Ethan Frome
Registered by woosang of Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on 1/6/2005
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
17 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, January 6, 2005
Convention and circumstance bind Ethan Frome to a wife he cannot love. Resigned to his fate, he sees for himself a bleak life. But the appearance of his ailing wife's cousin, Matte Silver, rouses a passion that provokes a last, desperate impulse to free himself.
Journal Entry 2 by woosang at James Squire Brew House in Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, February 7, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (2/8/2005 UTC) at James Squire Brew House in Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia
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Skinny book will fill in a busride for some one.
releasing at meetup
Skinny book will fill in a busride for some one.
releasing at meetup
Ah, I am a fan of Edith Wharton, and don't own a copy of this! Actually, I only know of the title of this book because Martin Blank bags it out in the great movie "Grosse Point Blank". I never realised it was written by Edith Wharton until I picked up this copy at meetup!
Thanks woosang, I'm looking forward to reading this. Nice and slim too!
Thanks woosang, I'm looking forward to reading this. Nice and slim too!
A very quick read, both because it was short and because it was beautifully written by Edith Wharton.
I did have to say that the completely tragic ending though had me more giggling than wiping a tear from my eye. It was just so over-the-top. I think of it as more of a morality tale for the horrors that would happen to you if you chose to attempt suicide, rather than a morality tale for falling in love with your wife's cousin. I didn't feel that there was anything negative about Ethan and Mattie's relationship, apart from the fact that Ethan is married.
And married to a horrible woman (she's definitely one of the top book villains of all time), so I can see completely why he fell in love with the first pretty girl to come along, really.
I tried not to think too much about how the narrator has pieced together the story from sidelong glances and unspoken words, and yet has managed to get an awful lot of dialogue out of the characters. That would just be not letting myself suspend disbelief quite enough. :)
I finally got around to reading this for the Set It Yourself reading challenge: I've chosen to read six books I've had for more than a year, and this one is well qualified. Thanks woosang for letting it gather dust on my shelves for a while. :)
As this is on the "1001 books you must read before you die" list, I shall offer it up as a bookray to keep it travelling from now on.
I did have to say that the completely tragic ending though had me more giggling than wiping a tear from my eye. It was just so over-the-top. I think of it as more of a morality tale for the horrors that would happen to you if you chose to attempt suicide, rather than a morality tale for falling in love with your wife's cousin. I didn't feel that there was anything negative about Ethan and Mattie's relationship, apart from the fact that Ethan is married.
And married to a horrible woman (she's definitely one of the top book villains of all time), so I can see completely why he fell in love with the first pretty girl to come along, really.
I tried not to think too much about how the narrator has pieced together the story from sidelong glances and unspoken words, and yet has managed to get an awful lot of dialogue out of the characters. That would just be not letting myself suspend disbelief quite enough. :)
I finally got around to reading this for the Set It Yourself reading challenge: I've chosen to read six books I've had for more than a year, and this one is well qualified. Thanks woosang for letting it gather dust on my shelves for a while. :)
As this is on the "1001 books you must read before you die" list, I shall offer it up as a bookray to keep it travelling from now on.
Bookray participants so far are (order subject to change without notice):
crimson-tide, AU
FreePages, AU
Miss-Owl, AU
livrecache, AU
davemurray101, AU
fushmush, UK
brunton11, UK
KT-J, UK
stubee, UK
Caroley, UK
wigglywoods, UK
jellyfish67, UK
garibaldisghost, UK
rebeccaljames, US
crimson-tide, AU
FreePages, AU
Miss-Owl, AU
livrecache, AU
davemurray101, AU
fushmush, UK
brunton11, UK
KT-J, UK
stubee, UK
Caroley, UK
wigglywoods, UK
garibaldisghost, UK
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Popped in the post to crimson-tide today. I managed to jam up the mailbox (don't ask how, I'm quite puzzled myself!) so depending on how long it takes to unjam, the book might take a while to turn up. I just hope it doesn't get damaged during the unjamming process!
Happy reading!
Popped in the post to crimson-tide today. I managed to jam up the mailbox (don't ask how, I'm quite puzzled myself!) so depending on how long it takes to unjam, the book might take a while to turn up. I just hope it doesn't get damaged during the unjamming process!
Happy reading!
