Unhinged in Silicon Valley
This week we take a look at a book which was not on my list for 2024 but it was recommended to me by a wonderful friend who was very enthusiastic in her recommendation so it went to the top of the list. As it turns out, I am a bit of a fan of books with a female MC who is descending into madness or is a little unhinged, AKA normal. I don’t know what this says about me as a person but let’s not question it too much.. Do you have any recommendations for me with this in mind? Think books like Big Swiss, Sorrow and Bliss, Mrs March … The book in question is Sarah Rose Etter’s novel, Ripe.
This book presents a vivid and unsettling portrayal of the modern corporate landscape through the eyes of Cassie, a woman entangled in the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley. A year into what she once considered her dream job at a ruthless startup, Cassie finds herself trapped in a corporate nightmare. The long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects weigh heavily on her, clashing starkly with the glittering promise of a city where obscene wealth contrasts with abject poverty.
My friend and I have both worked in corporate environments and some of the stuff that happens in that world that you (sometimes) don’t even question, is slightly cultlike. Is this how we build good corporate culture? It does have the word cult in it! I think this is one of the reasons that this book landed for us. The high paced corporate environment was relatable.
Etter captures the stark contrasts of Silicon Valley, where Ivy League graduates complain about snack options (snacks become a BIG thing in an office environment) from lavish conference rooms overlooking the homeless bathing in the bay. The story takes a dark turn as burnout employees leap into the paths of commuter trains, and desperate men set themselves ablaze in the streets. Cassie, though isolated, is never truly alone; she has a constant, invisible companion—a miniature black hole that feeds on her depression and anxiety, growing and shrinking with her distress. This black hole, ever-watchful and waiting, has a relentless pull that draws Cassie closer as her world falls apart.
This is one those books where the protagonist is relatable yet frustrating as hell. I wanted to scream at her, “Cassie, get out now!!!!” There were many questionable life choices being made which made this book hard to put down. I found myself reading into the night to find out what bad decisions Cassie was going to make next. I have a lot of respect for authors who write flawed and unlikeable characters – it is such a risk. I think the risk paid off. The portrayal of Cassie’s mental health struggles is both clever and haunting, adding depth to her character.
For fans of Big Swiss, Sorrow and Bliss, and Mrs March, Ripe is a must-read. It’s a daring exploration of the fine line between ambition and self-destruction, and a powerful narrative about the cost of chasing the corporate dream.
This book was confronting, vulnerable, funny, and unsettling. It may have you questioning the capitalist hellscape. It may have you quitting your job – who knows? Are you prepared to find out? Because life is too short to work in a capitalist hellscape … and to read bad books.