Ethan Frome Audiobook

" This was the absolute worst book I have ever read in my entire life. Had to read it in 9th grade for English and it was HORRIBLE. The whole book is absurd and was supposed to be about existentialism, this author has NO IDEA what that means.It was ridiculous that someone EVER thought this should be printed and even more insane that it was put on the classics list. I could literally rant about this for weeks. I hated it that much. Still do. "

" Edith Wharton has such an efficient use of words in her writing. Ethan Frome is such a heart breaking story with an unexpected twist. Wharton's writing is beautiful. This is a short book, but a very engrossing story. In the end your heart breaks for Ethan Frome. "

" Sometimes sparklingly longing but most often bitterly gray. "

" Eh, Edith needs to stick to her specialities. More ballgowns! More mustachioed opera-box-owning adulterers! More trips to Paris! Dull, bleak, short, ridiculous. "

" Ok I listened to this on audio but what a depressing story. It was very good though. If you want a book with a happy ending, then this is not for you. "

" Memorable book. Very different from her others. Great ending! "

" I love this book. I've had to read it about once a year ever since my junior year in college. "

" I make no excuses for my hatred of this book. I don't know why I actively dislike it so much. It's a combination of unrelatable characters and a teacher who praised this book as the most influential piece of literature since the Bible. In any case, I have tried reading this book on several occasions, and every time I put it down again, it's with the same sense of dislike and vague anger at the author for making me read a story then ends up culminating in a sled suicide attempt. "

" The most hopeless and helpless character of all time. Great writing? Depressed author? We feel him and identify with him. Good writing I think. I hate that symbolism teaching made me hate this book for many years "

" Super quick read that had me pulled in from the start, with an ending that left me wanting desperately to talk to others about their thoughts. "

" Another Wharton doomed love story, but clunkier and less plausible, hence much less affecting than THE AGE OF INNOCENCE. Zeenie is too much the villain, and the tragic climax is anything but inevitable. Still, good book. "

" Spectacular read, better than I thought it would be. "

" Brilliantly written, extrememly memorable, and grueling to read. I can't remember the last time I read a book where I sincerely hoped the main characters had died instead. Good times. "

" Good story of a man bound to misery by convention and circumstance. "

" This story reminded me of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, but MUCH shorter. There is something about that tragic love story that gets me, everytime! An enjoyable read with an interesting ending...strangely satisfying. "

" Not bad, but why would anyone want to read such a miserable book...let alone write it. Now I can say that I've read worse books *cough cough* the Tortilla Curtain (which got a ten out of ten on the misery scale) but at least that had a believable story-line. This was just ridiculous. "

" This book sucked! I absolutely hated this. The entire primise was so sad and then the last page was horrid. "

" Small and perfectly formed, like an ice crystal. "

" Edith Wharton is a terrific writer, but "Ethan Frome" is a bit dark. "

" One of the worst books I was forced to read in High School. "

" I was sick today and, in the midst of copious amounts of water, cough medicine, and warm blankets, I read this book. Seriously, the most beautifully written downer ever. I should just kill myself now and get it over with. "

" This story reminded me of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, but MUCH shorter. There is something about that tragic love story that gets me, everytime! An enjoyable read with an interesting ending...strangely satisfying. "

" Beautifully written. So sad. I'm going to contemplate it for a bit. "

" A novel about forbidden love and the tragic consequences of duty and responsibility of marriage. Ethan falls in love with hiw wife's cousin, but financial ruin and fear of public scorn prevent him from obtaining the happiness he seeks. Well-written, but quite short. This is one of those novels that one either loves or hates. I lean toward love. "

" This honestly goes on my top ten books of all time list! I loved this book. It was so tragic. Such a great story. It will only take you a couple of hours to read it. "

" It was a relatively decent book, however it was hardl to follow at times and thoughts were scattered. Personally, I don't feel that Wharton's writing style is very good or that her vocabulary is appropriate for an adult author. "

" I liked this story but my students totally hated it. I suppose the slow moving plot line was a bit too much for them. "

