Annie Proulx's highly acclaimed, international bestseller and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Quoyle is a hapless, hopeless hack journalist living and working in New York. When his no-good wife is killed in a spectacular road accident, Quoyle heads for the land of his forefathers -- the remotest corner of far-flung Newfoundland. With 'the aunt' and his delinquent daughters -- Bunny and Sunshine -- in tow, Quoyle finds himself part of an unfolding, exhilarating Atlantic drama. 'The Shipping News' is an irresistible comedy of human life and possibility.
Pages: 355
Publication: 1993
Genre: Fiction / Rural Life Humour
Amazon Rating: 4.2/5 from 3,800 reviews.
Our review in brief:
| 1. Rating: 5.8 out of 10 |
| 2. Recommended: Only a few members said they would recommend the book and then they would be selective as to the recipient. Some people said the book was just too depressing. Some members felt the book needed perseverance and a few did not finish it. |
| 3. Audience: The book would suit a slightly older age group. Younger readers may find it hard to understand the small-town life. |
| 4. Type of Read: The language of the book was easy, but some of the words were not familiar. The descriptions in places were too long. One member felt the book was full of “purple prose” (Purple Prose refers to a style of writing that is excessively ornate or flowery, often characterized by overly elaborate language and descriptions.) |
| 5. Quality of the Author: The majority of the group said they would not read anything else by Annie Proulx |
| 6. Other Observations: It was a change to have a male protagonist who was a decent man. |