The Shipping News

By: Annie Proulx

Narrated by: Robert Joy

Length: 5 hrs and 8 mins

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brutally abridged

My favourite novel slashed in two. So sad. The narrator did a good job though.

Good words, disappointing reader

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book is excellent

What did you like best about this story?

It is a compelling story of growth and human character

What didn’t you like about Robert Joy’s performance?

His voice is off putting, and detracted from the story.

Could you see The Shipping News being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

no

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.

The Shipping News

I generally liked the book but thought something was missing. When it ended I found it was an abridged version, I realized a lot must have been left out. Didn't know to pay attention to this -thought audible books were all full versions.

Mesmerising

I almost didn't buy this as there were some downbeat reviews that talked of 'nothing much happening' and the prose being tricky. I couldn't agree less! I thought the characters and stories were wonderful and the writing style was amazing! I was enthralled and found it more like Kate Atkinson's style than Anne Tyler's, as another reviewer had suggested. It has the wonderful mix of the mundane and the surreal. I loved it. I haven't seen the film, but will be buying the DVD.

Difficult to listen to

I got this on a recommendation from someone who had read the book. Very soon into listening to it I became very frustrated with the readers style, it seemed that the stresses and punctuations were all wrong, that is until I looked at the book. The author’s style is written like a mass of headlines and short sentences thrown together.



I struggled to finish the book and found the ending so unbelievable that it diminished any of the good I could recount. The prose is frustrating in a book that travels at 5 miles per hour on a road going nowhere.

terrible sound quality

Not going to comment on the story, I am sure it is good. However, the quality of the audio recording is terrible so I'm giving this one a miss.

Sad to leave Quoyle & Newfoundland behind

Sad, bleak and beautifully uplifting. Expertly wrought with characters as unpredictable as the weather. Loved it.

Perfect

if you like Anne Tyler then you will like this. I love the slow burn of stories about people where something but nothing happens. A man moves to newfoundland with his 2 children and tries to begin again after a tragedy. but there are old family ties that create the story and interweave with his life.

wonderful

Really enjoyed this. Great portrayals of Newfoundland scenery. Quoyle's journey back home and his realisations about family.

wow.

enjoyable. lookforwardable to. the prose and accents swish and sway. the plot crests and troughs effortlessly. the quirky bastards of Newfoundland are known to us all. thank you thank you thank you

Unmissable

Annie Poroulx writes in beautiful prose using language at its most vivid and picturesque. This is a story of redemption , one to read or listen to again and again. The reader depicted Quoyle, the Aunt, Partridge and all of the other characters in a way that made them completely real. A wonderful story.

One paced . . . .slow

Interesting and well written tale of a man development in a isolated community on the Canadian coast. That's as exciting as it gets

Wonderful

Has always been one of my favourite books - the bumbling, dogged but utterly engaging Qouile is sensitively realised, as are the many engaging characters he meets on his difficult but ultimately fulfilling journey. I've always loved this book and got more out of it every time I read it. Listening to it has been a whole new pleasure. While I would have liked the audio version to be unabridged, I have really enjoyed it