Mink River by Brian Doyle - 4+ stars (Subdue)

[Joy D]

Mink River by Brian Doyle - 4* - My Review

Poetically written novel about a small (fictional) town on the coast of Oregon and the people who live there, many of Irish or Native American descent. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful country, and the descriptions of the terrain are lovely. The characters are deeply drawn. The story transcends a solely realistic story to include a very few elements that add a mystical quality. It contains all the elements of life – happiness, sadness, relationships formed and broken, births, deaths, humor, cruelty, and kindness. These people are doing the best they can to get by. We learn about their desires, dreams, and often difficult choices. I found it easy to emotionally engage. The author has a talent for bringing an entire community to life, complete with all its tragedies and joys. It is creative and flows well, bringing to mind the titular river. I do not remember how I heard about this book but it falls into the category I call “hidden gems.”