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gisreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
crisr8's review
5.0
Gorgeous book that deserved every minute I spent with it. I recommended it to all my people.
dave37's review
5.0
I struggled with this book for the first 50 pages or so. So many characters, several of whom are known by more than one name, bits and pieces and glimpses of brilliance, mixed with confusion in the storyline, but there were enough moments of beauty, and laughter and pain, that I decided to stick with it. I'm extremely glad that I did.
The book itself didn't change after those first 50 pages, I did. I chose to accept the book as it was, and just slip into the quirkiness - permitting myself to flip back when needed to be reminded of a character who hadn't appeared in ages, or who seemed only a bit player previously - mining for clues and insights. Slowly learning to know the town of Neawanaka, and its complex, flawed, wonderfully human (even the talking crow . . .) inhabitants. I'll carry many of them with me in my heart for a long, long time, which is about as high of praise as I can offer.
The book itself didn't change after those first 50 pages, I did. I chose to accept the book as it was, and just slip into the quirkiness - permitting myself to flip back when needed to be reminded of a character who hadn't appeared in ages, or who seemed only a bit player previously - mining for clues and insights. Slowly learning to know the town of Neawanaka, and its complex, flawed, wonderfully human (even the talking crow . . .) inhabitants. I'll carry many of them with me in my heart for a long, long time, which is about as high of praise as I can offer.
redroofcolleen's review
1.0
A crow on the cover? An Oregon story? Hot damn, was I ever excited! Maybe if I could have gotten used to the work moving between an epic poem and traditional novel, sometimes in the midst of a thought, I might have made it to the end, for it certainly had some lovely and inspiring moments. As it was, it just made me nuts.
debbiecuddy's review
5.0
2018 Summer bingo-Re-read
Well worth reading a second time!
BOTNS bingo-animal on the cover. This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Like the river, the words tumbled across the pages, at times breaking into poetry, as they spun their stories about the beauty of human relationships, nature, and the graces of everyday life. I loved this book!
Well worth reading a second time!
BOTNS bingo-animal on the cover. This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Like the river, the words tumbled across the pages, at times breaking into poetry, as they spun their stories about the beauty of human relationships, nature, and the graces of everyday life. I loved this book!
mikechristie's review
5.0
There is story everywhere. That speaks a language of its own. It’s vernacular is of the infinite. A sphere it invites us to gaze into, as it slowly peels back the curtain.
Brian Doyle, in some magical / spiritual way, articulates and embodies this in this wonderful novel.
Brian Doyle, in some magical / spiritual way, articulates and embodies this in this wonderful novel.
pelicaaan's review
5.0
This is the best book I've read all year. It captures the Oregon Coast perfectly. Sad and sweet. Really excellent.
My full review here: http://newportlibrary.blogspot.com/2011/08/magical-realism-on-oregon-beach.html
My full review here: http://newportlibrary.blogspot.com/2011/08/magical-realism-on-oregon-beach.html
joshuadavid1986's review
4.0
EXACT RATING: 3.50 stars
After loving MARTIN MARTEN a few years ago, I decided to try another of Doyle's nature-centric novels. In MINK RIVER, Doyle attempts to create a mosaic of small-town American life, with his patented optimistic, progressive (but also realistic) twist. This novel strays from the primary storylines quite frequently so that Doyle can flex his poetic muscles. There are countless chapters in which the author is content to riff on a topic (e.g. words in "Bear language", types of birds in Western Oregon, or reasons that all people in the town might be singing or might be simultaneously on their knees). And although Doyle does have a lovely writing style, these frequent interjections sometimes detracted from the broader story (at least for me). My favorite aspect of MINK RIVER is the way that universal truths/experiences are portrayed through specific situations.
The characters are mostly quite interesting - real people struggling with real issues (alcoholism, abuse, depression, illness). Doyle makes a point to avoid one-note, black and white characters, and he’s very good at bringing that kind of nuance. But at the same time, none of the characters stood out to me as favorites. That's one difficulty with writing about a large ensemble of characters. You get to spend a bit of time with a LOT of people, but not a lot of time with any.
There are a few unusual, supernatural-type things in this book: a talking raven, a man who can smell fear, a disembodied messenger - and for me I wanted this book to be either one thing or the other. Either a grounded story about real people, or a supernatural fantasy. The blending of the genres always took me out of the experience.
After loving MARTIN MARTEN a few years ago, I decided to try another of Doyle's nature-centric novels. In MINK RIVER, Doyle attempts to create a mosaic of small-town American life, with his patented optimistic, progressive (but also realistic) twist. This novel strays from the primary storylines quite frequently so that Doyle can flex his poetic muscles. There are countless chapters in which the author is content to riff on a topic (e.g. words in "Bear language", types of birds in Western Oregon, or reasons that all people in the town might be singing or might be simultaneously on their knees). And although Doyle does have a lovely writing style, these frequent interjections sometimes detracted from the broader story (at least for me). My favorite aspect of MINK RIVER is the way that universal truths/experiences are portrayed through specific situations.
The characters are mostly quite interesting - real people struggling with real issues (alcoholism, abuse, depression, illness). Doyle makes a point to avoid one-note, black and white characters, and he’s very good at bringing that kind of nuance. But at the same time, none of the characters stood out to me as favorites. That's one difficulty with writing about a large ensemble of characters. You get to spend a bit of time with a LOT of people, but not a lot of time with any.
There are a few unusual, supernatural-type things in this book: a talking raven, a man who can smell fear, a disembodied messenger - and for me I wanted this book to be either one thing or the other. Either a grounded story about real people, or a supernatural fantasy. The blending of the genres always took me out of the experience.
i_platypus's review
4.0
I can't tell you whether you'll like this book. It's like getting caught in a sudden downpour: you'll have to decide for yourself if you find the experience startling and refreshing or all together too much