• The Shipping News

  • By: Annie Proulx
  • Narrated by: Robert Joy
  • Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (249 ratings)

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The Shipping News  By  cover art

The Shipping News

By: Annie Proulx
Narrated by: Robert Joy
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Publisher's summary

A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary American family, The Shipping News shows why E. Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today. When Quoyle, a 36-year-old, third rate newspaperman, learns that his two-timing wife has abandoned him and their two daughters, he returns to his ancestral home on the Newfoundland coast, where amongst locals and three generations of his family, he begins to rebuild his life. Newfoundland is a dreary rock in the north Atlantic beset by lousy weather. Proulx recreates this barren location in her vivid, distinctive prose and populates it with a cast of amusing, richly human characters. The transformation each of the characters undergoes following the move is profound. And Proulx creates a simple and compelling tale of Quoyle's psychological and spiritual growth as he confronts his private demons. Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the maritime beauty of what is probably a fading existence.
©1995 E. Annie Proulx, All Rights Reserved (P)1995 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved

What listeners say about The Shipping News

Average customer ratings
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Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Find the unabridged version!

Skip the abridged version of this book! I wasn't crazy about it, then decided to give the unabrdged version a chance and I'm SO glad I did. It's a superb book when read in full. I'd rate it 5 stars.



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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Shipping News

This book is such a great read I couldn't put it down. It stayed in my thoughts when I couldn't read it, and I used any excuse to get back to it. A quirky, humorous and sad story, it is written as vividly as though the author was experiencing everything as she wrote. The characters are almost alive and kind of odd, having lived in a small community for so long. But the great thing is that everyone accepts the quirks of others, at least until the end.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A Colossal Bore

All of the Pulitzer Prizes in the world (yes, this book won in 1994) can’t save “The Shipping News” from terminal boredom. Proulx belongs to a segment of the modern school which deemphasizes plot, which might work if the characters and their inner thoughts were fascinating. But this essentially plotless novel is populated by some very dull individuals. It’s one thing to write well, which Proulx does, but it’s another thing to have something to write about. If your want to read a book which celebrates ordinariness, this slight tale might be for you, but don’t be surprised if you, too, end up as bored as I was.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Well Done

My 1st Annie Proulx novel, but certainly not my last. I chose the abridged version because I liked Robert Joy's voice. He seemed more Quoyle-like to me. Read the book, listened to the audio version and watched the movie. Time well spent.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Anna

From the description I thought this book would be good, but sadly I was disappointed. In the book, the author portrays Newfoundland as an awful, desolate place. The story was dreary, bleak and depressing. I am usually not this critical but felt compelled to leave a comment.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Publisher comments are rubbish

The publisher comments "Newfoundland is a dreary rock in the north Atlantic beset by lousy weather".

This is ridiculous... Newfoundland is one of the most beautiful places on earth. (Mountains, ocean, incredibly friendly people, vast areas of unspoiled nature and wildlife) .. The weather is moderated by the ocean, much like Seattle weather - where temperatures are rarely extreme.

Newfoundland is one of Canada's prime tourist destinations.

While the writer depicts some dreary scenes within New York and Newfoundland, the publisher's above comment is highly inappropriate - and should be retracted from your website.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Hmmm

Well - I guess this just wasn’t for me. It was beautiful writing with lovely characters, but it felt very slow moving without much happening. Let’s just say not every book is for everyone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Less Than Entertaining

The characters didn't interest me. They were sad-sack. The narration was okay. But everything about this story seemed lame. Don't waste your time or credit.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

this is one of my favorite books

I usually hate abridged versions but Robert Joy does an excellent job with these voices.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absorbing and enjoyable

Brilliant story by an incredibly talented author.

The narration keeps the pace moving with engaging & dynamic voice modulations.

I charged through it in about 3 sittings - and wished it wouldn’t end.

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