Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter

7 reviews

sarahrosebooknook's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No

4.5


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tajosima's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Chapter 21: I knew I had to buy this book.
The way I feel about this book is the way I felt about The Bell Jar when I read it when I was younger. Now I’m older and I have Ripe to describe how i feel

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dixiecarroll's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

that ending had me !!! Okay so this is not going to be for everyone, but after a few years navigating Goodreads I’ve figured out that books this polarizing on here always end up being my favorites. Cassie works at a toxic start up in Silicon Valley and is miserable (relatable) and she’s followed around by a black hole, which is the physical manifestation of her depression (my mom said this is also very relatable). If you work in corporate America, especially for a start up this is going to be upsetting for you, but I ate it up. Please mind there are a ton of triggers - I’m tagging them on StoryGraph. I recommended it at work!

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clarxvizconde13's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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kelseythomas326's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.0

This feels like a less-good mashup of SEVERANCE and MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION. The "black hole" metaphor for the main character's depression is too on-the-nose for me, and every character is a caricature, too easy to hate. Etter also brings up social issues like homelessness and drug use but only to make simple observations with no actual feeling, message, or point. (There are lots of references to shit in the streets, supposed to serve as a sign of the prevalence of the unhoused in the money-hungry, tech-obsessed city, though Etter makes small [if obvious] attempts to humanize them as well.)

A quick pandemic warning: I couldn't help but say "Ugh" when, very early in the novel, a certain virus is mentioned, but thankfully, it's only a small presence lurking in the background of the novel. The story takes place before things really get crazy, starting with the very first headlines and ending with everyone only just beginning to mask. So if you, like me, fear, loathe, scoff at, etc., the dreaded "pandemic novel," no worries, this isn't really one.

I did like how stylized everything in the novel was, from the repeated pomegranate imagery to the black hole drawings to the dictionary definitions at the start of each chapter. I just wish I liked the content inside the form more.

All that being said, it was a very easy and quick read, and it broke me out of my reading slump. Thanks, Etter!

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lexim's review against another edition

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4.0


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bookrokosmos's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ripe is definitely a captivating and thought-provoking read that manages to depict Cassie's deep sense of emptiness. The author's engaging and bold prose truly brings the story to life, showcasing the unique format of the book that skillfully alternates between Cassie's present and past experiences. However, what truly adds to the poignancy of the narrative is how the ever-present black hole consistently mirrors Cassie's emotions in every passing moment. It's a hauntingly beautiful, yet undeniably sad and somewhat discomforting journey.

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