The Shipping News for a Second Time!

My family and I traveled to Newfoundland for a summer vacation this year. In preparation for this trip, I began to re-read this lovely novel that takes place in a small fictional fishing village. As a rule, I do not read a novel twice: there are too many books and just not enough time. But I made an exception on this one, and I'm glad that I did.

From my journal entry in May of 1995, I read Annie Proux's Pulitzer Prize winner and enjoyed it.  As  previously mentioned, I have kept a journal of my reading since January 1989.  It was great to flip back through the pages an find my note on this great book. Here's what I said about this novel nearly 20 years ago:

"A fabulous read about a small family that leaves their painful life in the US, and makes the small town life of Newfoundland their new home.  The story centres around the father Quoyle, who works at a small local newspaper covering the comings and goings of fishing boats in and around the island.

It's a terrific look at life in a small, isolated fishing village. There's a great perspective, since the novel is written from the outsiders point of view...like standing outside a cosy, warm home and watching a pleasant scene."

Now that I have visited Newfoundland, my second reading of this lovely novel was much enriched. References to fishing activities and coastal ways of live make more sense. I feel like I might have passed through Quoyle's adopted fishing village, and I know how the island looks when the fog rolls in. I understand what a salt box home is, and I have stood on a fishing slip. Here are a few of my pictures to Newfoundland, which might interest you and lead you to read this Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

Claudio and Trinity, Trinity Bay

Tiny Fishing Village in the Trinity Bay area

Near Bonavista

Trinity at Dusk

Woody Point, Gros Morne National Park

Old Saltbox Home at Woody Point

Socks for Sale at Trout River

Time with Dad in Twillingate 

"Iceberg Straight Ahead"

Low Tide in Wesleyville

In Praise of Value Village…yes again!!!

If you have read some of my blog, you will know that I like to hunt for books at Value Village.  It's the best place to dig up and discover new work that you might never have previously seen. Books are lumped onto the shelves with virtually no organization, leaving the reader to wade through random subjects and styles.

Here's the common book store trap: Once you have "Chapterfied" a book collection, the natural tendency for the customer is never to venture into new subject areas, thus never discovering new genres and authors. I call this the process of "Heather's Pickification" (a sad state for book retailers…basically the same condition as "Oprahfication".

VV is a great place to find fiction from around the world. What's being sold is what is being donated. New releases that weren't to a readers taste are just as likely to find their way onto the shelf as 10 copies of Stephen King's Tommyknockers. There are always great biographies and historical fiction, as well as murder mysteries and humour.  The romance section is bursting at the seams with Harlequins (never read one, but clearly, someone is still buying them!) The most expensive book on the shelf is $4.99.  And if you buy 4 you get one for free!!! Love it!

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews

I have previously enjoyed Miriam Toews work...It's always upbeat, humorous and well written. Having heard the author interviewed on CBC, I was excited to pick up her new book at the library, and read it on vacation. 

Here's what it's about: 

"Elf wants to die. A lifelong sufferer of depression, she just wants to end her life. Yoli, her sister, wants Elf to live. Yoli loves Elf and she can’t understand how someone who has it all - beauty, charm, a wicked sense of humour, a brilliant career as a famous pianist, a loving husband - could want out of this life. Yoli has none of these things, and she is determined to keep her sister alive." (Thanks to Rhonda from GoodReads for this summary.)

In this passionate novel, Miriam Toews brings us the story of two sisters who are very different and yet, appreciate each other's experiences. They love each other, and share mutual respect. But at the core, they can't help each other. Toews creates an irresistible voice and mixes laughter with heartwrenching poignancy. I really enjoyed this novel and like her other novels, I find her writing a pleasure to read. It reads like poetry. 

If I were forced to find fault with this novel, I would suggest that it was slightly slow on the plot. I felt that there might have been room for more to happen with Yoli, her mother or Elf's husband. 

All in all though, I thought it was a good read.