A Tuesday, on the train, in the evening, after work. The train smells of: humans and ruin, bad breath, old sweat, rotten fruit. Through the dirty window, San Francisco in winter: cold sunset over glinting water, dark hills dusted with lights, the black silhouettes of palm fronds clawing at the fading pastel sky.
The train is full of Believers. I’m not one of them. The Believers have wan skin and glassy eyes. They wear: wind jackets with tech logos, raw denim, canvas sneakers, sustainable ballet flats. Their white plastic earbuds override the sound of real life, their faces buried in their screens. They do not speak or make eye contact. They aren’t really here. The train is full of husks.
I act like one of them. Slow, sad music plays through my earbuds. The song makes the commute feel like a movie. With each flash of scenery, the train carries me farther away from the office. Each day here presses the life out of me. On the way home, I am silent, flat, pulped.
— Sarah Rose Etter, Ripe: A Novel (Scribner, July 11, 2023)
Image & Book Review by Vivian Manning-Schaffel in Shondaland (July 11, 2023): In Her New Novel, ‘Ripe,’ Sarah Rose Etter Shows the Pitfalls of a Hyper-Capitalist System. Etter’s latest novel is a poignantly tragic, absurdist view of the “late-capitalist hellscape” that is grind culture.
Wow, David. This post is the first thing I see as I open my eyes and start to wake up. It feels like somebody just punched me in the stomach. It makes me want to get off the grid and go live on the largest piece of undeveloped woodland that I can afford to purchase.
I just went to Audible and listened to the audio sample of the book. It is far more shocking and negative than what David posted here. Caution: don’t listen unless you are prepared…
LAUGHING. So good Paul. I felt EXACTLY the same way reading it….Have a GREAT DAY!
You have a great day as well David 🙂
Man, does that have the startling ring of truth. ‘The train is full of husks.’ Wow.
(You) and this Lady can write!
I have noticed very clearly through her comments that Lori writes beautifully!
Awww, thanks pal!
‘Funny’ – that one sentence made me shudder too – but then, of course, there us this deep Lori-Dave connection I always see and understand.
rotting on the vine
Right!
Beautiful writing. Another depressing read…
I don’t understand!
My commute from work is the time I recharge. My commute to work is the time I set myself for the day.
Sometimes I’m listening to music and reading or scrolling on my phone. Other times, I listen to the sounds of life and look out the window or study faces.
I also live in a big city and work in the heart of downtown. I wouldn’t say my commute is my favorite part of the day. But I love my commute time.
The only times I’ve experienced a commute like what she describes, it was at times something else was happening in my life.
I think how we perceive/experience anything is a reflection of the state we’re in.
You operate at a different and higher plane!
I have to say, I terribly miss your commute writing series, train, flying, or the highway.
Most of those posts have left a long-lasting impression, some were life changing for me.
❤️
For me too. That’s why I’m working from home.
🙃
Pretty steep price to pay to be a techno-literate cog…I have this in my queue (third on the list), and I keep placing it farther behind, because one can quickly become bought with a pair of golden handcuffs
I’m 25% in. A bit dark.
How could It not be, when one thinks about how much of their soul they’re prepared to sacrifice
Right!
Geesh, I know I’ve been absent for a time…first the format change of your .com (when did that happen?) and those Words – “A Tuesday, on the train, in the evening, after work” I thought oh no, Dave is working in the City << again and riding the Train << (and missing the pup)
Oh no. Format of .com changed??? Can you tell me where you saw that please?
Okay … don’t want to be a husk. Reach out for nearby pup and reaffirm I am not one after all.
Whew!
Thank you pups and love 💗
Thanks God for Pups! YES!
It’s a NO from me
Laughing.