Ethan Frome

“The return to reality was as painful as the return to consciousness after taking an anesthetic.” – Edith Wharton

Why I’m Reading this Book?

I’ve found this book too when I was searching for short but good books. With just 99 pages, it’s actually super short. I purchased its digital copy instantly(couldn’t wait to go to library) and started reading.

My Review…

I’m reading this author first time and I am not disappointed. Story starts with suspense, a man named Ethan Frome is quite mysterious for the narrator who is a new comer in the town and in first chapter itself, he starts asking about him. Now suspense related to Ethan is not diabolic but a kind of aura he carries. Ethan seems a hard core introvert, patient , dedicated and a very honest man. But like narrator , readers sense that there is a big story behind his seriousness.

Town-people although gossipy , are tight-lipped when it comes to Ethan. There is an odd sort of reverence for him or is that extreme pity that stops him being made into the cheap object for local tittle-tattle? Then by a stroke of luck , narrator comes into direct contact with Ethan himself.

Narrator shares a night with him and finally comes to know the tragic story of Ethan. If Tess of the d’urbervilles is the most tragic heroine of literature, I would deem Ethan as the most tragic hero. He had the hard life since childhood, and when he actually starts finding life beautiful, something tragic happens. Below the burden of that tragedy, Ethan is still living. Like narrator, we as a reader, can’t do anything but pity Ethan and wonder at the ill-fate of some people.

My Rating — 4

On the scale of: (1- Hate , 2- Neither like nor dislike, 3- Like, 4- Love, 5- Gaga)

Why anyone else should read this Book?

First, book is very compact. For me, size of a book really matters. There is so much written, and list is just too long to cover. When I find a good book this size , I would say it’s worth giving a shot.

Second, it’s a tragedy. I’m drawn towards tragic stories. They remind us to be thankful for what we’ve got. So, read it to be thankful that your fate is not like Ethan.

Finally, it’s a classic. You can never go wrong with a classic. It’s always a treat to read something that was published more than 100 years ago (it was first published in 1911), that still makes sense.

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Have you read it? Are you planning to? What is your opinion? Share them here. Till next time, Happy Reading Folks!!! 

Love- Richa