I read The Shipping News a couple of years ago, and barely remember what it was about except that I found it really boring and nothing seemed to happen. I don't even know if I finished it, actually. Was that the one with the character named Quoyle? With a massive chin that he kept trying to hide behind his hand? I don't even know.
Proulx has reached almost meme status of hatred amongst a friend and myself. I think it isn't even the slow moving nature, it's the dialogue. It's even worse than the strange word sandwich grammar she uses. I just keep looking at it and going "No normal person would talk like that." it's painful!
LOL, I seem to be in the minority here. My teacher recommended me The Shipping News as a book to write for my English Extended Essay in 11th grade. I actually don't remember what most of what happened, but I did actually thoroughly enjoy it, although Proulx's very masculine and at times painfully weird writing stye were at times irksome.
Maybe it's because I had to study it in-depth, but I found the symbolism of the beginning of each chapter beautiful (with all the shipping terms, like how the character was called 'Quoyle' because he was a pushover), and I liked how she had protagonists who weren't traditionally beautiful in any way, and how Quoyle in the end doesn't end up losing weight or looking better or anything, but becomes regardless a better person, a better father, someone capable of loving and being loved back.
But I can definitely see why someone would hate her writing style; some of her short stories I just didn't get at all. So I'll respectfully disagree =)
Jaws is one of my absolute favorite movies, but I have to agree on the book. It wasn't that good, it was kind of boring actually, I didn't even end up finishing it.
And after growing up with the movie and loving it so, the whole Elle/Hooper affair was just kind of..icky. I mean those things...those things they said to one another ::shudder:: (and I know the book came out first and that wasn't the author's intention, and it's probably just me, but still)
I am willing to bet that after reading the book Spielburg was like "this book was such crap, I'll make it a movie to make it better and show Peter Benchley how the story should really play out" lol
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Maybe it's because I had to study it in-depth, but I found the symbolism of the beginning of each chapter beautiful (with all the shipping terms, like how the character was called 'Quoyle' because he was a pushover), and I liked how she had protagonists who weren't traditionally beautiful in any way, and how Quoyle in the end doesn't end up losing weight or looking better or anything, but becomes regardless a better person, a better father, someone capable of loving and being loved back.
But I can definitely see why someone would hate her writing style; some of her short stories I just didn't get at all. So I'll respectfully disagree =)
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And after growing up with the movie and loving it so, the whole Elle/Hooper affair was just kind of..icky. I mean those things...those things they said to one another ::shudder:: (and I know the book came out first and that wasn't the author's intention, and it's probably just me, but still)
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