A review by laurenjoy
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

5.0

Proulx captured big people in small towns perfectly. Big feelings in few words. As a newspaper journalist, Quoyle is not the stereotype of anything. Born with a large jaw and large feelings he grows into himself in New Foundland- a big change from the rush of New York and the disasters he left behind. The writing was powerful and intense, while remaining condensed. In a way it was much like reading big moments expressed as headlines for a newspaper- appropriate considering Quoyle's profession. The book so perfectly encapsulated human moments that there were long times when I would stop at the end of a paragraph and just savor a twist of phrase.