Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

I have hit a literature kick again and have been enjoying reading again.  I have to admit 4 kids really limits my reading time right now and even when I do read I seem to have a couple kids on my lap watching a movie so I have a moment to myself.

Ethan Frome is another book that my husband is reading with his 10th grade students at the moment.  I enjoyed this book even though once again it ends sadly.  I can't understand why so many literature books are sad.  What is wrong with writing a good book that ends happily.  Anyway, this book is about Ethan Frome and how he ended up as a quiet cripple with a poor life.  His parents died and he was left with a failing farm/mill and he married a sickly lady named Zeena.  She is constantly seeing new doctor's and trying new remedies that never seem to help.

In order to help Zeena they take in her cousin Mattie.  Mattie's parents died and she was left with nothing and no other relations would take her in.  Mattie brings life back to Ethan's life and the two of them get along great.  A year after staying, Ethan realizes how strong his feelings are for Mattie and it seems that Zeena has also noticed the attraction as well.  Zeena finally takes a trip to see a new doctor and Ethan and Mattie are left alone for a night.  Nothing happens, but the two of them are happy and relaxed with one another.  When Zeena returns she informs Ethan that she has a hired a maid and Mattie must leave that next day.

Ethan is not happy and tries to prevent this from happening.  He even tries to find a way to leave his life and run off with Mattie but can not get the money to do so.  As he takes Mattie to the train station the two of them finally admit to eachother their love for one another.  To help with the pain they decide to sled down a dangerous hill right into a tree.  Unfortunately for them neither dies but are left disabled.  Zeena is forced to care for Mattie and Ethan the rest of their lives.  They live together in a run down house that is barely warm enough to live in and can barely get enough to ea and live off of.  It is a sad life that they live with broken futures and a wasted life.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

This was such a strange book.  If I remember correctly it is listed as a Common Core book.  Blake had it sitting on his desk so I grabbed it since I knew I was going to be at the hospital for a while waiting for my youngest son.  I had no idea what this book would be about so I was not prepared at all when it starts out with our main character, Gregor, waking up and realizing he had turned into a beatle.  Yep, a beatle.  At first I thought of Rhinoceros in a way this book follows the same reasoning for why people turned into rhinoceros's.

Gregor was worn out from working so hard for so many years to pay off his father's debt and to provide for his family.  His parents and sister did not work and lived a pretty lavish and comfortable lifestyle.  Of course this all changed once Gregor became a beatle and could no longer provide for them let alone even communicate with them.  Gregor stays in his room and his family is forced to find jobs in order to provide for themselves.  His 17 year old sister at first takes care of Gregor by giving him food everyday and even cleaning his room.  She eventually convinces her mom to help take out the furniture so that Gregor has room to crawl in the walls and ceiling.

It was frustrating to see how his family complained about having to work so hard and take jobs below their level and serving others.  His father is the worst.  He comes home every night and falls asleep in his chair.  He wife and daughter must spend the evening trying to convince him to move to the bed and change out of his work cloths.  He complains about being so tired.  His sister even stops taking care of Gregor and the maid is the only one that interacts a little with him, but even then she calls him an ugly dung beatle.  No one believes he understands them.

At the end of the book, Gregor's sister finally loses control and breaks down.  She cries and yells at her parents that they must get rid of the monster living in their house before it kills them all since they work too hard at their jobs and come home unable to relax.  Gregor hears all of this.  He had become depressed beforehand with the lack of help and sympathy from his family that he has refused to eat.  This night he finally gives up and dies.  I was disappointed with the reaction from his family.  They are all content and quite their jobs and move to a smaller apartment.  They become happy and start to talk about finding a husband for their daughter.  They no longer remember their son/brother and go on without him.

This was a short book and very easy to read and understand.  I can see why it is on the Common Core since there is so much discussion that arises with this book.  How should his family reacted?  Do you agree with their treatment of Gregor?  Do you agree with Gregor's views?  Was it fair for the family to expect Gregor to provide for them while they do nothing?  Was it good for Gregor to die and let his family live a 'normal' life?