Ethan Frome

By: Edith Wharton

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Ethan Frome, a poor, downtrodden New England farmer, is trapped in a loveless marriage to his invalid wife, Zeena. His ambition and intelligence are oppressed by Zeena's cold, conniving character. When Zeena's young cousin Mattie arrives to help care for her, Ethan is immediately taken by Mattie's warm, vivacious personality. They fall desperately in love as he realizes how much is missing from his life and marriage. Tragically, their love is doomed by Zeena's ever-lurking presence and by the social conventions of the day. Ethan remains torn between his sense of obligation and his urge to satisfy his heart's desire, up to the suspenseful and unanticipated conclusion.

Perhaps reflective of Wharton's own loveless marriage, this sophisticated, star-crossed love story vividly depicts her abhorrence of society's relentless standards of loyalty. Ethan Frome is one of Wharton's most popular and best-known works.

Public Domain (P)2002 Tantor Media, Inc.

A classic, but not much fun

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was good to tick off a classic I had never before read, but this was a seriously depressing read. This book on a grey drizzly February day and I would probably be suicidal.

Slow is smooth and smooth is Fast until it isn't

This is one of those novels/novellas that is so cold, barren and bleak that the full beauty of it isn't completely evident until you put the book down, drink a warm beverage, and warm your brain, body and soul back up. Wharton's prose is amazing and her plot is perfection.

'Ethan Frome' is another novella that proves that bigger isn't always better. This book joins a short but very amazing list of short novels that seem to almost acheive literary perfection in under 150 pages: 'Heart of Darkness', 'Of Mice and Men', 'Animal Farm', 'Old Man and the Sea' and 'the Metamorphosis'. Anyway, I've read/listened to books well over 600+ pages that have 1/2 as much to say.

Not really my cup of tea

Any additional comments?

I thought this was very well written, it was just not a subject that over interests me.

Classic story read beautifully!

Would you listen to Ethan Frome again? Why?

Yes, I would. This story is short enough to invest in the time to re hear it.

What other book might you compare Ethan Frome to and why?

It's such a sad tale, I guess I would say Wuthering Heights, but this one is much shorter. They both tell the story of star crossed lovers and they both have that sad ending.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

He is a master narrator and did a masterful performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I did today!

Any additional comments?

I have read this book and seen the movie, but this was such an engrossing way to live the story. Still crying over this one...

A cold and suspenseful story

I came back to this book after reading it in high school many years ago. I had forgotten how chillingly good it is. Alfred Hitchcock could have made an amazing movie from it. Then tension between Ethan and his wife is excruciating. A great story with a fantastic reading by Scott Brick. Try it.