Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Fruta Madura by Sarah Rose Etter

13 reviews

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 against another edition

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

sarahrosebooknook's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Addiction, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

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?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ourladyofcats's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

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…

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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

sophia_'s review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Abortion, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Alcoholism, Addiction, Excrement, Classism, and Bullying

literary_nikki's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Uhm. Well. Aye. This was fucking bleak. Observant, sharp, and bloody tragic. I've been reading through other reviews to see what other people have said about this book and one reviewer said "don't read this if you're on the edge of a breakdown" and I think that's exactly where I went wrong. It is beautifully written, don't get me wrong, the author is talented - it's deeply satirical, the imagery is something else, treading that line between grotesque and beautiful, and the narrative kept me turning the pages, but jeezo, it's filled me with an emptiness and overwhelming sense of dread. It's intense and horrific. Ooft. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Drug use

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, and Alcohol

dustghosts's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Abortion, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Child abuse, Infertility, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

leefox's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Self harm, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit