Play Book Tag discussion

Ethan Frome is a poor New England farmer in, what I would guess, is the early 1900's. He scrabbles to make ends meet and to have a productive farm but his biggest turmoil lies with his harridan of a wife, Zeena. She is a hypochondriac with a suspicious mind and is never satisfied with anything Ethan does. When Zeena insists that she is too ill to deal with the household her cousin Mattie comes to live with the Frome's and to wait on Zeena hand and foot. Ethan is beguiled by Mattie and sees in her the charming companion that his wife never was nor could ever be. Mattie's feelings for Ethan are kept to herself until neither of them can hide their desires any longer. Knowing that her husband covets her lovely cousin, Zeena conspires to send Mattie away unknowingly setting in motion a terrible tragedy.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The author's descriptions of the stark, cold farmlands of New England were superb. Ethan is a character the reader wants to have a much better life than he is living. The ending is chilling.

It is extremely evocative writing. I've never hated a character as much as I hated Zeena.

I love Edith Wharton.