Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bethanyclarkvt 's review for:
Ethan Frome
by Edith Wharton
This book sat on my shelf for years, and was next in a summer-long effort to attempt to read the books that had been sitting there unread the longest. I'd like to read more Edith Wharton, at least because I enjoyed Ethan Frome but felt there wasn't enough of it.
I loved how she wrote this book, how the sparseness of the language mimicked the sparseness of the landscape and the lives that lived in it. The nearly minimalist story mimicked the little that really occurs in these people's lives while still portraying a sense of despair and helplessness beautifully. The biggest critique I've heard of this book is that it's a good story, but a depressing one. I agree, but as an English major, I thrive on depressing stories.
I understand this is not the typical for Edith Wharton, but all the same, I'd love to read more of her books and more books like Ethan Frome. As I said earlier, I only wish there'd been more to the story. It would have run the risk of becoming a little too despairing, but there was just so much that was vague and left up to question. What exactly happened to Mattie in that crash for instance?
I loved how she wrote this book, how the sparseness of the language mimicked the sparseness of the landscape and the lives that lived in it. The nearly minimalist story mimicked the little that really occurs in these people's lives while still portraying a sense of despair and helplessness beautifully. The biggest critique I've heard of this book is that it's a good story, but a depressing one. I agree, but as an English major, I thrive on depressing stories.
I understand this is not the typical for Edith Wharton, but all the same, I'd love to read more of her books and more books like Ethan Frome. As I said earlier, I only wish there'd been more to the story. It would have run the risk of becoming a little too despairing, but there was just so much that was vague and left up to question. What exactly happened to Mattie in that crash for instance?