Monday, December 27, 2010

ETHAN FROME

Author:  Edith Wharton
Genre:  Classic Fiction, Standalone
Published:  1911
Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)
Yearly Count:  112




An unknown narrator tells the story of Ethan Frome.  Ethan lives with his wife Zeena and Zeena's cousin Mattie.  Mattie has been invited into their home to help with the household chores due to Zeena's illness.

I teetered between 3.75 and 4, but decided upon the 4 because it was a classic.  Most classics for one reason or another just do not appeal to me and this one did, so it gets the benefit of the doubt.

Without any prior knowledge, I was very curious as to where the story was heading.  Gratefully, I was intrigued throughout.  I'm glad I read this one at this time in my life.  If I had read it in high school like many people have, I think I wouldn't have appreciated the tension and mindset of this trio.    

Oh my goodness - I just noticed that this book is almost 100 years old.  Happy Century, Ethan Frome!

  

13 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this one when I read it a few years back. I've read House of Mirth too and liked that one as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do want to read this classic. I know it is pretty short, and not sure why I haven't read it yet. Great review! You've motivated me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:11 PM

    I've loved this book since high school!!! Right now I am actually reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.......what a great, great, book (although in HS I probably would have given it a -2....something to be said for maturity I guess)....hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Staci ~ I'll look into that one. Thanks.

    Diane ~ Yes, it's very short. Another reason for me to like it. :) I don't know if you'll rave about it, but I think you'll like it.

    Danielle ~ I don't think I have the patience for reading Les Miserables, but loved, loved, loved (saw it three times) the musical. :)

    I did have a wonderful Christmas, and the fun continues throughout this week. I hope yours was wonderful as well!

    FYI - An email to you is on my To-Do list today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am quite sure I read this as a teenager, which was a long while ago!, and yet I remember it very well, and wish I didn't!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was surprised at how much I liked this one as well. I'm still a bit surprised at the tension Wharton as able to create with this one. Glad you liked it, Joy!

    I see you're listening to EL&IC--my favorite read of 2010. Can't wait to hear what you think--I'm not sure it's one I could listen to given the 9 year old narrator.

    If I don't make it back around, I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and Day this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nan ~ What part do you wish you didn't remember?

    Trish ~ Yes, I'm listening to EL&IC. I am at the end of 3 of 10 discs and have to say I almost threw in the towel at the beginning of 2! The narrator(s) are not putting on children's voices (thank goodness!!!), so that part is fine. I just wasn't buying into the story line and became annoyed. However, I stuck it out until the end of 2 and decided that it did get better, so I would continue. Now, I love the relationship between Oskar and his grandmother. The feeling I get is that I'm going to love some and not so much other portions of the book. Also, I discovered somewhere that the book is filled with letters, empty pages, etc. I normally LOVE that in a book, so I'm thinking I'm going to check the book out from the library. I don't think the audio is doing it justice.

    Happy New Year to you, too!!! It's going to be an incredible year for you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Joy--yes, the book is incredibly visual. The letters will begin to make more sense, but they're some of the most visual pieces of the book. Definitely at least check it out as a companion. And glad it's getting better for you.

    And I hope you have a wonderful New Year as well. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Trish ~ I already put the book on hold at my library and will be able to pick it up on Tuesday. :) My plan is to read it as you stated - a companion.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just plain didn't like it. I thought the people were creepy. :<)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nan ~ I definitely felt a creepy/spooky-like aura, but I liked that part.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous11:12 PM

    I have this one one my shelf but had no idea what it was about. Looks good :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stacybuckeye ~ It's a very good, short book that you could read quickly if you find yourself in need of that. I'm glad I finally read it.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. :)

I hope you have a great day and ...
Happy Reading!