The Library Vault

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Have you ever been at a lost for what to read next? Libraries are not only a place to borrow books, but the librarians who work there aim to point you in the right direction. Librarians’ suggestions are valued. As librarians, we also value the suggestions brought to us by fellow readers. It is important to reverse those roles. From reader to reader, a discussion of books is a beneficial engagement. It not only enhances our abilities in the profession, but creates a meaningful moment shared between two readers. So, for Wine & Words this month, I chose a beloved melancholy novel recommended to me by a fellow reader.

Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome is the perfect seasonal read for the cold months ahead, and a common novel to be read in New England curriculums. I shockingly did not read this book in high school, nor in my courses at the university. ‘Frome has come across my plate over the years, but I never dove in. It did not hold the best reputation from my circle of readers until I added a new reader to my circle who opened my eyes to Wharton’s gothic tale.

Ethan Frome is set in the New England countryside in the depths of winter that shape the tone of the novel. The fictional village of Starkfield opens with a stranger who comes to town and is instantly fascinated with the character of Ethan Frome. Frome has a limp and a scar ingrained, foretelling the tale ahead. The strangers’ desire of knowledge comes full circle when he is housed in Frome’s home for the night. 

Ethan put his life on hold to help everyone around him. Frome has been affected by a series of misfortunes; first, it was his father, then his mother. Once his cousin Zeena falls ill, he then marries her out of duty. Zeena remains ill throughout the novel, it is implied that she is a hypochondriac. Ethan and Zeena’s companionship is like the frigid stark environment that envelopes the setting of the novel. Suspicions arise when Zeena’s youthful cousin arrives to reside in their home as hired help. Mattie is spirted and sparkles like the sun glistening against fresh snow, encapsulating the words of Wharton’s vision. Mattie’s buoyant youth springs from the page to melt Frome’s crusted heart with a joy he never was able to endure. A clandestine tale is brought to the forefront while Wharton’s word play is thoughtful and sharp to paint the tragic tale of her trio destined for despair.

Edith Wharton’s novel Ethan Frome should not be dismissed. Wharton’s use of language and tone allows the reader to empathize with the characters. I am grateful for the recommendation. My circle of readers has expanded and it broaden my horizon. As readers, our job is not only to read, but to make suggestions. As a librarians, we need to take the back seat and listen to those suggestions because it can open our eyes to something truly amazing.

Readers engage with readers without even knowing. The copy of Ethan Frome that I read had my sister’s notes from her college years. I felt like I was reading the book with her. It had her analysis on metaphorical detail and her own personal comments in regard to characters. Every time Wharton used “…” as a literary device, my sister added her own accent as well. I know I said that discussing books and recommending books is a beneficial engagement; however, reading notes from my sister from over twenty years ago is another meaningful moment. Readers share purposeful occasions around books but they also share these drinking a bottle of wine.

To pair a wine with a novel of such woe…

Woe and wine. The wine needs to make you feel warm inside for such a chilly novel. It needs to make you feel good to counter the heavy weight of the plot on the reader. The wine that comes to mind is one of my favorites: Podere il Palazzino’s Chianti Classico. Chianti is a region in central Tuscany. The grape is Sangiovese. Sangiovese dominates wines of that area. Chianti Classico is a subregion of Chianti, these tend to be premium wines. Now, I could get into the nitty gritty details about Chianti, the region and such, but I think the wine speaks for itself, just like the tale of Ethan Frome speaks for itself. And the person who recommended the novel speaks for themselves. They are like this premium wine that is a refined beautiful hue of red. It is soft and elegant to taste. The fruity notes excite the senses and finishes with a sense of warmth. 

I usually prefer Italian wines; however, I have not paired too many with books. This departure could be because I recently drank this wine on a winter’s night when it was too cold to bear and fresh coat of snow, froze to the trees. Or it could be the cerulean light hitting the evening Earth, creating a sense of melancholy that we just can’t shake. This Chianti does the shaking, it breaks down the somberness that comes with darker days and frigid temperatures. It makes us feel alive. This wine would make even Ethan Frome feel alive. Podere il Palazzino’s Chianti Classico is a beneficial engagement from the opening to the last drop.