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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
When I read this book 20-some years ago, it knocked my socks off: the language, the subtle humor, the bleak-yet-content lifestyle of the characters, Newfoundland as important as a character as the setting. But as with most things in middle age, it just hit differently this time! In a good way. More relatable now that I’m on this side of 40. I admired Quolye and Agnis and Wavey and Dennis & Beety and Jack and Nutbeem and all of these characters so much; I will wonder about them when I look out at the lobster boats this winter. There’s so much warmth and community in this story — a model of people who take care of each other, no matter what. And Quoyle is just such a loveable guy… his evolution from punching bag to beloved friend, editor, lover is simply beautiful.
Still one of my favorite books, and I’ll read it again in 15-20 years.
Still one of my favorite books, and I’ll read it again in 15-20 years.
Proulx has a stunning command of language. Deeply evocative, heartrending, funny. A masterpiece.
(SPOILER ALERT) “For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible? Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery.” Perhaps one of the best written endings of any novel. And what a turn of events in a tale of the misery of life.
Really a 3.5 star book for me (wish we could award half stars). There's a subtle beauty to this one. Might need to come back to actually write a decent review after I've had some time to process the work.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Warmed to this book over time. Scenes of Newfoundland were stellar.
It’s a dismal book, but well-written, and I love reading about Newfoundland. Proulx certainly captures the bleak austerity of the rural Atlantic Province.
The writing is beautiful. The knot metaphors were a bit over my head. I got a little bored in the middle with all the “shipping news” stories. I loved the way it came full circle with a love story in the end, and how Quoyle found someone else who (previously) equated love with pain.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Though there wasn’t much in the way of loveable characters or a continuous plot, there was something compelling about this book. It definitely got better as it went on, and there was good writing - but even with it being a quick reading, felt like a slog - like the cold winters Proulx describes.