Wharton is an amazing author. She is the master of metaphor, and inevitable gathering of the black clouds of doom. Ethan Frome lives in the fictional town of Starkfield, the perfect cold place for his stark, miserable existence. He is quiet and stoic, and doomed from the beginning.
By contrast, Summer is filled with light and warmth. Although both stories are cautionary tales about human relationships and marriage.

I seem to run across these books more and more: a story well-told, but not a positive story told. I can't say I liked reading what happened to the characters in both novellas, but Wharton structured the stories with good dialogue and description. Their choices are poor, despite the advice and warnings given by those to them. Reality isn't always good; I just don't need to keep being reminded of that fact when I read.

Two stifling portraits of individuals who are pitted against societal and cultural expectations and restrictions.

This edition contained 2 novellas. Ethan Frome was a darker tale, ultimately about a man's love for a girl at all costs, & the consequences of the actions taken. It played out as rather dark, but it was fascinating. Summer, the other tale in this edition, was a story about the life of a girl brought down from The Mountain, to be raised by the richest family in town who couldn't have children of their own, & the choices she makes when she grows up & falls in love for the first time with a well to do man who is related to one of the founding families of the town. Again, not a pretty story, even though some of it is sweet.

This book made for easy reading, & went very fast. I enjoyed both stories, even though parts were sad, but that's life, especially in that time frame.

This is a story about Charity, a young woman in a small New England village who becomes attracted to a “city man.” With vast socioeconomic differences, their ensuing romance doesn’t seem to have a future.

This is a story about place. Where the characters come from, or what opportunities are available to them, or not available, help to shape and determine their existence. Wharton paints an unsparing picture of life in a small town. Harsh, especially for the women.

This review only covers the novella Summer and not Ethan Frome, which is more widely read and dealt with on many GR pages.

As good as it is to have these two together as companions, (it invites some interesting comparisons) it is not much of a critical edition. The intro offers more biography and summary than insight, and the footnotes are nothing more than a glossary of terms.

This is the second time I read Ethan Frome--it's a classic and a pleasure to reread. I can see the similarities between Summer and Ethan Frome--both have sad ironic endings. I like Edith Wharton's writing style. (Book Club Mar 2014)

Only read Ethan Frome for now (may read Summer later).

It was well-written and I enjoyed the prose. I don't like reading about people without moral character. Quick (too hasty) judgement - a lot like Jane Austen but without the concern for virtue.

I particularly LOVED Ethan Frome; I can’t believe I made it through all my schooling without ever having this as assigned reading! It is exquisitely written with twists and turns I didn’t expect, and so depicts how trapped Ethan is within his life. Summer was also enjoyable but not as engaging as Ethan Frome; I like how these were grouped together as they are a pair in the ideas they present. Super enjoyable, and I’ll be reading more of this author. The added bonus on this edition was the introduction written my favorite author, Elizabeth Strout!

Some might view these works as depressing, but I found "Summer" rather hopeful by the end. Edith Wharton is much easier to read than Henry James! ;)

So depressing! I was hoping he'd take a stand and pull out of a miserable situation...

Read "Summer"