Quote:
Originally Posted by beppe
Often the inhabitants of harsh places develop a sense of magic and arcane like a yeast to leaven their hardships, and somehow to be detached by the unavoidable material pains and sufferances.
|
The Shipping News is a personal favorite as well, partly for the writing, partly for the reasons you mention – its drawing on local legend and tradition to create a sense of myth-in-the-making, with the harsh environment and unexpected situations acting as catalysts for positive change within the characters. Seemingly hopeless characters find hope in spite of themselves, usually because of inner resources they didn’t realize they had.