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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Hot damn—that one packs a wallop. Loved the writing style and the use of setting (a dreary New England winter) like a villain.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
loved the writing style
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A story set in Starkfield, Massachusetts, readers are introduced to Ethan Frome, a man who is faced with temptation and other vices, especially those of “infidelity”. Told through the lens of an unnamed narrator, this narrator recounts the origins of Ethan’s accident, something that happened 20 years ago, virtually destroying his right arm, and readers will find themselves slowly shaking their heads at Ethan, as he starts to fall in love with a girl named Mattie Smith, his wife’s cousin.
Personally, I did not like the plot. I did not enjoy reading about infidelity, nor did I enjoy reading about the large age gap between Ethan and Mattie as they flirted around; however, I must give credit where it’s due, and Edith Wharton certainly wrote an excellent story. I enjoyed how everything was connected in the end, and the twist at the end definitely stumped me, as I had made a wrong assumption about some characters in the beginning of the story. Because of this, I rate it 3.5/5 stars, and I’d recommend it for ages 14 and up, especially if you really want to understand the theme and ideas that are touched on in this tale.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is a novel to despair of love, pessimistic, where selfishness and conventions are predominant. It is a novel where the silences speak louder than the words.
That's a closed door where Edith Wharton, between the lines, seems to denounce her time's customs and social conditions with her precise writing.
It takes us into literature from another age, where talent was a necessary preamble to writing.
That's a closed door where Edith Wharton, between the lines, seems to denounce her time's customs and social conditions with her precise writing.
It takes us into literature from another age, where talent was a necessary preamble to writing.
I'm glad I read this again as I definitely like it better than I did the first time. I definitely appreciated the story more this time. The three adjective I would use to describe this novella are charming, bittersweet, and romantic. Edith Wharton's writing is lovely and not too extravagant, and her descriptions are detailed helping me easily picture the setting and the characters. I felt the isolation of the characters as I read this story. As far as characters, I had mixed feelings about each of the main characters for neither was completely blameless or guilty in the situation. You could understand what made them the way they are, and Wharton made them relatable. I vaguely remembered the ending, so it still had a small impact on me.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes