| The Shipping News : A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Annie Proulx
Publisher: Scribner
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $13.99 (100%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  450 reviews
Sales Rank: 493536
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0743225422
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780743225427
ASIN: 0743225422
Publication Date: December 26, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
In this touching and atmospheric novel set among the fishermen of Newfoundland, Proulx tells the story of Quoyle. From all outward appearances, Quoyle has gone through his first 36 years on earth as a big schlump of a loser. He's not attractive, he's not brilliant or witty or talented, and he's not the kind of person who typically assumes the central position in a novel. But Proulx creates a simple and compelling tale of Quoyle's psychological and spiritual growth. Along the way, we get to look in on the maritime beauty of what is probably a disappearing way of life.
Product Description
When Quoyle's two-timing wife meets her just deserts, he retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters and family members all play a part in Quoyle's struggle to reclaim his life. As Quoyle confronts his private demons -- and the unpredictable forces of nature and society -- he begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery. A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary North American family, The Shipping News shows why Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 445 more reviews...
 New Life in Newfoundland May 7, 2009
It's been two months or more since I read this book, but the thoughts of Quoyle, his daughters, and Aunt Agnis cross my mind nearly every day. What a tough life they had to live! Even Petal, his flagrantly unfaithful first wife had a tough life. Why else would someone act in such a callous, irresponsible, cruel way? I mean really, what kind of person would sell her own children?
Overcoming adversity, loss, and heartache, Quoyle and his daughters and aunt move from New York to Newfoundland, a dreary, cold, desolate place. While it might not be as dreary and miserable as Proulx described it, it does seem to be a perfect backdrop to the hard lives these people are living. Aunt Agnis harbors a secret of incest and pregnancy while Quoyle lives daily with the memory of his rejecting father, taunting brother, and dead wife.
Once settled in the old family home, things improve pretty quickly as the adults get jobs and the children begin school. Slowly but steadily, Quoyle gains confidence and self-assurance, largely because of the close-knit and supportive community of Killick Claw. He even finds love again. Far different from Petal, Wavey is loving and supportive, both of Quoyle and of his daughters.
The scene is harsh, and yet the characters overcome obstacles and adversity as they become more enmeshed within the community. They grow and develop in psychological, emotional, and social realms. Now that I think of it. Their stories could be anyone's stories. While all men don't see themselves as lumbering oafs who've been rejected and despised, all people have "something" they struggle with. Plus, it's often within the context of others that we find support to help us "overcome."
 Redemption is Possible by Meeting Your Fears Head-on April 13, 2009
This is a brilliant book. Proulx uses words to paint a vision for the senses. Simple sentence structure harbors deep, complex and true messages.
The story centers on Quoyle, a big galoot who has had a lifetime of hurt and failures. As he escapes with his aunt Agnes to return to his family's roots in Newfoundland, he begins to head towards some light and hope.
Much of the book is very dark as it slowly shows how characters can redeem themselves by meeting their fears and torments head-on.
The Quoyles, a family of dysfunctional sex abusers, recluses and n'eer-do-wells have left their legacy in Kinnick-Claw, Newfoundland. Quoyle tries to redeem himself and his family name as he also comes to grips with the legacy of pain that he carries inside himself. Quoyle learns that ove is not synonymous with pain and that true hope is real.
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Amazing - Brilliant. A Masterpiece March 12, 2009
This Lady has given us some of the best American Literature of the last 20 years. This Novel is no exception.
A funny but tender story of a man lost to himself and to others. A desperate move to the home of his ancestors will change his life.Wrestling with the elements of nature, the strange locals and his own fears, he will find love, friendship and his own self.Some passages are so unexpected and surreal they take your breath away.
Original,unique and beautifully written the "Shipping News" is the real thing.
 A real pleasure for some, a real bore for others March 8, 2009
There's a love it/hate it thing that happens with this acclaimed novel. Many in my family found the lead character too dull and insipid for the lead. His moral struggles seemed vapid and stale, and the story limped along. For me and my wife (and for most readers), Quoyle is the most unlikely of heroes. He is a bit dull. He's an ordinary man--almost a simpleton. But he makes a go of it. I don't really understand why this novel works so well. How does Proulx draw us in? Why do we end up caring so much about Quoyle and the people of this sleepy Newfoundland town? I don't know. I only know that the pages flew by and the story moved me to the end.
Sequel please October 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
You need to have repose when you read this book so you can remember the details. Don't listen to it while driving a car and eating a sandwich and yelling at your dog in the back seat. I loved everything about it. Proulx admits to being a geographical determinist and Newfoundland reflects the characters of this story perfectly. The characters all blossom there in the harsh surroundings. Bunny changes. Quoyle changes and becomes a happy man. All the details are so perfect. Proulx is America's Gabriel Garcia Marquez on a mini-scale. I do wish she would write more books like this one. The names of the characters are so Dickens-like. I do not want to see the movie. I don't want Aunt to be Judi Dench and Quoyle to be Kevin Spacey. I want him to be a young Gerard Depardieu. PS. The film was a boring disappointment. Spacey and Moore did well with their roles but the story was too altered and most disappointing of all was the lack of Newfoundland scenery.
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