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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
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!
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
slow-paced
I am in love with this book even though it broke my heart. I couldn't stop reading it. Her writing style just sucks you in, and the characters just make you love them from the beginning!
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
Wharton did not become a favorite of mine for nothing. She knows exactly how to play the tune of depressing love stories. Her concept of love is never simple and easy. Everything has to be complex, bleak and difficult and there’s little or no chance of happiness, just the way I like it! After reading The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, I started worshipping Wharton as a kindred spirit and decided to read anything and everything she writes.
Ethan Frome is a short novel telling the story of a love triangle. There’s not much to tell about the novel, it must be read to grasp the heavy atmosphere created by the skillful author. I could literally feel my heart squeezed tight with small gestures and petty dialogs full of meaning. I really enjoyed it while hating everything about it at the same time. Wharton, you beautiful, annoying, depressing freak of an author, thank you for the extra weight on my soul today.
Ethan Frome is a short novel telling the story of a love triangle. There’s not much to tell about the novel, it must be read to grasp the heavy atmosphere created by the skillful author. I could literally feel my heart squeezed tight with small gestures and petty dialogs full of meaning. I really enjoyed it while hating everything about it at the same time. Wharton, you beautiful, annoying, depressing freak of an author, thank you for the extra weight on my soul today.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I didn't like this book. I struggled getting through the book and it didn't catch my attention.