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Original poster

The Shipping News

12 replies

Dinny · 27/02/2004 14:07

I LOVED this book so much. Is Annie Proulx's other work as good? Also, is the film good? Don't want to risk ruining my memories of the book...

OP posts:
zebra · 27/02/2004 14:17

Don't know about other books by her, but...

The movie stars Kevin Spacey.
The book is about a red-bearded innocent giant who is so fat that he doesn't get hypothermia even when he falls in to icey water for 2 hours.
I suspect the movie is only good if you can take the mismatch between Kevin Spacey and the character in the book.

CountessDracula · 27/02/2004 14:18

I haven't seen the film, but have also read Postcards which I enjoyed and Heart Songs, her short stories, which I can't remember if I enjoyed or not!

donnie · 27/02/2004 14:24

Accordion Crimes is very good....have got some short stories too but not read them yet.

Janh · 27/02/2004 14:47

I found the film a disappointment too - with this book the pictures in your mind are much much better. I would skip it.

Haven't read any others so can't help there.

Bron · 27/02/2004 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Dinny · 28/02/2004 19:42

Zebra, that's what I wondered - surely Spacey isn't hulking enough to play Quoyle. Have got the DVD out - watching it tonight. Think I love the book so much as I'm from a small island and it reminds me of home a lot.

OP posts:
zebra · 28/02/2004 19:46

Let us know what you think, Dinny! I didn't love the book, but I don't finish books if they aren't good, either. This one has something unique... maybe it's the repulsive-but-loveable Quoyle. Great an actor as he can be, I don't think Spacey is pathetic & repulsive enuf in the right ways. I read it many many years ago before it was a "big hit".

Original poster
Dinny · 28/02/2004 19:55

Will do, Zebra. I love the knackered old house strapped onto the rock. And I love the names - Wavey, Herry, Tert Card, Bunny, Billy Pretty etc.

OP posts:
suedonim · 28/02/2004 20:07

I love Annie Proulx's books, too. I've only half-watched the film of The Shipping News, agree about KS. Dh reckons John Travolta would have been a much better Quoyle.

Original poster
Dinny · 28/02/2004 20:11

He'd be great. Or that bloke off Reservoir Dogs - is it Michael Marsden?

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Original poster
Dinny · 29/02/2004 14:34

Well, watched the film (well, half of it). I fell asleep. Didn't like it much at all. Not a very interesting critique but that's the problem -nothing to incite any passion either way. Ho hum...

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AussieSim · 01/03/2004 12:37

I enjoyed The Shipping News and Accordion Crimes - she is amazing in the way that she includes so much research into her stories. I also read That Old Ace In The Hole which is her latest - it took a little to warm up but by the end I loved it and wished it wasn't over.

I think that the secret to enjoying movies of books that you love is to make sure that there is a substantial gap of time between the reading and the watching, so that not every little detail is still imprinted in your mind to disappoint you when the have to leave it out in the film.

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