Journal Entry 7 by 
crimson-tide
from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 12, 2009
crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 12, 2009
It is a nice little slim one, isn't it. And it's arrived in good time and undamaged. :-)
Although in your defence tqd, I will say that it wasn't the only book in the bag. If you'd managed to jam up the mailbox with this one alone (which is precisely 6mm thick) then you deserve a medal. *lol*
Although in your defence tqd, I will say that it wasn't the only book in the bag. If you'd managed to jam up the mailbox with this one alone (which is precisely 6mm thick) then you deserve a medal. *lol*
Journal Entry 8 by crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Saturday, January 24, 2009
crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Saturday, January 24, 2009
I found this a simple yet powerful tale with its main strength being the fact that it is so well written. Wharton certainly manages to pack a lot into a very slim volume and can pin a character's essence with minimal description, and the setting of the harsh, bitterly cold and silent New England winter was perfect in that it almost mirrors the personalities of the characters. Zeena was such a horrible person, so callous and manipulative, that I felt an almost physical reaction when reading of her devious machinations and total disregard for the feelings of others.
There was a decent build up of dread and foreboding, but I must agree with you tqd that the climax was indeed 'over the top'! And it was inconsistent too - if you decide to do the 'right' thing and not run off to find happiness with your dearly beloved because it would leave your ghastly wife in a pickle, then how can the decision to top yourself leave her (or anyone else) any better off? But then I guess Ethan was so devastated and lovestruck that he wasn't thinking clearly at the time. duh! Perhaps it is also a lesson in being more specific if you wish for something . . . after all Ethan ended up with what he wanted, just not in the way he wanted it.
So another 1001 book can be crossed off the list. I do like these short ones. ;-)
Will be sending off to FreePages on Monday.
There was a decent build up of dread and foreboding, but I must agree with you tqd that the climax was indeed 'over the top'! And it was inconsistent too - if you decide to do the 'right' thing and not run off to find happiness with your dearly beloved because it would leave your ghastly wife in a pickle, then how can the decision to top yourself leave her (or anyone else) any better off? But then I guess Ethan was so devastated and lovestruck that he wasn't thinking clearly at the time. duh! Perhaps it is also a lesson in being more specific if you wish for something . . . after all Ethan ended up with what he wanted, just not in the way he wanted it.
So another 1001 book can be crossed off the list. I do like these short ones. ;-)
Will be sending off to FreePages on Monday.
Journal Entry 9 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 26, 2009
crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 26, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/26/2009 UTC) at Balingup, Western Australia Australia
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Posted to FreePages Monday 26th, but as it's a holiday (Happy Australia Day!) it won't be collected until Tuesday night.
Posted to FreePages Monday 26th, but as it's a holiday (Happy Australia Day!) it won't be collected until Tuesday night.
Journal Entry 10 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, January 29, 2009
Caught today, on the way home from the public pool, 37C today, not as hot as some place tho' :-)
What a slip of a book! Only $1.10 postage all the way from WA in 3 days! Thanks Crimson-Tide.
Looking forward to ticking another one off my 1001 TBR list. Thanks for the ray tqd :-)
I'll pause my current read and start on this one tonight.
What a slip of a book! Only $1.10 postage all the way from WA in 3 days! Thanks Crimson-Tide.
Looking forward to ticking another one off my 1001 TBR list. Thanks for the ray tqd :-)
I'll pause my current read and start on this one tonight.
Journal Entry 11 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, February 2, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/2/2009 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: I found this sort of fascinating and I've spent a few hours mulling over what I am going to journal about this one, going back over pages of the written word, not something I normally do. I was surprised to find so much in such a small book but I didn't find this to be a very powerful tale until the outcome of the relationships was told at the end.
It is another one of the classics that so many people have described as boring. Not that I found it that way myself. Another book that a reader either loves or hates. Possibly too bleak a story for me to love it, but I'm sure that there are others that do.
Just a few random thoughts:
Crimson-tide I do like the reference to Ethan not wanting to leave the ghastly wife in a pickle (considering the issue of the cat and the prized pickle dish). Zeeta was very self-serving while she had the option and I think she was left in a pickle at the end.
It being so hot here, I didn't find the the bitterly cold winter a very effective oppressive presence. Give me some cool relief at the moment, I'll be happy.
