From the Bookshelf of Read Between the Wines…

Ethan Frome

Edith Wharton

Start date: December 1, 2014

Finish date: December 31, 2014

Discussion: Book Club Discussions

Why we're reading this: This book was nominated by Melanie.
[close] This book was nominated by Melanie.

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 47 topics — 1,078 comments total

Book Club Discussions

Discussion: The Diary of a Young Girl
By Jason , Cabernet Sauvignon · 7 posts · 7 views

last updated May 25, 2017 06:30AM

Discussion: Slade House
By Jason , Cabernet Sauvignon · 16 posts · 11 views

last updated Feb 17, 2017 04:44PM

showing 2 of 2 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Oct 16, 2010 Jason rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, wine-club, for-kindle

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first time I read Ethan Frome was in the ninth or tenth grade. I remember sitting in Mr. Guevremont’s American Lit class listening to people drone on about how miserable everyone’s life is at the end of the book, especially Ethan’s. How pityingly we must feel for the man who has lost everything—and worse than that, has assumed in its place a smorgasbord of further let-downs. Ethan Frome is not even afforded the decency of remembering Mattie as she once was, but now has to endure—as punishmen The first time I read Ethan Frome was in the ninth or tenth grade. I remember sitting in Mr. Guevremont’s American Lit class listening to people drone on about how miserable everyone’s life is at the end of the book, especially Ethan’s. How pityingly we must feel for the man who has lost everything—and worse than that, has assumed in its place a smorgasbord of further let-downs. Ethan Frome is not even afforded the decency of remembering Mattie as she once was, but now has to endure—as punishment for his philanderin’ ways—a Mattie whose soul was crushed as completely as was her spine on the day those idiots went sledding. A Mattie who, let’s face it, we could just as well refer to as Zeena Part Deux.

“But that’s not fair!” 15 year-old Jason Morais countered. “This book portrays Zeena wretchedly, yet she has a husband who would rather suffer a crushed cranium than spend another day with her and must now spend the rest of her days caring for his mistress. Shouldn’t we feel more sorry for her than for anyone else?”

I give Mr. Guevremont credit for not responding the way he should have: “No you fucking moron, we shouldn’t.” But I suppose not saying what you really want to say is often the mark of a good teacher.

Reading this again as an adult, I have to admit there is not much room for interpretation here, at least not where Zeena’s concerned. Zenobia Frome is cold and wretched, her behavior toward Ethan being only the tip of the iceberg. She is also unkind to strangers, unwelcoming to visitors, and pretty vicious toward Mattie. I suppose someone could come along to argue (another 15 year-old, perhaps?) that Zeena’s cruelty toward Mattie is justified, or at least explainable, by the mere fact that Mattie consumes all of Ethan’s attention, but I don’t buy it. There is no contextual basis for Zeena being a jealous person. She has very little regard for Ethan’s feelings one way or the other, and in fact might even derive pleasure from knowing of his being lovestruck, because Zeena thrives on misery. It is what gets her up in the morning. When she is not surrounding herself with those on whom life has taken its biggest dumps, she wallows in miseries of her own, real or imagined. Knowing her husband was in love with Mattie is perfect for Zeena because it provides yet another means of nurturing what I like to call her “anguish fetish.” The whole sledding situation is another contribution to her porn stash. Remember Sartre’s No Exit? That is the picture of paradise for Zenobia Frome.

I am still friends with Mr. Guevremont on Facebook and on Goodreads (Hi, Mr. G!), and I think if he were reading this he would agree that my Zenobia defense back in high school probably stemmed more from my youthful naïveté than from any kind of narcissistic need to express vocal dissension. But either way, 15 year-olds can be real argumentative pricks sometimes, can’t they? Thank god I’ve outgrown that phase. ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2025 Laura ♥ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Um, wait this was published in 1911?! 👀 I’m shook. The scandal? The ironic/disturbing ending? I have so many thoughts. This is a novella, but it will stick with you. Such an easy read on audiobook, and apparently there’s a movie with a well known cast; so I’ll be watching that asap. 🛷😅

3 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2012 Becky rated it liked it

Shelves: librivox-gutenberg-for-free, classics, forced-in-high-school

This is one of those books that I definitly need to re-read to give it a fair shake in a review. Its been years, and I read it when I was in high school, so I probably didnt have a full or appropriate appreciation for what I was reading.

Things I remember liking: stark narrative, plot development, twist at the end.

Things I disliked: all the characters?

Completely unfair review, I know, its my goal to re read this year.

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2014 Keryn rated it liked it

Shelves: classics

Well structured narrative classic, easy reading with a tragic twist. Depressing most of the time, with a few rays of sunshine and tendency to mills and boon romance, but overall satisfying.

1 like · Like · see review