Reading 1001 discussion

5 stars

Tragedy, Misery and Witticism combine for a beautiful read. I never include story synopses or spoilers in my reviews, and I am finding this book very difficult to review with those constraints. So this review may be short. But I do have a few comments to make.

Ethan Frome is a tale of tragedy -- and that story grows more difficult with each page. He is a man who wants to escape the obligations of his life at home with a wife he doesn't love, and to do that with her cousin whom he does love. As the story progresses he struggles more and the misery grows. It is difficult to watch him spiral and I found myself rooting for him to escape. I am a married woman -- almost 21 years -- and rarely would I root for a character to leave his wife, but here I did. Ethan seemed lighter and more likable when he was apart from her. He seemed happier. And I found myself hoping that he would run away. Here is the hard part ... I cannot say whether I got what I cheered for without ruining the book, and so I will not.

I will say this: Edith Wharton's facility with the English language is a thing of beauty. She tells this story of misery with lovely words that sometimes made me back up to reread simply because of the allure and artistry. I felt about her book much the same as I feel about the books of Pat Conroy... which is to say I loved it.

This is a stark little novel - both in the desolate winter setting and the lack of options due to poverty and then the horrible ending where everybody is just miserable.

I spent most of the story thinking that the accident that Ethan was in was the result of him trying to murder his wife. That, sadly, wasn't the case.

I did too Chinook. I thought it was a really excellent twist. What was your rating.

I gave it four stars. I contemplated five, but I read House of Mirth right after and thought it was even better, so Frome just got 4.

Read: I've read this at least twice, once in high school (the sixties) and 12/22/1012
Rating: it was a favorite of mine for years, after rereading, it lost ground. 4 stars
Review: Set in New England, Massachusetts in the winter. The narrator has to stay at the Frome's when the winter weather prevents him from continuing on and he learns the story of Ethan Frome. I liked it better the first time I read it but a great American classic filled with literary symbolism. A quick winter read.

Ethan Frome- 4 stars
I read this for my TBR challenge in November 18.

This was the first book I have read by Edith Wharton, and I agree with all your comments above. Such a devastating but beautiful book. The prose was exquisite.

Looking forward to The House of Mirth if that is even better!

I read this book while traveling in Massachusetts on one of the most beautiful autumn days after the first frost. The winter setting of the book and the author’s intimate knowledge of the cold New England environment with its silent rocks and taciturn people prompted a winter warning as much as that first frost did. The affliction of poverty and the limitations it places on people makes this such a compelling American tragedy. The misery in this tale is so painful, when our protagonist has no choices and still manages to make the wrong one. I gave this 4 stars.

Edith Wharton always writes beautifully, but her stories can be so painful. It seems that I've learned to appreciate that writing, but because of the difficult content, I tend to enjoy the shorter stories more. This one was just the right length. Although I had an idea of what would happen as I got further into the story, I was continuously curious to know exactly how the story would work itself out.

I reread this story for a Litsy Wharton group and even on the second reading, the amazing language, the cold atmosphere and the tension filled misery, made it just as compelling.

read Dec. 2014

I read this in the winter, which seems apropos. This was my second Wharton (after The Age of Innocence) so I knew there would be beautiful writing; as well I had seen the movie so I knew it would be gut wrenchingly miserable.

I became a 'fan' of Wharton after The Age of Innocence; but I think it was this novel that solidified my admiration of being able to write such painful stories so beautifully. 4*