Ethan Frome in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 18, 2018 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: literature, concierge, library, audio, classic, family, massachusetts, tragedy

Digital audio narrated by C M Hebert

From the book jacket: Ethan Frome works his unproductive farm and struggles to maintain a bearable existence with his difficult, suspicious, and hypochondriac wife, Zeena. But when Zeena’s vivacious cousin enters their household as a hired girl, Ethan finds himself obsessed with her and with the possibilities for happiness she comes to represent.

My reactions:
I love Edith Wharton’s writing. I love the way she explores relationships and unfulfilled desires. The ...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Carol rated it really liked it

Shelves: wharton

Ethan Frome is the sad story of a hopeless marriage worsened by the blossoming of star-crossed love. Ethan and his invalid wife Zeena resent their loveless marriage and life together. When Zeena's sickness requires additional attention, Zeena's cousin Mattie is invited to Starkfield. Mattie's lovely and warm personality contrasts Zeena's cold character, revealing to Ethan how much is missing from his life. He and Mattie immediately fall in love, but with Zeena's constant presence their love is d ...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Bucket rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, reviewed, life-and-death, love, 1001-read-all-editions, literary, tragedy

Ethan Frome was a very quick read and, despite all its problems (and there are many), one I won't soon forget.

The biggest, but also most easy to ignore, problem is the frame story. It's jarring and unbelievable, and it's also completely unnecessary. Wharton writes in her introduction that the frame story is her way of allowing the story to jump many years in time in a single bound. I, for one, have no need for a rickety frame story about an unnamed stranger visiting town and trying to learn abo Ethan Frome was a very quick read and, despite all its problems (and there are many), one I won't soon forget.

The biggest, but also most easy to ignore, problem is the frame story. It's jarring and unbelievable, and it's also completely unnecessary. Wharton writes in her introduction that the frame story is her way of allowing the story to jump many years in time in a single bound. I, for one, have no need for a rickety frame story about an unnamed stranger visiting town and trying to learn about the Fromes to justify that jump. Perhaps in 1911, though, it was more necessary. I've read enough modern and post-modern lit that jumping around in time is the least of the complexities fiction authors make work.

Another problem is the over-dramatics - I got a little tired of the "Oh, Ethan!" and "Oh, Matt!" and the frustrating sexual tension.

A third problem was a sudden change in Ethan's character. In an early scene when he goes to pick up Mattie from a dance, he comes across as jealous and creepy. He very nearly seems emotionally abusive. Thereafter, though, he is more meek and silent than anything else. The early scene gave me the same icky feeling that Pride and Prejudice did, so I was glad the jealous Ethan mostly faded away.

The final thing that bugged me was the sense that Ethan and Mattie were such victims of Zeenia - the evil stepmother portrayal of a sick woman whose husband loves someone else.

Now to the good things!

Despite the portrayal Zeenia suffers, she's the strongest female character here. Unlike Mattie, she has motives, goals, and controls her own life and what happens to her.

I also enjoyed Ethan and Mattie's love story, once it got going, despite its frustrations. I practically cheered the first time they kissed.

The scenes and settings in Ethan Frome are so vivid - all throughout I could picture this brutal, cold, snow-covered atmosphere, and the rickety, dark farmhouse where the Fromes live. This culminates in the sledding scene towards the end which is absolutely fantastic.

Themes: love, forbidden love, tragedy, New England, winter, poverty, jealousy, frame story
...more

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