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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Well, I can't say that this was a depressing read like so many other people have said... it was just very boring. The characters were relatively boring and I didn't much care for them and the narrative was a bit jumpy and confusing. The imagery was quite beautiful and vivid, but that was the only redeeming quality that I found about this book. There really just wasn't a point to the whole thing... well, there was, Frome was in love with his wife's cousin, and the majority of the story went on an on about the angsty-ish love they shared and had to keep from Frome's wife. But... the ending was very, VERY anticlimactic and didn't resolve anything. Not that there was anything *to* resolve in the first place...
Definitely glad I didn't have to read this for school, because I'm sure the over analysis of it would make it even more pointless and much less tolerable to read.
Definitely glad I didn't have to read this for school, because I'm sure the over analysis of it would make it even more pointless and much less tolerable to read.
An extremely well-written tragedy. A lot packed into a few pages.
This is the most depressing book ever. But it is filled with vivid imagery and the story certainly gives some food for thought. This was my first Wharton, I liked that it was short but I think I will try The Age of Innocence next.
I love tragedy and misery, and this book gives it to you in a bite-sized chunk!
I was inspired to read this book after seeing the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition cover art. It really caught my eye. It looks like this:
Looks like something spoiler-ish is going on, but I wasn't sure what. I had some ideas. But I never would have guessed what was actually happening.
Anyway, long story short, an engineer visiting a small New England town noticed a man with an obvious foot handicap. Unusually, none of the townspeople are forthcoming with gossip about this man. When the engineer starts hiring him for carriage rides to his worksite, he begins to learn the details of his tragic tale.
It was a sad end, but actually less sad than it could of been. I thought it was kind of sweet that Ethan and Mattie got to keep seeing each other after all, and that Zeena was able to get over some of her hypochondria because she had to take care of them. Yes, they were horribly injured, but at least they didn't lose each other.
I was inspired to read this book after seeing the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition cover art. It really caught my eye. It looks like this:
Looks like something spoiler-ish is going on, but I wasn't sure what. I had some ideas. But I never would have guessed what was actually happening.
Anyway, long story short, an engineer visiting a small New England town noticed a man with an obvious foot handicap. Unusually, none of the townspeople are forthcoming with gossip about this man. When the engineer starts hiring him for carriage rides to his worksite, he begins to learn the details of his tragic tale.
Spoiler
Ethan Frome's wife, Zeena, is a hypochondriac and basically an invalid that likes to make his life miserable and waste his money on snake oil. Ethan starts to fall for his wife's beautiful cousin, Mattie, who is staying with them, and it's mutual. When Zeena tries to send Mattie away, both because she wants to hire a maid and because she suspects Ethan and Mattie are up to something, this tragic pair decide to attempt suicide by sledding into a large tree. The both survive but are horribly crippled.It was a sad end, but actually less sad than it could of been. I thought it was kind of sweet that Ethan and Mattie got to keep seeing each other after all, and that Zeena was able to get over some of her hypochondria because she had to take care of them. Yes, they were horribly injured, but at least they didn't lose each other.
Wharton is an incredible author I want to drown Ethan Frome in a lake.
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ethan Frome is a short, sad read with much to consider. I enjoyed the questions it raises about duty, obligation, and morality versus desire and the fact that it trojan horses a critique of women's lack of agency and choice in society through a male-focused novella. I am looking forward to reading more of Edith Wharton's work.
Comment on the Recorded Books product, not story itself: beware that the prologue is read out of order. Listening only, it might seem like the author is using non-linear structure. While the whole story is a flashback or story within a story (so called framed narrative), the prologue was not supposed to jump around. Fortunately, I was looking at the text while listening to the audio, so it was fast journey from confusion to mildly frustrated. I informed the publisher but received no reply.
As for the story, it reminds me of "the troubles of my heart have multiplied… See how my enemies have increased (Psalm 25:17,19)." Maybe written after Bathsheba? Hard to tell.
As for the story, it reminds me of "the troubles of my heart have multiplied… See how my enemies have increased (Psalm 25:17,19)." Maybe written after Bathsheba? Hard to tell.
Me ha gustado como escribe la autora, aunque la historia, quizas la hubiera disfrutado más en otro momento. Se me hizo un poco pesada al principio pero despues agarra agilidad y se vuelve muy interesante. Tiene una atmosfera muy buena, de frio y enfermedad.
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
I did like this, but I found it hard to concentrate on.