Rating: 
Summary: Great writing style, but the ending needs work.
Review: While I loved the writing style, I thought the plot left something to be desired. The ending just dropped the reader off a cliff, rather than explaining in detail as the rest of the book. And the shower scene--can I say eww??
Rating:
Summary: Great rising action, but a dissapointing end.
Review: Proulx has definitely created a unique style in writting. However, I felt like I was abandonded at the end. It seemed as if Proulx suddenly grew tired of writting and decided to quit. Better luck next time.
Rating: 
Summary: You're kidding! THIS won a Pulitzer Prize?
Review: I am probably being too generous in giving this book 2 stars, but I'm the one who forced myself to finish it, so I'll go ahead.I found this story extremely tedious and a real chore to wade through. I also thought if I read one more reference to the sea or sky looking like milk, I'd be sick. Ms. Proulx's weak attempts at creativity through the use of fragmented sentences, and her vulgar use of language, only made matters worse. Her characters are underdeveloped, to say the least. I was three quarters of the way through the book before I finally realized that fat, pathetic Quoyle was supposed to be going through some sort of "humanizing" transformation. I was disappointed with this story and relieved at the same time. Disappointed that a Pulitzer prize winning novel could be so lousy, and relieved when I finally came to the last page.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life, forever.
Review: I fell deeply in love with Quoyle. It was easy for me to sympathize with his weakness's. I have lived a life full of pity and sexual conflict. I encourage all people who have had sexual problems to read this book. I especially relate to the Aunt's fear of all men. When I was 12 I was raped by 8 men at a party my father took me to. I was brought there to entertain his freinds. I still have dreams abotu that night. I love this book
Rating: 
Summary: A thoroughly disappointing book
Review: Am I missing something? Why all the 5-star reviews? Whatever did the judges see in this drab and uninspiring opus to give it an award, for heaven's sake? Wafer-thin characters (with no development) who drift aimlessly from page to page, no plot worth the name - and nothing happens! You almost feel like screaming at the author: "For God's sake, you're in charge - make something happen!", but nothing ever does. How frustrating. I've read disappointing books before, but this is the only one I can recall where, at the end, I genuinely felt short-changed. I have only two words of advice for anyone considering buying it: Don't Bother.
Rating: 
Summary: A "zinger" on every page.
Review: As all books must end, "Shipping News" was rationed for the last 80 pages. I simply did not want to say goodbye to my friends. Hopeful characters that gained color and fullness without revealing all, left me with enough room to muse their pasts and hope for their futures. It's not every day that one grieves the end of a book. Whether or not this was a true picture of New Foundland (NOOF'und-lund?) or not, it's endeared the Maritime way of life for me. I'll continue to rave and recommend it, as I have for the last 2 years!
Rating:
Summary: One of my Favorite Books of all time
Review: E. Annie Proulx's "The Shipping News" combines incredible character development, an inventive chapter-by-chapter plot development tool using the "Ashley Book of Knots" and to deliver entertaining reading with incisive black humor. Landscapes come to life. The main character is a giant with a huge heart. The story is part modern day fable, part metaphor, with one flavorful part 'comedy of errors'.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: The books I have forgotten in the past twenty years could fill a trailer truck (they haven't though, Ive thrown them out). I Will NEVER forget this treasure of a book. I'm not surprised by the few very negative reviews, only by the reasons given for why the book was distasteful: 1)One reviewer found it "Hard to understand the popularity of a book where the characters are off-the-chart maladapted and cast into bizarre situations" MacBeth? Ahab? Most any character by James Joyce? 2) A teacher laments that Prolx's overuse of sentence fragments is subverting her attempts to teach proper writing style. Too bad. Haven't read Ulysses? Improper writing style. Seriously, this is one of the great ones.
Rating:
Summary: The Shipping News is purely brilliant!
Review: The Shipping News is probably the best book I have ever read. I am thoroughly impressed. Proulx's terse, original writing style locked me in immediately. I found the characters to be endearing, for despite their situations, they make an attempt at making life beautiful (Quoyle and Wavey with their children, the aunt with her loving stoicism....) and in the end, that is exactly what happens.
Rating:
Summary: Represents the best of modern literature
Review: Finally, a best seller that didn't insult my intelligence! The story of Quoyle is richly mystical and unpredictable. The ending made me laugh out loud.
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