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  • The Shipping News

  • By: Annie Proulx
  • Narrated by: Paul Hecht
  • Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)

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The Shipping News

By: Annie Proulx
Narrated by: Paul Hecht
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Summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 1994

National Book Award, Fiction, 1994

At 36, Quoyle, a third-rate newspaperman, is wrenched violently out of his workaday life when his two-timing wife gets 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.

A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary American family, The Shipping News demonstrates why Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today.

©1995 Annie Proulx (P)2011 Simon & Schuster
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Critic reviews

" The Shipping News is that rare creation, a lyric page-turner." ( Chicago Tribune)
"The writing 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)
"Annie Proulx's stunning, big-hearted The Shipping News thaws the frozen lives of its characters and warms readers." ( San Francisco Examiner)

What listeners say about The Shipping News

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Sheer genius

I loved every word and space between words and image in this wonderful book. Annie proulx is a genius writer.

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Feels like you're there

a captivating listen! very well narrated and the story is full of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. humorous and poignant at times, the author really takes you into the world of Newfoundland and you will really feel as though you're in it

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Amazing book, beautifully read

The Shipping News has everything dark and light in it. It is tragic, wry, quirky, austerely beautiful. A great book. And wonderfully read by Paul Hecht. Highly recommended!

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Magnificent! Loved revisiting this old favourite

I've been waiting for an unabridged audio version of one of my favourite books and this doesn’t disappoint. Fantastic narrator, brings all the characters to life. And he reminded me what a great book this is, funny, savage, tender and beautiful. The descriptions of the Newfoundland landscape and its people are beautifully drawn. Some scenes are laugh out loud funny, but with a dark edge to the humour.

I never keep audiobooks but this will be an exception. I look forward to hearing it again.

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Strangely Compelling

I didn’t think I’d like this, but I got drawn in by all the characters and this story which ultimately says - given the right encouragement and opportunities, even the biggest no-hoper can become something marvellous.

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my favourite book

A truly wondrous book, beautifully narrated. You will live every page and want to re listen almost immediately. I cannot recommend it enough.

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Loved it!

Enjoyed this so much. It’s very quirky and unusual but a really great story. Newfoundland is somewhere I knew nothing about but now I feel I have a strong sense of it. The characters are all gnarly and a little gothic but they still find a place in your heart- even Petal!! I loved the performance- a tiny bit over the top but that was perfect.

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Outstanding Reading

A gentle story, beautifully read. Highly evocative story of Newfoundland life. Exceptional writing, wonderful characterisation. What a fifference a skilled reader makes. Highly recommended

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Beautifully written and narrated

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish, a wonderful uplifting story, the narrator was excellent.

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The gentle pace and sensitive narrative

I loved everything about this book. Beautifully told and able to get into the shoes of each character. An absolute gem.

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