Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Fruta Madura by Sarah Rose Etter

62 reviews

noraquigs's review against another edition

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

5.0

if a novel has a carmen maria machado blurb, you know it’s about to be poignant and devastating. ripe tears apart the american dream shred by shred. capitalism doesn’t work even for the best and brightest of workers. and all there really is left is small moments of joy in the absolute devastating absurdity of modern life. 

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onewoman_bookclub's review against another edition

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

5.0


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ukponge's review against another edition

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

5.0


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dee97's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

As a depressed girlie working in the tech world, this book hit a little too close to home. It is one of those books that gets under your skin. I was so deeply affected by this book, the writing is bleak and the author uses magic realism namely a “black hole “ to highlight the depressing atmosphere. Every thing Cassie felt , i have felt at some point and i was unsettled by the end. The theme of loneliness, class difference, mental health, lunacy of the cooperate world and the existential dread is brilliantly handled . This will stay with me for a long time.

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avocadotoastbee's review against another edition

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

4.5

Ripe is for people with mommy issues who cried watching Ladybird and enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfeigh, as well as Sarah Rose Etter's previous novel The Book of X.

Just as in The Book of X, we follow the protagonist, Cassie. Perhaps it is a different version of Cassie from The Book of X. The novel is set in Silicon Valley, where Cassie works at a tech start-up and struggles with life in the late capitalist world - housing crisis, a deadly virus, working 90 hours a week and appearing to cope with it all.

"A single choice made with the best intentions can become a terrible life. Imagine biting into a seemingly ripe fruit, only to have your mouth filled with rot."

What makes the story so bizarre is that Cassie was born with a black hole always hovering next to her.
If you've read The Book of X and liked Etter's writing style, you'll love Ripe, too.
Throughout the book, Sarah Rose Etter inserts facts about black holes, physics, and word definitions.

"it was just me and the black hole, which spiraled wider. I stared into the abyss and wondered, not for the first or the last time, what would become of me if I let myself fall inside."

I just wished the ending hadn't been so abrupt. I would have liked to know more about Cassie's thoughts after the abortion and how she felt at her last meeting at work. I feel like the last few pages could have been stretched out a bit more.


All in all, I was stunned by Ripe. I related to it on a deep level and at times I felt like Etter was in my head, taking my life and thoughts as inspiration. The way she describes certain themes is unmatched. I can't wait to read more from her.
She has easily become one of my favorite authors this year.

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deannawhitlow's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-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

3.25


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syellico's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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sineadherself's review against another edition

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

4.5

This is a gorgeous, uncomfortable, haunting book. The language is immediate and visceral, working to maintain a tension throughout the story that never seems to let up. This is felt all the more as the challenges that Cassie faces will be similar to the ones this novel's readers are facing - how to live in an increasingly corrupt world. Rather than being depressing this book acts as a balm almost, a confirmation and vindication of what you already knew; yes, the world is as bad as you say it is, and no, you are not crazy.

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witchhunt's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective
  • 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? Yes

4.25


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micareads123's review against another edition

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

5.0


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