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nancyadelman 's review for:
The Shipping News
by Annie Proulx
Quoyle is a man with bad luck. Born into a family where both his father and brother called him names, he fervently wishes that he was secretly switched at birth and his real family will show up and come to his rescue. His wife bears him two little girls, and then promptly runs around on him. When she turns up dead in a car accident, Quoyle retreats to Newfoundland with his daughters and a distant aunt in tow. There Quoyle finds work that suits him, friends that accept him and a community that embraces him and his family.
I started off this book somewhat skeptical, but the deeper I read, the more entranced I became with the story. Quoyle is very much a loser type of character that is always getting picked on and put down and you can't help but feel sorry for him. His daughters, Bunny and Sunshine, lighten the story with occasional snippets of comic relief. There are a lot of people that Quoyle comes into contact with and interacts with in Newfoundland that a reader can be forgiven for occasionally mixing them up. Quoyle's romantic interest took a long time to get the romance part started because of Quoyle's hangups but it is all the sweeter when they do finally get together. The story is told from the third person, limited point of view of Quoyle. The story is almost entirely set in Newfoundland, though there are a few chapters at the start of the story set in New York state in or around the 1990's.
There are a few vividly described sex scenes, or scenes in which very adult language is used to describe them. There are several scenes in which characters go out for alcoholic drinks, including one party scene which includes some violent acts. There is no substance use. There are some descriptions of characters being hurt or killed in various accidents, and at least one murder. Despite all of this, it is a very good book about a man rejected by his family who is embraced by his adopted community. I would have loved to read more about Quoyle for another volume or more. This book has funny moments and sad moments. This book did win the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. I am giving this book five stars because Quoyle is one character I will remember for quite a while.
I started off this book somewhat skeptical, but the deeper I read, the more entranced I became with the story. Quoyle is very much a loser type of character that is always getting picked on and put down and you can't help but feel sorry for him. His daughters, Bunny and Sunshine, lighten the story with occasional snippets of comic relief. There are a lot of people that Quoyle comes into contact with and interacts with in Newfoundland that a reader can be forgiven for occasionally mixing them up. Quoyle's romantic interest took a long time to get the romance part started because of Quoyle's hangups but it is all the sweeter when they do finally get together. The story is told from the third person, limited point of view of Quoyle. The story is almost entirely set in Newfoundland, though there are a few chapters at the start of the story set in New York state in or around the 1990's.
There are a few vividly described sex scenes, or scenes in which very adult language is used to describe them. There are several scenes in which characters go out for alcoholic drinks, including one party scene which includes some violent acts. There is no substance use. There are some descriptions of characters being hurt or killed in various accidents, and at least one murder. Despite all of this, it is a very good book about a man rejected by his family who is embraced by his adopted community. I would have loved to read more about Quoyle for another volume or more. This book has funny moments and sad moments. This book did win the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. I am giving this book five stars because Quoyle is one character I will remember for quite a while.