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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
medium-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
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD
10/8 - Enjoying this short book so far. The story is engaging, the writing easy to understand, Wharton even has a page of notes at the back of the book explaining some of the more difficult words or phrases in the story. Wharton jumps back and forth between 'current time' and about 20 years earlier, she does this without advising the reader of the time change, which has caused me some confusion. There is a perfect description of the landscape of the farm and beyond seen after a dreadful winter storm. The description is so clear I could see exactly what the narrator was seeing - spectacular sunrise, dazzlingly glittery snow and amazingly clear atmosphere after such foul weather the night before. If only you didn't have to have the violence of the storm to have the beautiful morning after. To be continued...
11/8 - I don't usually get themes or hidden messages that authors try to convey through their stories, I just enjoy the book for what it is telling me on the surface. But Ethan Frome's 'message' (if that's what it is) seems to be quite obvious. Wharton seems to be saying that no matter what you do to try to improve your situation in life, fate won't let you. If your fate is to live a miserable life, and you try to make it better (in whatever small or big way), fate will turn those actions around and bring you back to your miserable life, perhaps even make it worse to punish you. The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful but the story itself is quite depressing, but despite the latter I actually enjoyed the story.
10/8 - Enjoying this short book so far. The story is engaging, the writing easy to understand, Wharton even has a page of notes at the back of the book explaining some of the more difficult words or phrases in the story. Wharton jumps back and forth between 'current time' and about 20 years earlier, she does this without advising the reader of the time change, which has caused me some confusion. There is a perfect description of the landscape of the farm and beyond seen after a dreadful winter storm. The description is so clear I could see exactly what the narrator was seeing - spectacular sunrise, dazzlingly glittery snow and amazingly clear atmosphere after such foul weather the night before. If only you didn't have to have the violence of the storm to have the beautiful morning after. To be continued...
11/8 - I don't usually get themes or hidden messages that authors try to convey through their stories, I just enjoy the book for what it is telling me on the surface. But Ethan Frome's 'message' (if that's what it is) seems to be quite obvious. Wharton seems to be saying that no matter what you do to try to improve your situation in life, fate won't let you. If your fate is to live a miserable life, and you try to make it better (in whatever small or big way), fate will turn those actions around and bring you back to your miserable life, perhaps even make it worse to punish you. The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful but the story itself is quite depressing, but despite the latter I actually enjoyed the story.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
sad
tense
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
Would recommend: Maybe; it's not for everyone
When I borrowed this book from the library for an upcoming book club, the librarian said, "That is probably the saddest book I have ever read." Well, then! I expected to bawl my eyes out, but instead, the book beat up my heart with a meat mallet. Oof. This one lures you in by being picturesque and drowsy, but then the ending packs a wallop. It only confirms my love for Edith Wharton. I didn't cry, but I agree with the librarian.
When I borrowed this book from the library for an upcoming book club, the librarian said, "That is probably the saddest book I have ever read." Well, then! I expected to bawl my eyes out, but instead, the book beat up my heart with a meat mallet. Oof. This one lures you in by being picturesque and drowsy, but then the ending packs a wallop. It only confirms my love for Edith Wharton. I didn't cry, but I agree with the librarian.
Depressing and heartbreaking. That's all I can say about it.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had the sense that the deeper meaning of the story was in the gaps.
Edith Wharton
Ethan Frome
If you are looking for the perfect winter read, this isn't it. I first read Ethan Frome in high school and remember little to nothing, other than not liking it. I read more of Wharton in college, and thoroughly enjoyed her, but this novella is so drastically different from her other novels it's almost as if she didn't write it.
A fellow reader who also enjoys the classics saw my quest for a winter book and suggested I give this a try, mostly for setting. And it is true - you can feel the bitter New England setting of fictitious Starkfield, Massachusetts, as Wharton builds the subtle suspense of this story. And indeed, snow does play a huge and important role, but no spoilers....
This is a quick read and I did enjoy being taken back to "bleak midwinter" in Wharton's writing and I found myself able to appreciate this very original story of a man caught in a loveless marriage and the fate that befalls him when he finds a glimpse of happiness with another woman.
But again, this is not a cozy holiday book to curl up with - it is very dark and cold in not just setting but character too. However, if you're looking to check off the classic box before the end of 2020, this is a fast read!
Edith Wharton
Ethan Frome
If you are looking for the perfect winter read, this isn't it. I first read Ethan Frome in high school and remember little to nothing, other than not liking it. I read more of Wharton in college, and thoroughly enjoyed her, but this novella is so drastically different from her other novels it's almost as if she didn't write it.
A fellow reader who also enjoys the classics saw my quest for a winter book and suggested I give this a try, mostly for setting. And it is true - you can feel the bitter New England setting of fictitious Starkfield, Massachusetts, as Wharton builds the subtle suspense of this story. And indeed, snow does play a huge and important role, but no spoilers....
This is a quick read and I did enjoy being taken back to "bleak midwinter" in Wharton's writing and I found myself able to appreciate this very original story of a man caught in a loveless marriage and the fate that befalls him when he finds a glimpse of happiness with another woman.
But again, this is not a cozy holiday book to curl up with - it is very dark and cold in not just setting but character too. However, if you're looking to check off the classic box before the end of 2020, this is a fast read!