The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Shipping News
Book Review: worth reading
Summary: 4 Stars
Ms. Proulx's style takes some getting used to -- her writing is episodic, with abrupt changes of subject, and she doesn't seem terribly interested in the psychology of her characters. However, as you read on, you find that she expresses her characters' natures through their actions. The story is absorbing even though it is set in a cold, isolated place where everyone seems interested mainly in shipping and knots. The characters are among the quirkiest you'll encounter. Like Postcards, which I actually liked a little better, The Shipping News has some sharply delineated images which will linger in your mind for a while.Book Review: you should really read the book, not my review!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book caught my attention with such a strong grip that I am currently studying it for an English assignment at school. While I could type pages about my thoughts on the book, I will try and save the full version for my english teacher and just give my first and foremost reactions to the novel.Ms. Proulx's writing style is unique and deliciously fresh - it flows freely but also weaves such a brilliant, passionate story. For me, the passion is in there, although it may be obscured from some people that get dragged down while looking for climaxes. The story of Quoyle is in some ways just an account of the life of an American man that has had a hard time, who finds his luck changing, but I felt that his story could carry on for volumes and volumes of books. There is a sensation of a fairy-tale while reading it - I think from the twists and incidents that spring from nowhere, for example, the discovery of the head (no spoilers as to whose head) in the suitcase. The names and place names also add to the fairytale-esqueness of the novel: the children - Bunny and Sunshine, and the various places around Newfoundland - Bloody Banks, Lost All Hope - they all keep the story interesting and quirky.
The characters all have histories that merit a story each, but Ms. Proulx has managed to keep the right balance of mystery and background. I was particularly drawn to the character of the Aunt - she has suffered a lot at the hands of family, and although she found a few years of happiness, that too was taken from her too soon. She always seemes to account things as they should be, and not as they have been in her experience, forming a character that gets my sympathy, but even more, my respect.
So maybe I have rambled a bit, but this novel has made many impressions on me - I think everyone will gain some insight from reading it. It also prompted me to read any other books I could find by E Annie Proulx - namely the short stories, Heart Songs. these have the same style and the same sense of providing a window into the lives of fascinating people that we may never be priveleged enough to meet in real life.
Just one question though - how do you pronounce Proulx?