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Comments (31)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 31 items
Dec 19, 2023DK21383022939982 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite novels of all time.
Apr 10, 2023loumoore_0 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Was glad that I pushed thru the beginning chapters. I put it away, but then continued reading only because it was on the bucket reading list, only to find that it was hard to put down. A 4 star review.
Jan 01, 2023
My second time reading this book; did I grow in the meantime? Certainly I appreciate it now for its poetry as much as its characters and their stories. Not everyone may be happy here, but I sure am.
Nov 27, 2022ninanvg rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
God knows what I was reading. It is one of those books where even if you deliberately skip ten pages, you have actually missed nothing. Very slow with no real plot.
Nov 20, 2022EljayJohnson rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This was a DNF for me many years ago and I wanted to try it again. I certainly never considered not finishing this time around, but I still feel that The Shipping News and I are not a good match. I liked the offbeat writing style, found…
Oct 18, 2022LoriHarrow rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are quirky, the culture is memorable and the descriptions engaging. If you like the PBS show Doc Martin, you should pick up this book.
Apr 20, 20220049833601 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I saw the movie, but as usual, the book was better in terms of more engagement with the story. It created such vivid pictures. I read this as part of the 10 to Try reading program.
Jan 27, 2021volare rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
DNF. Seemed too grim to read during COVID-19. Will try to read it again when life in the outside world improves.
Aug 22, 2020
Pulitzer 1994
Jul 28, 2020xarathustra rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A solid book of practical importance.
Mar 30, 2020jackhwolf rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Fascinating read of life in a very hardscrabble area of Newfoundland. Both poignant and humorous with some good personal romance and uplifting conviction
Dec 31, 2019macierules rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Loved this wonderful book. A great way to wrap up my 2019 reading.
Aug 07, 2019elBooks_14 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Loved how The Ashley Book of Knots parallels Quoyle's travails and will never tire of the stark humor that runs through this tale of a man finding a place in life. Her writing cuts all excess from each sentence, you are left only with the…
Jun 24, 2019jeff1885 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A fun read that takes you along the life of a beaten down man, and his slow realization that he can have a life deemed worth having. He may not be the best newspaper man, but he finds away to make it his own. Love hasn't come easy, but he…
Mar 13, 2019feralranger rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
In the unforgiving landscape of Newfoundland, Quoyle starts a new life with his two children after the death of his faithless wife. The landscape is as much a character as the characters in one of my favorite reads of all time. Quoyle…
Feb 05, 2019lisalibrary8 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite books. Great story and beautiful writing
Jan 25, 2016multcolib_susannel rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Heart sick and socially awkward, Quoyle returns to his family home because he doesn't know what else to do.
Dec 30, 2015No_Stalkers4Me rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed it. Not a great endorsement for the functionality of NFLD families!
Aug 27, 2015wyenotgo rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A pretty straightforward novel, enriched by the unique character of Newfoundland and the hardy, idiosycratic people who live in that harsh land. Particularly intriguing is the manner in which people from "away" tend to get swept up in the…
Lexicon_
Apr 06, 2015Lexicon_ rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Started well but really seemed to peter out...
Sep 07, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Based on the comments, this is polarizing book. I remember it being a pretty big deal when it came out in 1993, as it won both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award. It's good, if hard to get into and its strengths (and its characters)…
Dec 26, 2013rmbelyea rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
.Wonderful collection of short stories! My book club enjoyed discussing how the stories made us think about being an outsider, the great circle of life and finding hope & forgiveness. Not to mention some unforgettable characters! .
Dec 09, 2012
Whoa! I guess KarenW really didn't like this book! It has been on my bookshelf for quite a while and I thought I would get it into the completed pile....so after reading all these comments, I'm not sure what to expect! Stay tuned! Started…
Sep 27, 2012GingerKaren rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
Okay, I don't know why I keep trying to like stuff like this, but I really should stop. And this should be my warning sign. This book is so full of that special dish that so many horrible authors keep serving that I can't believe some…
Dec 11, 2010GrumpyDave rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
1993 National Book Award - Fiction