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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
While it is well-written, it is seriously depressing due to the treatment of women in it. Ethan complains about his wife - who cared for his mother until she died and helped him cope with life immediately after her passing - and fawns all over her cousin who comes to stay with them. Then when the cousin is to be sent away, he has the nerve to say he would rather the cousin die than get married herself! Then when she suggests they commit suicide by sledding into a tree, he takes her up on it! And instead of dying she winds up paralyzed and he injuring his legs! And guess who takes care of them both to the end of their days in her home! That "awful" wife of his. I must insist no one feel sorry for Ethan Frome.
Tragic. Beautiful. After reading this book as a teenager I have avoided going sledding when there are trees at the bottom of the hill. Severence Green was ok.
A well-written, depressing little book.
Putting to one side the struggles that they were facing due to money, I can't say any of the characters were particularly likeable. Perhaps Mattie was beforeher accident , but definitely not after.
Zeena is harsh and rather unkind. This said, she's a chronically ill woman who's husband shows no interest in her and her attempts to find a cure. Whilst he makes eyes at her relation/maid, it's completely understandable where a sense of bitterness would come from. With an implication of people talking about how Mattie should have been sent away sooner, you can see why she did what she did, even if the way in which she did it was cruel. Furthermore, at the endafter the accident it's a sudden change to go from heading swiftly towards death and in dire need of someone to look after her and her husband to well and able to care for herself, her husband and a severely disabled relative .
Mattie is a naive girl with no one to care for her but her aunt (who doesn't speak to her) and Ethan. When an older man is showing you such kindness and making eyes at you, it begins to feel unsettling. Furthermore, it's more than understanding thatshe becomes the way that she is when their joint suicide attempts ends as it does .
In regards to his wife and Mattie, Ethan got what he sowed. Whilst reading, I found myself wondering if Ethan's attentions towards Mattie were one-sided, thinking that the book might take a controlling, creepy path. I'm glad that that wasn't the case. At the end of the day though, he wanted tohave an affair and even though he couldn't follow through, he was ready to kill himself instead . He's all over the place as a character.
Putting to one side the struggles that they were facing due to money, I can't say any of the characters were particularly likeable. Perhaps Mattie was before
Zeena is harsh and rather unkind. This said, she's a chronically ill woman who's husband shows no interest in her and her attempts to find a cure. Whilst he makes eyes at her relation/maid, it's completely understandable where a sense of bitterness would come from. With an implication of people talking about how Mattie should have been sent away sooner, you can see why she did what she did, even if the way in which she did it was cruel. Furthermore, at the end
Mattie is a naive girl with no one to care for her but her aunt (who doesn't speak to her) and Ethan. When an older man is showing you such kindness and making eyes at you, it begins to feel unsettling. Furthermore, it's more than understanding that
In regards to his wife and Mattie, Ethan got what he sowed. Whilst reading, I found myself wondering if Ethan's attentions towards Mattie were one-sided, thinking that the book might take a controlling, creepy path. I'm glad that that wasn't the case. At the end of the day though, he wanted to
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The art of the ineffable. It immediately became one of my favourite books.
incredibly depressing and tragic, but that’s Edith Wharton! queen of sparse prose, Ethan Frome is like the winter counterpart of a beach read ? perfect story for the cold season of limited daylight
dark
sad
tense
slow-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
Okay Edith, I see you. Definitely need to read more of her work. This was a very fun and quick read. Would definitely recommend!
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced