disorders

disguisedposer's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Child abuse, Grief, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

pookiee's review

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Addiction, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, and Medical content

Moderate: Infertility, Abortion, and Vomit

Minor: Racism and Misogyny

m47n's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As stressful as I found living in SF to be. I don’t know that this book had anything interesting or important to say. Life is disappointing, capitalism is bad in both general and specific ways, and parents are shitty. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abortion

starzzz's review

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

It really dives into the claustrophobic atmosphere of capitalism and wanting to belong.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Addiction, Drug use, and Classism

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

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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.

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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

teoman753's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexism and Suicidal thoughts

ladynocturnal's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As a San Francisco native, I give this book my stamp of approval. I recommend this book to anyone struggling with our dystopian capitalistic reality. You are not crazy, life sucks.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Abortion and Panic attacks/disorders