" Not a cheery book but I wanted to yell out to run Ethan-but would he have listened? "

" This is a fairly well written story. While reading it you'll want to remember that the story is a vision of the narrator and, therefore, unreliable. But that's part of what makes it so interesting. "

" Oh for God's sake! How I wish I could have put him out of his misery... if Ethan been born with a spine the story would never have been written. "

" A quick, if not depressing read. I did not care terribly for the story, but rather gave it three stars because it was well written and illustrates the far reaching talent of Edith Wharton. "

" Ethan Frome is soooooo sad! I need to put this on hold and read something happier for awhile! I will say though, it is a beautiful story and eloquently written! "

" I love this book. It's one of my all time favourites. The intensity, the tragedy, the characters, the landscape - a perfect combination. Haunting and memorable. "

" This was my third Wharton book and I loved it. It is only 100 pages long and the perfect read for a winter Sunday when you have nothing else to do. You can easily read it in one day. But beware: it might be a little depressing. "

" I absolutely hate this book because it has one of WORST endings I have ever read. Spare yourself the pain. Seriously. "

" It was sort of boring, but enjoyable. I guess it was just a bit dry for my tastes. "

" Heart wrenching love story. It evolked emotions from me all the way through. Beautifully written. "

" A favorite. Terrific storytelling by Wharton. More than a love story, this is an all out struggling against life, the hand it deals, the choices you make, and the consequences that become your life. So very good. "

" This is really well written and the reader moves forward with a sense of dread. Beautiful language and imagery - just a little depressing! "

" Definitivamente creo que leer este libro fue perder el tiempo. Es una historia corta, simple y aburrida. "

" I would give this 1.5 if I could. Don't get what the big deal about it is. "

" Would not suggest reading this in the winter. Also fun to talk about Ethan and his 'women' with someone, like a lively book club "

" the beginning was extremely difficult to get into. once I got to chapter two though, I was hooked and amazed at the end. "

" This book is a tragic romantic drama that I was not really into. I am not really into romantic dramas, but the appalling ending was worth the read. 3/5 "

" Adulterer-as-victim of circumstances, oppressed/constrained by society and morality. Hardly a must read. No wonder Sparknotes put it on their "Top 5 Books that Ruined Summer" list. "

" Very well written and very, VERY depressing. "

" Very bold for the time period in which it was written. Edith is an amazing writer! "

" Seems odd to choose that I "really liked it," because I didn't like the story. I loved the writing and the storytelling, but the story was so very sad. I can't imagine living such a tragic story. "

" I found Ethan Frome to be very bland. It was gloomy and uneventful and I would not recommend it. The kind of person that would enjoy this book would be one that could pick up on the various symbols and whatever "meaning" the book is intended to have. "

" It's always going to be hard for me to identify with a society where people are this, I don't know, locked into their choices. I'm really glad that he considers his options, but it's hard for me to relate to allowing a moment of weakness to tie you to someone you don't really know for life. "

" Good writing but depressing story, if I remember correctly. "

" This honestly goes on my top ten books of all time list! I loved this book. It was so tragic. Such a great story. It will only take you a couple of hours to read it. "

" Read this with the book group in work, found it quite claustrophobic, but appreciated it much more after hearing the Radio 4 adaptation as well. Great writing. "

" Good writing but depressing story, if I remember correctly. "

" Booooooooooooooring. It's an absolute tragedy that some high school English teachers force their students to read it. "

" a great read! I didn't know it was so short! "

" GREATT language use/writing, but meh plot. "

" One of the most lovely little books I have ever had the chance to read. "

" Read this with the book group in work, found it quite claustrophobic, but appreciated it much more after hearing the Radio 4 adaptation as well. Great writing. "

" Do they subject kids to this in high school? So dismal. Reread it recently to see if it was as dire as I remembered, and it was. Why didn't we read Age of Innocence instead? "

" Melodramatic, per the time it was written, yet awfully damn sexy, too. Sad, frustrating, and witchy. Read this brief, though hard-packed, book at night in dim light. "

