Search - The Shipping News

One of the most delightful reading experiences is to begin a novel that contains such misery and provides a tortured view of a pathetic existence, to lament that this book will only continue in that path and serve to fully depress, to almost lay it down from sheer fright of the future pages, and then to suddenly, magically, find that the novel is quite possibly one of the best you have ever read.

Quoyle is a tragic figure, not because he truly means to be, but because his circumstances and upbringing mold him into one. Proulx's genius is illustrated by her steady yet subtle transformation of his character while surprising readers with his innate goodness (originally hidden by every fault). And this novel is a classic example of the reason one must have the negatives - to fully appreciate the positives. Without the atrocious wife, Petal Bear, one could not fully grasp Quoyle; without Quoyle's deadbeat father and brother, one could not understand Quoyle's aunt; without all the tribulations in the story, one could not love the children, Bunny and Sunshine.

The Shipping News is a book that tugs at heartstrings without hurting the reader. It is a story that transforms its characters as well as its audience, leaving a message not of pain and suffering, but of hope, love and justice.

Highly recommended.

Proulx's solid, stunning, stellar writing sets the mood for this novel placed in a small shipping town in Newfoundland. Although the characters are physically isolated, they slowly break down and get to know each other in a natural way - not at all forced as in many other contemporary novels. Such a comment on the way of life in Canada.

Proulx's diction amazes and stuns as much as it puzzles, many times completing removing passive verbs from entire chapters. Along the way, you learn much about tying knots - and also about untying the complex knots of her characters.

I thought I would hate this book when I first started reading it. It is written in a style I have never come across before. Ironic would be the best way to describe it. I ended up loving the story. It gives a glimpse into a life most of us could never imagine.

A Story about a man, Quoyle, who is down on his luck and finds some relief in Newfoundland. The book starts with his horrible life and shows him going through a transformation from someone who lets life put him down to someone who can rise up and get back onto the horse. He becomes a newspaper columnist who writes about the very thing that killed his wife, car accidents. In doing this he learns that he is not alone in his struggles.

At first I wasn't sure about this book. The author's writing style is almost truncated. But, then I found I couldn't put it down and was sad to finish because I missed the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different, in the way it was written, from a lot of things that I read. It was refreshing to see something new. The story itself it hilarious and heartbreaking, and it captures a glimpse of Canadian Maritime life that you can't get elsewhere.

Good, Quick Read.