The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Charity Shop: The Cyrenians, Eldon Square, Newcastle
Charity: The Cyrenians is now Changing Lives. Changing Lives provides specialist support services for thousands of vulnerable people and their families. They work with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and a range of other problems.
Price: £0.50
Book Blurb: 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 his delinquent daughters, Bunny and Sunshine in tow, Quoyle finds hinself a part of an unfolding, exhilarating Atlantic drama. THE SHIPPING NEWS is an irresistable comedy of human life and possibility.
Expectation: A comedic story of a city-dweller adapting to rural life.
Reality: It was a strange book, that I wouldn't call a comedy. Set amongst a back drop of grief, sexual abuse and murder the book follows the life of Quoyle as he floats unhappily through life until his aunt encourages him to move with his two daughters to Newfoundland following the death of his wife in a car crash (after she had just sold their children ?!) Life in Newfoundland suits him, and supported by his aunt, new friends and colleagues Quoyle begins to stand on his own two feet and find out more about his (sometimes quite dark) family history. The story borders on the supernatural at time, although most odd occurrences are explained logically, but not all. It's written in an odd way, very jumpy and rarely has full sentences. This probably is trying to convey how Quoyle's mind works but it took me a while to adjust to.
Overall Rating
It was a struggle 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gripping page
to make it turner
It lost some points because the blurb lied, it's not a comedy. It is odd, but not terrible. Overall it's not a waste of time to read this book and I wouldn't mind watching the film if that opportunity ever arose.
Twist Scale:
Knew the beginning, As twisty as the
middle and end 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 bendy wendy road
from the first line
There were child slavery, crashes, murders, sexual abuse, drowning, houses disappearing and supernatural occurences. Some were surprise, some were hinted at prior to their occurence. Not the most straightforward plot in the world!
There were child slavery, crashes, murders, sexual abuse, drowning, houses disappearing and supernatural occurences. Some were surprise, some were hinted at prior to their occurence. Not the most straightforward plot in the world!
Tear-jerker Scale:
As dry as a house 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cried an ocean
throughout
Most events were so incredulous little empathy was generated. However I did feel some sadness at times from the Aunt's life.
Main Character(s): Quoyle - see 'reality' above. Quoyle's aunt is a key and complex character, who's lived through alot. We get her perspective on events too. Her motives are unclear, she is trying to block the past out of her life yet returns to her childhood home...?
Moral of the Story: I'm not sure. Be wary of being blinded by love.
Coming up: Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
Most events were so incredulous little empathy was generated. However I did feel some sadness at times from the Aunt's life.
Main Character(s): Quoyle - see 'reality' above. Quoyle's aunt is a key and complex character, who's lived through alot. We get her perspective on events too. Her motives are unclear, she is trying to block the past out of her life yet returns to her childhood home...?
Moral of the Story: I'm not sure. Be wary of being blinded by love.
***
Coming up: Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
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