Ethan Frome review by Josh

Ethan Frome is the story of an unhappy middle aged man, who used to be an unhappy young man - back in the 1890s.

One reason young Ethan was unhappy was because he lived on a dumpy farm that didn't make any money and was cold and dark for half the year. Another was that his wife, Zeena, was a nag who didn't do any work and complained constantly about her ailments.

Ethan imagined that he would be happier if he were married instead to Zeena’s younger, less whiney, cousin, Mattie. Sadly it was the 1890s so there was nothing to be done except live a life of quiet desperation or commit suicide.

**Spoiler** Ethan and and Mattie chose suicide, but they botched the job and Mattie ended up paralyzed. The trio live unhappily ever after with Zeena now forced to care for paralyzed cousin and her less than able-bodied husband.

There's a great deal of criticism these days about how male novelists portray female characters. Most of them have nothing on Wharton though. While Zeena is a whiney petty tyrant, Mattie's defining characteristic (even before her paralysis) is that she's weak and helpless. Ethan's defining traits are that he's big, quiet, hard working, little-educated but reasonably bright, and that he stoically sacrifices his own happiness for the women in his life.

Overall, the book is about as good as you hope for with that plot. It's short, which is a plus.