I finished “The Shipping News” feeling that Proulx is a better writer than character builder and story teller. But I still believe she‘s a talent and this is an important work. The desolate location, angry ocean, and gritty town feel like the best, most recognizable character in the book, if that makes sense. An artistic tale of small triumphs and personal growth perched in the richly layered backdrop of a seaside northern town.