Growing up in a small coastal town, Mink River by Oregon author Brian Doyle appealed to the local populace more than other types of stories. Published the year I graduated high school, this book had been on my “Must Read” list, until college distracted me. It came back to my list as I stepped into Grassroots and saw it sitting on a shelf, seeming to call to the small-town girl living deep inside of me.
Mink River is a stunning tale, told from multiple perspectives of people, animals, and natural elements all existing in or around a small town on the Oregon Coast called Neawanaka. The residents of the town each have their own trades, stories, pains and sorrows, and Doyle blends these lives together seamlessly into a narrative rich in beauty and unique in form.
What I liked
As I began reading, I was struck by the style which Doyle chose to tell the story. Each part is broken down into what can only be called chapters, the longest of which is only a page or so. Each chapter is told from either one or two perspectives, possibly human residents, but also through the eyes of a well-loved crow, a river, or a mother bear. While I wasn’t sure I enjoyed this format at first, it made more sense as I got further into the book. The style is fascinating in its demand on the reader to pay close attention.
This book doesn’t give everything away. By switching between multiple storylines and characters, Doyle weaves a brilliant narrative that is intense in its content yet gentle in it’s delivery. The reader is pulled along with the river, flown above the town with the crow, and confined to a hospital bed by injuries.
Finally, I loved the combination of cultures and histories present in the residents of Neawanaka. With some families hailing from Ireland and England, others were members of local Tribes, living in the same spot for thousands of years. Stories of hunger and famine mixed with those of the Four Winds, in a beautiful tapestry of history, family, and folklore.
What Was Missing
The middle of the book slowed down substantially. It took a little while to get back into the story, but I was pleased by the way the narrative picked up steam again reading on. By the end, I was holding my breath, waiting to see how things would turn out.
Also, the lack of frequent punctuation, particularly within dialogue, was often hard for me. Recognizing the author’s choice in not including excess punctuation, I found it to be a bit distracting — often having to stop and reread to understand conversations between characters. Overall, a small price to pay for the power stored up in this text.
Recommendation
I sincerely enjoyed reading Mink River this month. It’s a fascinating story told by a true wordsmith. The descriptions are lovely and embody the complicated beauty that is life at the coast. I would recommend this book for mature audiences as there are several intense themes included in the story line. Mink River would make a great gift, as well as a fabulous travel companion during all of your holiday trips.
About the Author
Brian Doyle authored a significant number of books, articles, novels, and more over his lifetime. He received a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1978, becoming the editor of Portland in 1991 — which received the Sibley Award from Newsweek in 2005 under his guidance. He passed away from brain cancer in May 2017.
According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, “In an interview shortly before the end of his life, he reflected, ‘If I could say anything to everybody, I would say thank you. I’m quietly very proud to have been called an Oregon Writer.’”
To hear from the author, check out the link above to an interview of Doyle by Live Wire.
Published by Oregon State University Press in 2010, Mink River is available at Grass Roots Books.
By Kyra Young
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