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Post by Katrina on Jul 4, 2006 16:24:49 GMT -5
The Shipping News is the story of a broken man. Our protagonist, Quoyle, is an overweight, unhappy, lonely person. His childhood was unpleasant, his adult life a mess. His wife is a prostitute, and his two children, Bunny and Sunshine are also disturbed. When his "no-good wife gets her just desserts", as the blurb on my copy puts it, he heads to his family home of Newfoundland with his aunt and his kids. He starts to rebuild a life there. There are many fascinating people there, like Wavey and her young mentally handicapped boy. The book, although dealing with tragedy, does so in a very interesting way. Her sentences are unique, in that Proulx keeps you alert by making you interested in her writing style. "The Shipping News" won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was Annie Proulx's second novel. She has since written about 5 novels and 3 short story collections. I would give the book 9/10, simply because I can't think of anything I'd give a 10 to. Proulx is a unique writer, and her other books are also very good. I can recommend "Close Range: Wyoming Stories " and "Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2", which I've read, as well as the other you can read about here: www.annieproulx.com/ |
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 4, 2006 16:29:22 GMT -5
Oooh, I've read 'Brokeback Mountain!' Now that is one story that changed me forever.
It was so realistic, 'gritty', even, and very, very painful. It sneaked into my heart and will always remain there. I felt like she just painted these few images and left us to finish them off, and even months later, it hurts...
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Post by Katrina on Jul 4, 2006 16:51:15 GMT -5
I feel the same way about Brokeback Mountain. It was the first of her books I'd read, and it tore me apart. I cried and cried when I read it, and even more when I saw the film. It's one of the few book-to-film transitions I'm almost completely happy with. Her short story style is different from her novel style. She has an interesting essay about it on her website (link above). The film of The Shipping News is also very well made. I saw the film before I read the book, I had always thought it was a good film, and then I saw that the writer of Brokeback Mountain had also written, it I had to read it.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 4, 2006 16:59:26 GMT -5
I agree about the crying. I was a bit...dubious...when I went into the theatre, but 10 minutes into the movie (and a page into the story) I forgot it was about gay men and was just lost in it. I bawled like a baby when Jack and Ennis parted, I was in hysterics when Jack died...
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Post by Katrina on Jul 4, 2006 17:25:26 GMT -5
I have the advantage of having no issues about gay people, I'm a staunch supporter of equal rights, so I wasn't bothered by it being two men. I see it as two people loving each other.
I read the story many times, and I had very in-depth discussions with my mom about the book and the characters, and especially poor Ennis and his hang-ups. I had an idiot woman behind me the first time laughing every time they even looked at each other, so it was difficult to have a good cry in peace, but afterwards I lay on my mom's shoulder in the theatre and soaked her shirt until I couldn't cry any more.
I found the ending of the film to be happier than the ending of the book, because of the little scene with Alma Jr. The thing that had me crying really badly was Ennis's eyes, the last time he and Jack are together; his eyes looked so hollow, and empty, and yet full of pain.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 4, 2006 17:30:28 GMT -5
I guess there is a good reason why Heath was nominated for an Oscar (which he should have won. But don't even get me started on it.)
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Post by Katrina on Jul 4, 2006 17:43:47 GMT -5
I think it was only because the Academy didn't want to be controversial that the Best Picture award went to Crash. I haven't seen it, because it doesn't interest me, but I've read many reviews that say while it is good, Brokeback Mountain is a "far superior film".
I thought the cast was very good. I had been a strong Heath Ledger fan for a while, and while Jake Gyllenhaal was not my absolute favourite, I had enjoyed some of his films. I didn't know anyone else there except Anne Hathaway. After seeing the film, I have gained a new respect for the two lead actors, as well as Michelle Williams.
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