Frome Massachusetts

I think every kid in New England is required by law to read Ethan Frome in high school. You know Ethan Frome, that uplifting tale (warning: spoiler! (I've always wanted to write that)) of massive snowdrifts, repressed sexuality, failed suicide attempts, and lifelong misery set in a place called Starkfield--an aptly-named, but fictitious Massachusetts town.

Judging from my high school experience, set in a place called Holden--an uncreatively named and unfortunately not fictitious Massachusetts town, I surmise that we were forced to acquaint ourselves with poor tortured Ethan, sickly, angry Zeena, and that whore Mattie Silver so we could deal better with Holden's gas station attendants, Big Y produce managers, dog groomers, and neighborhood kindergarteners. And you know, I gotta say, it kinda worked. Thanks, Ethan. I made it out. Snowdriftless, sexual, alive.