Hi there,
I reviewed "Hot Date" over on queuemyreview.com...loved it!!
J

Lähettänyt: jjmachshev 8:29 pm (EST) Jun 23, 2008

Hi Amy! Thanks for being my LibraryThing friend. :)

Lisa

Lähettänyt: LPlumley 11:25 am (EST) Mar 24, 2008

When I read ETHEN FROME BY Edith Wharton I was perplexed for months. I knew there was a message in there somewhere, but WHAT was Wharton saying? After months of pondering this question, it finally came to me. I perceive this as a statement on marriage, a not uncommon theme of the time it was written. As I see it, both couples are happy as they are courting. Zina is talkative and makes Ethan happy...until after they are married. Ethan and Mattie enjoy flirtations that lead to hopes and dreams of a good life if they can get away from their confining, present existence. But when they try to leave this existence, it all ends in tragedy. Worse than that, Mattie becomes a burden just like Zina, only worse. And poor crippled Ethan's misery is multiplied as he must care for two ailing women, with no one to give him any comfort at all.

Ethan was happy with either woman until they tried to solidify their relationship into marriage. Then everything winds up with tragedy and heartbreak. If you'll excuse my weak exclamation, it's all just awful. But I love the book for it's splendid descriptions of nature and crystal cold and snowy nights. I thinks it's just amazing.

Hope this may give you some insight. I don't know if there is anyone else who sees the book as I do, but, it's something to think about if you want to.

Lähettänyt: justmeRosalie 12:40 am (EST) Mar 22, 2007