There is a fair share of irony in this work notably one: Ethan in Ch. 9 says "I want to put my hand out and touch you. I want to do for you and care for you. I want to be there when you're sick and when you're lonesome."
It is a bleak story but it was the way that the characters approached their situation with a lack of empathy, humour and communication that made these three lives unbearable.
I'm pleased that we have technology now that make rural locations, sickness and disability not as isolating as in the past. Although it still presents challenges.
According to wikipedia Edith Warton based the climax of the story on an accident that she had actually witnessed.
I agree that I found the the crazy solution that Ethan and Mattie came up with was over the top and the irony of the ending made it a giggle.
Read Jan29-30.
94 Pages.
It is off to Miss-Owl in the mail today. Enjoy.
It's here! Thanks, everyone :)
I'm looking at the snowy cover with amusement. I've just come home from my forty degrees+ classroom!
I'll get started after polishing off my current read.
I'm looking at the snowy cover with amusement. I've just come home from my forty degrees+ classroom!
I'll get started after polishing off my current read.
What crazy weather - got out my woollens with the temperature halving since I last wrote!
This book reminds me of Jane Austen's remark about her own work: "the little bit (two Inches wide) of Ivory on which I work with so fine a Brush". Similarly, "Ethan Frome" is only about two inches wide (actually, not even that!) but a mile deep. A few quick, skilful brushstrokes have been enough to evoke a fully-formed portrait of stagnation - the depressing air of entrapment that enscribes Ethan's life. Does this qualify as tragedy? If Aristotle has it right, then it must involve the fall, the waste of a great one; the tragedy here is that we don't even know what Ethan's potential might have been. A sad, sad story of human spitefulness and folly.
On the bright side - that was a quick 1001 read! Thanks, tqd, for the ring!
PMing livrecache now.
This book reminds me of Jane Austen's remark about her own work: "the little bit (two Inches wide) of Ivory on which I work with so fine a Brush". Similarly, "Ethan Frome" is only about two inches wide (actually, not even that!) but a mile deep. A few quick, skilful brushstrokes have been enough to evoke a fully-formed portrait of stagnation - the depressing air of entrapment that enscribes Ethan's life. Does this qualify as tragedy? If Aristotle has it right, then it must involve the fall, the waste of a great one; the tragedy here is that we don't even know what Ethan's potential might have been. A sad, sad story of human spitefulness and folly.
On the bright side - that was a quick 1001 read! Thanks, tqd, for the ring!
PMing livrecache now.
Journal Entry 14 by Miss-Owl at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (4/1/2009 UTC) at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sorry, everyone, for the delay. Because my job has been absolutely crazy lately, and I work out in the sticks, I just haven't been able to get to a post office any time before 5pm. Thank you for your patience!
Sorry, everyone, for the delay. Because my job has been absolutely crazy lately, and I work out in the sticks, I just haven't been able to get to a post office any time before 5pm. Thank you for your patience!
Arrived safely yesterday. Thanks to all who have taken part in the book's journey. I have three bookrings ahead of it, but as this book is so slender and the reviews so positive, it might jump the queue, as I'm in the mood for something like this.
Sorry, to have held this book up for so long. I'd forgotten that it was a bookring at all, and it's been languishing on my TBR pile for a long time. I've got the next person's address and I'll send it on this week.
Again, my apologies.
Again, my apologies.
Journal Entry 17 by livrecache at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (2/17/2010 UTC) at A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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On its way to another bookcrosser. I hope you enjoy it.
I apologise again about holding the bookray up so long.
On its way to another bookcrosser. I hope you enjoy it.
I apologise again about holding the bookray up so long.
Journal Entry 18 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Monday, February 22, 2010
Just recieved in the mail today. Thanks to livrecache and TQD..
Journal Entry 19 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I read this one last night. Not as bulky as the House of Mirth- sometimes writers can say a lot with a lot less. Passing on to fushmush as soon as her address is confirmed.
Journal Entry 20 by davemurray101 at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 6, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/5/2010 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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Posted to Fushmush yesterday
Posted to Fushmush yesterday
It has arrived. I have one ahead of it.
Adultery is bad mmm’kay.
Poor, poor Ethan Frome. He just wanted to be happy! Doesn’t he deserve his bit of happiness too? And then when he tries to escape his horrible life his situation becomes even worse. Apparently we can’t change the life we were dealt. None of this “live the life you imagined” business.
