Journal Entry 1 by woosang from Picton, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, January 06, 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, New South Wales Australia on Monday, February 07, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (2/8/2005 UTC) at James Squire Brew House in Sydney, New South Wales Australia

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Skinny book will fill in a busride for some one.

releasing at meetup 

Journal Entry 3 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, February 09, 2005

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! 

Journal Entry 4 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, December 12, 2008

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. 

Journal Entry 5 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, December 12, 2008

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  

Journal Entry 6 by tqd at Broadway, New South Wales Australia on Monday, January 05, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/5/2009 UTC) at Broadway, New South Wales Australia

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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! 

Journal Entry 7 by 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* 

Journal Entry 8 by 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.
 

Journal Entry 9 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 26, 2009

Released 3 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. 

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.


 

Journal Entry 11 by FreePages at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, February 02, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (2/2/2009 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia

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Journal Entry 12 by Miss-Owl from Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Thailand on Thursday, February 05, 2009

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. 

Journal Entry 13 by Miss-Owl from Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Thailand on Thursday, February 12, 2009

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. 

Journal Entry 14 by Miss-Owl at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (4/1/2009 UTC) at bookcrosser, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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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! 

Journal Entry 15 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Saturday, April 04, 2009

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. 

Journal Entry 16 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Monday, February 15, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 17 by livrecache at Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (2/17/2010 UTC) at Melbourne, 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. 

Journal Entry 18 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Monday, February 22, 2010

Just recieved in the mail today. Thanks to livrecache and TQD.. 

Journal Entry 19 by davemurray101 from Maryville, New South Wales Australia 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 A Controlled Release, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 06, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/5/2010 UTC) at A Controlled Release, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Posted to Fushmush yesterday 

Journal Entry 21 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Friday, March 12, 2010

It has arrived. I have one ahead of it. 

Journal Entry 22 by fushmush from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, March 25, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 23 by fushmush at sent to the the next bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, April 08, 2010

Released 2 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. 

Journal Entry 24 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 25 by brunton11 from Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, April 23, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 26 by KT-J from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 27 by stubee from Bury, Lancashire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 05, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 28 by stubee at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/6/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

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Off to Caroley. 

Journal Entry 29 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, May 08, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 30 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 18, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 31 by Caroley at Birmingham, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/18/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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Posted 2nd class to Wigglywoods 

Journal Entry 32 by WigglyWoods from Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Friday, May 21, 2010

Received this morning, thanks Caroley. 

Journal Entry 33 by WigglyWoods at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 06, 2010

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. 

Journal Entry 34 by WigglyWoods at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 22, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/22/2010 UTC) at Chorley, Lancashire United Kingdom

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Posted off to garibaldisghost today. 

Journal Entry 35 by garibaldisghost at on Monday, July 26, 2010

Safely wiggled through my letterbox this morning.  

Journal Entry 36 by garibaldisghost at on Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A well-written story with some evocative prose and a sad, sad, ending. 

Journal Entry 37 by Lemon-Crisis 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 :) 

Journal Entry 38 by Lemon-Crisis at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, March 10, 2011

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.
 

Journal Entry 39 by Lemon-Crisis at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Journal Entry 40 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Tuesday, May 10, 2011

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. 

Journal Entry 41 by Lemon-Crisis at Birchington, Kent United Kingdom on Saturday, May 21, 2011

Going into Soffitta1's 1001 Bookbox =] 

Journal Entry 42 by soffitta1 at Ávila, Ávila Spain on Monday, June 20, 2011

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.
 

Journal Entry 43 by 1001-library at Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, December 26, 2011

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.