A review by relf
Mink River by Brian Doyle

5.0

I haven't been as swept up by a book in years, and it felt wonderful. It was one of those books whose world I was sad to leave. And that's quite remarkable, because on the surface this book has features that wouldn't usually appeal to me--long, lyrical passages that are more like poetry than prose; a setting in a coastal Oregon town that seems pulled out of time; and a talking crow and a bear who reads the New York Times. But the river of stories--of a Public Works Department that mainly tries to seek out pain and help broken people, a cop who loves Puccini, a sculptor who suddenly can't find the figure within the wood--carried me along. There are real problems, from child abuse to the decline of the once-thriving fishing industry, but storytelling, art, the natural world, the heritage of ancestors, and community give healing and hope. Everything I've just said would have put me off reading this book, and I understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it only took a page to win me over. I recommend that everyone at least give it a try.