Isn’t it funny how we view this novel with 21st century eyes? We can’t really find anything seriously wrong with Ethan and Mattie’s relationship. Zeena was a bit of a cow. Although, I can see it would have been hard to deal with such a beautiful, young girl in the house tempting her husband.
Suicide does seem to be a bit over the top but Wharton does emphasise the lack of options that both Mattie and Ethan have. Ethan has no money to start a new life and won’t resort to deceiving honest people to get this money. Mattie has nowhere to go and Wharton even suggests that she is going to her death.
Apparently the colour red symbolises Mattie’s attraction and vitality. The cat symbolises Zeena’s presence (she does sit in Zeena’s chair and watch over Mattie and Ethan when Zeena isn’t there). The pickle dish represents Zeena and Ethan’s marriage and it breaks as Mattie and Ethan are tempted to adultery.
It was beautifully written. I wanted to share my favourite sentence with you: “In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires.” I actually paused to reflect on its beauty after reading that sentence.
Sorry I've had this so long. All my reading lately has been of the university kind. PMing the next in line and should have it on its way soon.
Poor, poor Ethan Frome. He just wanted to be happy! Doesn’t he deserve his bit of happiness too? And then when he tries to escape his horrible life his situation becomes even worse. Apparently we can’t change the life we were dealt. None of this “live the life you imagined” business.
Isn’t it funny how we view this novel with 21st century eyes? We can’t really find anything seriously wrong with Ethan and Mattie’s relationship. Zeena was a bit of a cow. Although, I can see it would have been hard to deal with such a beautiful, young girl in the house tempting her husband.
Suicide does seem to be a bit over the top but Wharton does emphasise the lack of options that both Mattie and Ethan have. Ethan has no money to start a new life and won’t resort to deceiving honest people to get this money. Mattie has nowhere to go and Wharton even suggests that she is going to her death.
Apparently the colour red symbolises Mattie’s attraction and vitality. The cat symbolises Zeena’s presence (she does sit in Zeena’s chair and watch over Mattie and Ethan when Zeena isn’t there). The pickle dish represents Zeena and Ethan’s marriage and it breaks as Mattie and Ethan are tempted to adultery.
It was beautifully written. I wanted to share my favourite sentence with you: “In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires.” I actually paused to reflect on its beauty after reading that sentence.
Sorry I've had this so long. All my reading lately has been of the university kind. PMing the next in line and should have it on its way soon.
Journal Entry 23 by fushmush at sent to the the next bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 8, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (4/8/2010 UTC) at sent to the the next bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases
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sent to the next bookcrosser on the ray.
sent to the next bookcrosser on the ray.
Arrived yesterday - Thanks fushmush for sending it over from Australia. I'll make a start on this one once I've finished my current book.
There was a lot to this one for such a small book. I enjoyed the writing and found it one of the better 1001BTRBYD.
Posting on to KT-J today.
Posting on to KT-J today.
Thanks brunton11, this was waiting for me when I got home yesterday! It looks like a nice small book so I'll get onto this shortly.
Edit 5/5/10: I finished this quite quickly (last week) and while it wasn't exactly an uplifting story I did think the book was really well written to pack so much into so few pages. There was some really evocative description in the story, particularly describing the town. I found the story a bit unbelievable in places but overall an interesting read.
Thanks tqd for sharing this 1001 book. I've passed it onto Stubee to read next.
Edit 5/5/10: I finished this quite quickly (last week) and while it wasn't exactly an uplifting story I did think the book was really well written to pack so much into so few pages. There was some really evocative description in the story, particularly describing the town. I found the story a bit unbelievable in places but overall an interesting read.
Thanks tqd for sharing this 1001 book. I've passed it onto Stubee to read next.
I can't really say I enjoyed this it was a very quick read and I finished it in just a few days, I didn't like any of the characters and therefore wasn't really that bothered what happened to Ethan and Matt, yeah Zeena is a bitch but so what he shouldn't have married her in the first place.
Thanks TQD for arranging this bookray it's another 1001 book down and a short read that fitted in well with my current reading obligations.
Thanks TQD for arranging this bookray it's another 1001 book down and a short read that fitted in well with my current reading obligations.
Released 13 yrs ago (5/6/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
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Off to Caroley.
