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The Shipping News
The Shipping News
Author: Annie Proulx
At thirty-six, Qouyle, a third-rate newspaperman, in wrenched violently out of his workaday life when his two-timing wife gets her just desserts. He retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters all play a part in Quoyle's struggle to reclaim his life. A...  more »
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ISBN: 498313
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0 stars, based on 0 rating
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
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extensivereading avatar reviewed The Shipping News on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 19
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.
Leigh avatar reviewed The Shipping News on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 15
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.
Veronika avatar reviewed The Shipping News on + 103 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
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.
reviewed The Shipping News on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 13
I wasn't too sure that I would like this book when I first started reading it...After the first few chapters, though, I didn't want to put it down! It's a great read!
reviewed The Shipping News on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
"The Shipping News" is the winner of the 1994 Pulizer Prize for fiction. This win is actually why I chose to read "The Shipping News".

I enjoyed reading "The Shipping News", but it was a little bit difficult to get into. Proloux's writing style was a bit different, and difficult for me to get used to. She sometimes didn't use subjects (sometimes not even verbs). This was interesting. I didn't necessarily like it nor dislike it. And it was actually fun to read something completely different like that.

So, you may be asking why I didn't rate it higher. Well, I was never "gripped" by the novel. There wasn't even one of those moments where I didn't feel like I could put the book down. The whole of "The Shipping News" was just ok. I enjoyed it, but it certainly isn't going to become a book I would read over and over again.

"The Shipping News" tells the story of a widower who moves from New York with his aunt and his two small children to Newfoundland after the death of his wife and his parents. It is really fascinating to see what life was / is like in Newfoundland. It definitely picqued my curiousity to visit the country where waves freeze.

With all of that said, I do still recommend that you pick up "The Shipping News" and give it a read. It makes for interesting reading anyway.
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reviewed The Shipping News on + 35 more book reviews
A easy read, enjoy! Kathleen
reviewed The Shipping News on
It took me forever to get through this book. I persevered to the end because I read so many good things about it and several reviews noted that it started off slow (it did) and then turned into a "wonderful" something or other by the end. I reckon I slept through the "wonderful" part.

I found the writing to be very intriguing and very visual, I kept rereading phrases and wondering how the author came up with some of the comparisons in her phrases.

But the story was not interesting, it dragged, and it took all my will to get through to the end. Disappointing.
reviewed The Shipping News on + 7 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book and although I gave only 3 stars, it is a worthy read as readers go. Not all books hit the bulls eye of what we expect but none the less it is a good story written in the vernacular of Newfoundland.
geezola avatar reviewed The Shipping News on
It took me 40 pages to really get into this book. Some of the setup for the main character I found a bit formulaic, but once the setting moves to Newfoundland, the narrative comes to life, and you can tell the author feels more at home here. It's worth slogging through the initial 40 pages for the rest of the story.
desertdreamer avatar reviewed The Shipping News on + 23 more book reviews
Kinda slow read. Not nearly as fun to read as her Wyoming Stories books.
reviewed The Shipping News on
Much too gloomy
reviewed The Shipping News on + 45 more book reviews
Needs concentration as the writing is sophisticated, but it's WELL worth the effort!!!!!! Wonderful book!!!
reviewed The Shipping News on + 13 more book reviews
it's interesting, but not fascinating.
reviewed The Shipping News on + 5 more book reviews
A little quirky, a little deep, but very enjoyable non the less.
reviewed The Shipping News on
Such an interesting writing style! Really enjoyed it.
reviewed The Shipping News on
It is a beautifully written novel with an interesting style, but it somehow didn't speak to me on a personal level, which is why I am willing to give it up. It makes for good depressing Winter reading.
reviewed The Shipping News on + 66 more book reviews
Loved the book, loved the movie...
Kmarie avatar reviewed The Shipping News on + 529 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this CD! It was far easier to listen to than to read the actual paper version. It is read by Robert Joy.
reviewed The Shipping News on + 13 more book reviews
Loved the book and the film. Very thought provoking.


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