The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Shipping News
Book Review: A Surprisingly Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was a required read in my grade 12 english class and like most books we are required to read in class I thought that this book would be dull and a waste of time. However, I found this book to be surprisingly interesting. I found myself reading further than our required pages for the day. It tells the story of an unlucky joe who seems to have failed as a husband, son, and even a father. However, with both his wife and parents gone, he picks up his daughters and takes off for his ancestral home in Newfoundland to start a new life. This story relates to a lot of seemingly ordinary people's lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was great to read!Book Review: diappointing because of acclaim
Summary: 1 Stars
Having seen the advertisements for this novel in the Sunday newspapers, loudly proclaiming its prize-winning status, I was very keen to to read this novel. Nice title, nice jacket cover, Newfoundland has always seemed to resemble Ireland where I live, with its storms and the influence of the sea. It seems to have an abundance of soul like Ireland. However, the Shipping News is almost entirely lacking in soul. Characterisation is lazily avoided by use of a type of shorthand- men and women have silly names that do not exist either side of the Atlantic- viz Tert Card, a woman called Wavey, Petal, Sunshine. This puerile device is extended to a newspaper, The Gammy Bird, and place names No Name Cove, with many more cringe-making examples. The story- man leaves trashy life for North America's closest equivalent of an Olde Worlde, tries to repair old homestead, gives up, marries woman with funny name- was not much of a reward for having to plough through gratuitously flowery sentences set in juxtoposition with banality. I felt that the panels for the Pulitzer Prize and the Irish Times Prize 1994 can't really have made it to the end. The by-now obligatory severed head in a suitcase scene in the middle was so contrived that it must have been inserted on the insistence of the publisher's editor or her 13 year old son. Redeeming feature; main character's little daughters dialogue and behaviour were spot on.Verdict; like many others I have discussed this novel with, men and women- Avoid At All Costs.
Could make a decent film though, with lots of editing and some good actors.
Book Review: Surprisingly enjoyable
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this book on impulse, after a recommendation. The cover and quotes from various members of the literary world sang its praises too, so I was expecting a masterpiece when I opened the book.However, I was initially disappointed, as the writing seemed lacking in some way. Characterisation, similarly, appeared shallow. The writing style is also slightly off-putting, as the writer is sparing with the use of adverbs and the definite article. Nevertheless, I ploughed on, as something kept me reading. I'm glad I did, as the characters did indeed come to life, and the prose became beautifully descriptive.
It is difficult to bond with Quoyle at first; you feel pity for the poor man who seems to have been a victim all his life. He acts like a drip where his wife, Petal, is concerned. After the loathsome wife dies, Quoyle comes into his own, helped along the way by his stout-hearted woman - The Aunt.
What follows is a story of new beginnings for Quoyle. The courage he has in facing new challenges is admirable, and the path his life takes becomes an enlightenment and lesson for us all.
The beauty of it is that it is a story that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It's not a serious account of life in Newfoundland, merely a representation of a man trying to be a good father and find his place in life.
Book Review: An extraordinary tale of human relationship survival
Summary: 4 Stars
I first heard of Annie Proulx on a BBC world service book program. Having listened to extracts of the story whilst stuck in traffic I was intrigued and hungry for more. E.Annie Proulx tells a 'right proper story' . It's a classic from the first page and I'm not surprised that it attracted literary prizes. The story is based around a tale of ordinary every day life in Newfoundland - managing through the frozen winters and learning how to live to a different pace of life. It's an enthralling read which my only complaint was it was too short - I could have read a trilogy without a second thought.Book Review: Different, ploddy, enjoyable tale of Newfoundlanders
Summary: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed The Shipping News, about Quoyle, a downtrodden husband who moves back to his ancestoral home of Newfoundland after his philandering wife dies in a car crash, and finds his confidence, new friends and eventually, love. Anne Proulx has a strange way of writing and it takes a bit of getting used to, but it makes for a different, entertaining read. The images of Newfoundland will linger in your memory for a long time after you have finished this book.