The Shipping News

By: Annie Proulx

Narrated by: Robert Joy

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Shipping News is a vigorous, darkly comic, at times magical portrait of the contemporary North American family, and "a rare creation, a lyric page-turner" (Chicago Tribune).

At thirty-six, Quoyle, a third-rate newspaperman is wrenched violently out of his world when his two-timing wife meets her just desserts. He retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters all play a part in Quoyle’s struggle to reclaim his life. As three generations of his family cobble up new lives, Quoyle confronts his private demons—and the unpredictable forces of nature and society—and begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery.

The Shipping News “is charged with sardonic wit—alive, funny, a little threatening: packed with brilliantly original images…and now and then, a sentence that simply takes your breath away” (USA TODAY).

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.

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.

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

SO Kevin Spacey!

Awesome read, loved it, the character was made for Mr Spacey! Very enjoyable.

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.