Off to Caroley.
Received safely today, along with a lovely postcard. Thanks very much :)
I just have a few pages of my current read and then it'll be next up.
I just have a few pages of my current read and then it'll be next up.
I really enjoyed this. I liked both the writing style and the story.
Thanks very much for sharing it tqd. I'll be posting it on to Wigglywoods today or tomorrow.
Thanks very much for sharing it tqd. I'll be posting it on to Wigglywoods today or tomorrow.
Released 13 yrs ago (5/18/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
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Posted 2nd class to Wigglywoods
Posted 2nd class to Wigglywoods
Received this morning, thanks Caroley.
This was a great read, I'll definitely be getting hold of some more Edith Wharton to read. Will pm next person for address and hopefully post on this week.
update on 21/7/10 - have received no reply to my pm for address so have sent a pm to garibaldisghost who is next on the list.
update on 21/7/10 - have received no reply to my pm for address so have sent a pm to garibaldisghost who is next on the list.
Posted off to garibaldisghost today.
Safely wiggled through my letterbox this morning.
A well-written story with some evocative prose and a sad, sad, ending.
Journal Entry 37 by rem_BGQ-488500 at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, January 29, 2011
Arrived safely this morning, thanks!
I can't believe how thin it is - makes a nice change. Will take me no time at all to read :)
I can't believe how thin it is - makes a nice change. Will take me no time at all to read :)
Sure, Zeena is a self-obsessed occasionally spiteful woman, but I don't think she's a 'top book villain'. She's just a woman preoccupied with her illnesses, (rightfully) suspicious of her husband and jealous of Mattie. However, that doesn't mean I agree with what she does.
I feel sorry for both Ethan and Zeena. Their marriage is stagnant, loveless and they have little money. A sad tale.
My favourite sentence is the same as fushmush's - "In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires.” In fact, the whole paragraph is beautifully written.
Thank you for sharing! I will pass this on, possibly in a 1001 bookbox/VBB.
I feel sorry for both Ethan and Zeena. Their marriage is stagnant, loveless and they have little money. A sad tale.
My favourite sentence is the same as fushmush's - "In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires.” In fact, the whole paragraph is beautifully written.
Thank you for sharing! I will pass this on, possibly in a 1001 bookbox/VBB.
Will be donating to the 1001 Library & possibly adding to a bookbox of some kind very shortly.A NOTE TO 1001-LIBRARY REQUESTERS:
I’m happy to ship anywhere, but I will usually post the cheapest way I can as Royal Mail is stupidly expensive. I recommend you check to see if there is another copy available nearer to you if you want it quickly.
That being said, I welcome all requests as my books love to travel!
Thanks so much for your donation Lemon-Crisis!
This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.
Going into Soffitta1's 1001 Bookbox =]
Thanks for adding this to the 1001-Library bookbox, I've been wanting to read this since I read "Summer".
A newcomer to the town meets the titular character, a man with a sad story. The narrator then takes us back in time to find out how Frome becomes the broken man he is today, his downfall culminating in a terrible accident. Frome is married to Zeena, a woman passed her prime, and temptation has arrived in the form of her cousin, Mattie. The home turns into a battlefield as the sick, older woman squares off against her younger, lively rival whilst Frome is torn between love and duty.
This is a short, terse book, but Wharton packs a lot into it, from the bitterest of emotions to a snapshot of rural New England. Deservedly on the 1001 Book List.
A newcomer to the town meets the titular character, a man with a sad story. The narrator then takes us back in time to find out how Frome becomes the broken man he is today, his downfall culminating in a terrible accident. Frome is married to Zeena, a woman passed her prime, and temptation has arrived in the form of her cousin, Mattie. The home turns into a battlefield as the sick, older woman squares off against her younger, lively rival whilst Frome is torn between love and duty.
This is a short, terse book, but Wharton packs a lot into it, from the bitterest of emotions to a snapshot of rural New England. Deservedly on the 1001 Book List.
This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing soffitta1:)
If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.
Journal Entry 44 by soffitta1 at Manningtree Station Waiting Room in Manningtree, Essex United Kingdom on Sunday, August 11, 2019
Released 4 yrs ago (8/13/2019 UTC) at Manningtree Station Waiting Room in Manningtree, Essex United Kingdom
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To be left on the bookcase.
