Scan barcode
A review by awebofstories
Mink River by Brian Doyle
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If you had asked me before this morning what my all-time favorite book would be, I'd probably spout out a number of titles. It would be a combination of tried and true classics and contemporary phenomenons. But that was then. Now, my answer would be this one. This is now my all-time favorite book.
I'm not even sure I can describe this book. I mean, what genre is it? Well, there are a fair number of magical realism elements, so maybe fantasy? However, I would also argue that this takes place in at a very specific time in Oregon, so historical fiction? The language is so gorgeous you could also call it poetic prose. Yes to all of these.
We follow a fictional, but very realistic town, on the Oregon Coast (I pictured Nehalem, Oregon in my mind while reading). Given various text clues, I believe that this takes place in the early 80s, which was a time when the traditional coastal industries of logging and fishing were on the downturn, but tourism was still limited to just a few larger communities. We meet various townsfolk and follow them through a summer and fall while they all face their own challenges.
This is not a plot-driven book. Instead, we join this community and experience life through the characters. Oh, and what characters we have! We meet a fair number of people (and a crow) and follow them all as their lives intersect, but this never feels like we are overburdened with points of view. Every character is a voice, and this book is a perfectly tuned choir.
The prose is the most perfect I've ever read. Each word has a purpose, and the pace of the book ebbs and flows (and I hate to admit that it took me as long as it did to realize that the prose is paced LIKE A RIVER!). In the midst of the fantasy of beauty, Doyle accents it all with humor and a dash of shade toward the University of Oregon. I should add here that this book is published by Oregon State University Press.
This novel should be required for everyone who lives, has lived, or has even visited the state of Oregon. And, if you don't follow into any of those categories, you will once you've finished this masterpiece.
I'm not even sure I can describe this book. I mean, what genre is it? Well, there are a fair number of magical realism elements, so maybe fantasy? However, I would also argue that this takes place in at a very specific time in Oregon, so historical fiction? The language is so gorgeous you could also call it poetic prose. Yes to all of these.
We follow a fictional, but very realistic town, on the Oregon Coast (I pictured Nehalem, Oregon in my mind while reading). Given various text clues, I believe that this takes place in the early 80s, which was a time when the traditional coastal industries of logging and fishing were on the downturn, but tourism was still limited to just a few larger communities. We meet various townsfolk and follow them through a summer and fall while they all face their own challenges.
This is not a plot-driven book. Instead, we join this community and experience life through the characters. Oh, and what characters we have! We meet a fair number of people (and a crow) and follow them all as their lives intersect, but this never feels like we are overburdened with points of view. Every character is a voice, and this book is a perfectly tuned choir.
The prose is the most perfect I've ever read. Each word has a purpose, and the pace of the book ebbs and flows (and I hate to admit that it took me as long as it did to realize that the prose is paced LIKE A RIVER!). In the midst of the fantasy of beauty, Doyle accents it all with humor and a dash of shade toward the University of Oregon. I should add here that this book is published by Oregon State University Press.
This novel should be required for everyone who lives, has lived, or has even visited the state of Oregon. And, if you don't follow into any of those categories, you will once you've finished this masterpiece.