" This is the book I've read more times than any other book and I can never pinpoint why I like it so much. It was also the first Edith Wharton book I ever read so that might be part of the reason. "

" I would give this 1.5 if I could. Don't get what the big deal about it is. "

" A bummer but you just have to read it. "

" Quick re-read before school. One of my ADV 9 summer reads. "

" My favorite authors, favorite book, Anita Shreve. "

" This tale of the mundane, yet profound, tragedy of EDL is even better the second time around. Powerful stuff. "

" I had to read Ethan Frome for a college class. It's a story that really sticks with the reader. You feel sorry for Ethan, and yet you dislike him, too, for his inability to take decisive action. "

" This book sucked! I absolutely hated this. The entire primise was so sad and then the last page was horrid. "

" One of the most lovely little books I have ever had the chance to read. "

" Spellbindingly written yet heartbreaking. It comes to life. "

" She has become one of my favorite authors because of this story. Keep thinking of all of the "what if's". "

" The last twenty pages or so, for real "

" The book wasn't that horrible. I've read worse. I remember the pickle dish and the ending being amazing. That and there was sledding, sledding and a picnic. Don't skip the intro because it is VERY important for the ending. "

" This book stayed with me long after high-school, long after a college professor "ruined" it for me. The older I get, the more it holds up for me. It works on so many levels--a literary classic. "

" So sad! But this totally applies to my boyfriend, the hopeless and indecisive idealist type. If they get trapped into a situation like this -> they'll throw their whole lives away. "

" Definitivamente creo que leer este libro fue perder el tiempo. Es una historia corta, simple y aburrida. "

" Tragic story set in New England "

" Next to worst book I've read to date. Stupid people do stupid things is all I have to say... The only book standing between this one and the bottom of my list is Shadow's Edge because of its seriously poor intrigue element. This one at least was written well, the story just wasn't good. "

" Such a depressing read, yet at the same time, so many life issues are touched upon. Well worth the time to read. "

" Perfect short story to read in an afternoon. "

" Curious, disturbing book. Subtle love story turned tragic. Maybe subtle is an understatement. "

" Curious, disturbing book. Subtle love story turned tragic. Maybe subtle is an understatement. "

" My favorite authors, favorite book, Anita Shreve. "

" A very sad, rather depressing novel about a doomed love affair - this is my second Wharton (the first being The Age of Innocence). I like her writing - but this story is very painful to read. I don't think I was in the mood for it. "

" My favorite authors, favorite book, Anita Shreve. "

" A very sad, rather depressing novel about a doomed love affair - this is my second Wharton (the first being The Age of Innocence). I like her writing - but this story is very painful to read. I don't think I was in the mood for it. "

" A classic. Hard to get through the first 50 pages, kind of a slow start. Ending was good. "

" A classic. Hard to get through the first 50 pages, kind of a slow start. Ending was good. "

" Well, that was uplifting. Not. Really good writing, though. "

" Well, that was uplifting. Not. Really good writing, though. "

" Although released in 1911, this story is timeless. A quick read but engrossing from the first page to the last. "

" Although released in 1911, this story is timeless. A quick read but engrossing from the first page to the last. "

" I found it very depressing. "

" The character Ethan Frome will break your heart "

" I found it very depressing. "

" The character Ethan Frome will break your heart "

" Good writing but depressing story, if I remember correctly. "

" Good writing but depressing story, if I remember correctly. "

" This tale of the mundane, yet profound, tragedy of EDL is even better the second time around. Powerful stuff. "

" This tale of the mundane, yet profound, tragedy of EDL is even better the second time around. Powerful stuff. "

" This book made me hate literary analysis, or at least the way it was taught in high school. "

" This book made me hate literary analysis, or at least the way it was taught in high school. "

" I did not care much for her writing, it was hard for me to really get into this story. It's only saving grace was my sympathy for Ethan although I am not sure he deserves it. "

" I did not care much for her writing, it was hard for me to really get into this story. It's only saving grace was my sympathy for Ethan although I am not sure he deserves it. "