Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Winter reading challenge continues! On a different platform, but still counts.
Unlike some of my other challenge reads, The Ship News, is a bit more 'literary' as its category is Won an Award and its award is none other than the National Book Award. So a beach read, this is not!
But despite its, at times, wordy prose and poetic descriptions, I enjoyed this book. Its main character, Quoyle, is a bit of an unfortunate man who is bumbling through life, constantly covering up his massive chin and trying to find his way in the world. The major event that completes changes his life is marrying Petal, a narcissistic bully who has lots of boyfriends, and having two daughters. Their whole meeting was a blink and you'll miss it paragraph, perhaps highlighting the actual substance of Petal compared to the damage that she left behind. Her death was abrupt, but clearly came at a good time
Quoyle and his daughters travel with Quoyle's aunt to return to their home of Newfoundland which truly seems like a world away. Quoyle gets a job at the local newspaper and tries to integrate himself into Candian fishing life. There is a whole cast of characters, all with rich and slightly traumatic backstories The couple with the yacht was particularly crazy
I could see how this book won its prize, as the writing was very good (even if all the boats, knots and maritime references got a little heavy handed). It offered some interesting commentary on our fraying social contracts and connection, which seems relevant 30 years after its publication. In that regard, it sort of reminded me of John Steinback.
By the end of the book, you found yourself wanting things to work out for Quoyle and his family and rise up against their circumstances and outlook.At the end, Quoyle and Wavey finally sorted out their issues and got together which was lovely. But that was perhaps topped by their realization of a healthier and happier type of love, that they did themselves deserve, even if it took some time. It was very Perks of Being a Wallflower- you accept the love you think you deserve
Unlike some of my other challenge reads, The Ship News, is a bit more 'literary' as its category is Won an Award and its award is none other than the National Book Award. So a beach read, this is not!
But despite its, at times, wordy prose and poetic descriptions, I enjoyed this book. Its main character, Quoyle, is a bit of an unfortunate man who is bumbling through life, constantly covering up his massive chin and trying to find his way in the world. The major event that completes changes his life is marrying Petal, a narcissistic bully who has lots of boyfriends, and having two daughters.
Quoyle and his daughters travel with Quoyle's aunt to return to their home of Newfoundland which truly seems like a world away. Quoyle gets a job at the local newspaper and tries to integrate himself into Candian fishing life. There is a whole cast of characters, all with rich and slightly traumatic backstories
I could see how this book won its prize, as the writing was very good (even if all the boats, knots and maritime references got a little heavy handed). It offered some interesting commentary on our fraying social contracts and connection, which seems relevant 30 years after its publication. In that regard, it sort of reminded me of John Steinback.
By the end of the book, you found yourself wanting things to work out for Quoyle and his family and rise up against their circumstances and outlook.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll admit it took a little while for the story to really sink its claws into me, but once it did I really loved this story. I share the author's fascination with single-economy small towns, having grown up in one. The writing is exquisite, as choppy, rich, and beautiful as the surf.
This book was so boring, I can't even bring myself to rant about it. It exists, like a rock, and is about as entertaining. It's my own fault I felt like I had to see this book through to the end, despite the fact within the first 50 pages I knew I was in deep trouble in terms of maintaing focus and wanting to ever pick it up again every time I set it down.
In a nutshell, the characters are flat and dull (even when they're quirky, they're boring), the style is annoying and I can't even console myself by saying "well, at least the writing's beautiful" like other books (see: Love in the Time of Cholera). A few well-written lines and an interesting conversation or two (not even a decent plot thread; just some interesting anecdotes that are dropped throughout) cannot sustain a book.
In a nutshell, the characters are flat and dull (even when they're quirky, they're boring), the style is annoying and I can't even console myself by saying "well, at least the writing's beautiful" like other books (see: Love in the Time of Cholera). A few well-written lines and an interesting conversation or two (not even a decent plot thread; just some interesting anecdotes that are dropped throughout) cannot sustain a book.
What a wonderful story with surprises at every turn, mesmerizing descriptions, and deeply rich and unusual characters. The ending got me with thoughtful revelations about life and death.
I know I am definitely the exception, I just couldn’t get into the book. I found it uninteresting the characters meh. I may try again in the future.
I almost gave up on this book but I'm glad I didn't. Enjoyed the humor and quirky characters.
Annie Proulx’ sparse writing style makes this novel seem, at first blush, a simple enough tale of an unlucky in life and love fellow, but Proulx is more clever than that. Instead, the story is more nuanced and the tight writing style, reflective of the stark and cold landscape of Newfoundland, the setting of the story, calls for the reader to slow down and understand that there is more happening beneath the surface.
I finished The Shipping News today. It was alright. I definitely felt for the main character Quoyle and enjoyed the subtleties of his relationship with Wavey, but overall I was kind of bored.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No