Tony's review
The Shipping News : A Novel by E. Annie Proulx
Tony's review
rating:
recommended for: I'm not sure I could recommend it
status: Read in January, 2008
rating:
recommended for: I'm not sure I could recommend it
status: Read in January, 2008
I read this book when it first came out and was memorized Proulx's ability to transport the reader to a remote fishing village dominated by winter weather, a rocky coastline hostile to foreign sailors and the old collection of charming and smarmy folks who make up a port town . In her acknowledgments, Proulx credits several people who helped her understand the mindset of the villagers and even a causal reading shows Proulx got those lessons write.
That said, having reread the book for a book group, I can't give it the same high praise I felt in my first pass. The story line isn't fully develop, Quoyle's transformation from a put upon oaf to a loving man and sensitive father simply isn't convincing, the supporting cast could use more flesh and Proulx just ain't that great with language.
I could spend waste quite a few words on how the jarring switches in POV made it hard to stay in the moment, especially because all of the characters seemed to be voiced the same, but I'll le...more
That said, having reread the book for a book group, I can't give it the same high praise I felt in my first pass. The story line isn't fully develop, Quoyle's transformation from a put upon oaf to a loving man and sensitive father simply isn't convincing, the supporting cast could use more flesh and Proulx just ain't that great with language.
I could spend waste quite a few words on how the jarring switches in POV made it hard to stay in the moment, especially because all of the characters seemed to be voiced the same, but I'll le...more
