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eveningstar_reader's review against another edition
5.0
this may be my favorite John Straley book yet! it's been a really long time since I finished a book and immediately wanted to read it again.
bluepigeon's review
4.0
Cold Storage is a gem chock full of memorable characters and intriguing stories. It is uniquely Alaskan, and yet its small village antics and denizens are universal. Told in a language that can reflect the calm beauty of still waters under a setting sun as well as the humorous adventures of quirky villagers, the story is equally contemplative as it is entertaining. A dash of cynical humor and a pinch of sarcasm may be necessary to fully appreciate the comedic depths of Straley's web of relations and stories.
spoth's review
3.0
My favorite parts were the atmospheric bits that gave a real flavor of being somewhere small and remote - the rhythm of boats and planes coming in, a scene where the entire town cut supplies of firewood together, the informal arrangements of using and cleaning the bathhouse, the frequently-dead phone lines, and the lightning-fast gossip.
It's described as a crime story about a recently-released felon who comes home to Cold Storage, Alaska, while pursued by old colleagues who hold grudges, but the crime story nature makes only cameo appearances - the book takes its time, and spends more time in a sort of good-natured rural quasi-religious philosophizing. I never felt very invested in the plot or characters, but I do appreciate the warmheartedness.
It's described as a crime story about a recently-released felon who comes home to Cold Storage, Alaska, while pursued by old colleagues who hold grudges, but the crime story nature makes only cameo appearances - the book takes its time, and spends more time in a sort of good-natured rural quasi-religious philosophizing. I never felt very invested in the plot or characters, but I do appreciate the warmheartedness.
rosseroo's review
3.0
This uneasy mix of small town portrait and crime novel never quite settles into something truly satisfying. Set in a small Alaska coastal town, where supplies need to come in via seaplane, it features a pair of brothers supported by a cast of colorful characters. Miles is an ex-Army medic who just wants to live the quiet life after service in the Middle East. As the only person with medical training for hundreds of miles, he knows the community inside and out. Meanwhile, his brother Clive is getting out of jail after seven years, and heads to town with a duffle-bag full of cash.
Who rightfully owns the cash is a matter of interpretation, and as with all stories featuring such bags, someone comes looking for Clive and the cash. But that's only one of several threads -- there's Clive's attempt to build a bar for the tiny town, Miles' attempt to carve out a meaningful place in the world for himself, and even a lengthy digression into a minor character's quest to travel to Seattle to meet the Dalai Lama.
Only recently published, the book was actually written many years ago, and it has the feel of a first effort -- straining heavily towards being something of an Elmore Leonard joint. But but by trying too hard at doing several things at once, it never hits its stride with any of them. Still, worth checking out if you're interested in fiction set in Alaska.
Who rightfully owns the cash is a matter of interpretation, and as with all stories featuring such bags, someone comes looking for Clive and the cash. But that's only one of several threads -- there's Clive's attempt to build a bar for the tiny town, Miles' attempt to carve out a meaningful place in the world for himself, and even a lengthy digression into a minor character's quest to travel to Seattle to meet the Dalai Lama.
Only recently published, the book was actually written many years ago, and it has the feel of a first effort -- straining heavily towards being something of an Elmore Leonard joint. But but by trying too hard at doing several things at once, it never hits its stride with any of them. Still, worth checking out if you're interested in fiction set in Alaska.
ifoundtheme's review
4.0
I started reading this book because it's true to small towns in Southeast Alaska. But it turned out to be well written and honest, generally a good book told with the nuances unique to its setting.
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