2.37k reviews for:

Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton

3.31 AVERAGE


Is it bad that I think of this book as a black comedy? It kind of is.

I might be a terrible person.

What got my attention when I first picked this book up was the vibrant, expression descriptions of life in New England. What held my attention was the tragic downward spiral of a flawed man. Every character felt real and raw. It was not the most uplifting read but it did cause me to reflect on my life and the choices that I making. A major take away for me was how important it is to control thoughts. Thoughts lead to action.
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I once knew a guy who said this was one of his favorite books because he related to Ethan. Now that I’ve read it I realize what a very depressing thing that was to say.

I read this in high school, when "reading" primarily meant SparkNotes and skimming through the chapters, or asking classmates what was happening. So, I figured I'd give this book another go, and actually read it this time without the pressure of a deadline or quizzes to worry about. And I have to say, it wasn't as good as I remember it back then. Could be because I actually read it this time around, or it could be that my tastes have changed in the 6 years since I last "read" it. I couldn't bring myself to feel connected with the characters and just wanted to get through it to finally say that I read it.

Well written but a bit boring.

I liked the perspective in this book. It's a short one and even though not much happens, I didn't want to put Ethan down.

Surprisingly easy read. It would be impossible to read this book and not have some compassion for Ethan.
medium-paced
dark emotional 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

Yowza. Uhm…not sure how I feel honestly. I liked Wharton’s writing a lot, but the characters just suck. They all suck so bad. And it made me a little anxious to be stuck in their world. I liked moments but yeah, overall I’m unimpressed.