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Mink River  By  cover art

Mink River

By: Brian Doyle
Narrated by: David Drummond
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Publisher's summary

In a small fictional town on the Oregon coast there are love affairs and almost-love-affairs, mystery and hilarity, bears and tears, brawls and boats, a garrulous logger and a silent doctor, rain and pain, Irish immigrants and Salish stories, mud and laughter. There's a Department of Public Works that gives haircuts and counts insects, a policeman who is addicted to Puccini, a philosophizing crow, beer, and berries. An expedition is mounted, a crime is committed, and there's an unbelievably huge picnic on the football field. Babies are born. A car is cut in half with a saw. A river confesses what it's thinking. This is the tale of a town, written in a distinct and lyrical voice, and when the book ends, listeners will be more than a little sad to leave the village of Neawanaka, on the wet coast of Oregon, beneath the hills that used to boast the biggest trees in the history of the world.

©2010 Brian Doyle (P)2014 Tantor Media

Critic reviews

"Doyle writes with an inventive and seductive style that echoes that of ancient storytellers." ( Library Journal Starred Review

What listeners say about Mink River

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Very unusual book but flawed

Brian Doyle is a very talented writer - he can capture a moment and place you right in the place he is describing in an instant. Somewhere along the line, someone applauded his use of lists as a means by which to dramatize his stories. The first couple of lists -- woven throughout the novel -- are very satisfying and ingenious really. Then they get old and then they get annoying. I will never be his editor, but, if I were, I would say -- let the schtick go and use your amazing talent to just weave a tale.

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9 people found this helpful

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Unique performance of literary art.

Like walking out of the theater after a great performance I felt I was a better person after the experience. Such rich entertainment. I've had this book on my shelf for years but so glad I waited for the audio version. Drummond was perfect! Thanks.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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beautifully written, poorly read

How could the performance have been better?

I think this books needs a different narrator -- one who can bring a little more subtlety and humor to the reading. I'll go and find it in print, but won't listen further to this production.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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Good story, bad narrator

I could not finish this book due to the narrator attempting to 'act' each character. I felt that if I heard the voice of the bird one more time I would scream. Voice actors need special training and Mr. Drummond does not possess the skill. Too bad, since the story is good and Doyle a good author.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Oregon's Story

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is in love with Oregon, stories, poetry and crows. Off to Brian Doyle's next book. Thank you. A University of Oregon alum, but I do like Beaver Baseball.

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3 people found this helpful

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what a joy to experience!

I loved this book from start to finish. having the audiobook version really brought the story to life. sometimes I struggle with reading books which are more lyrical and mystical as Mink River certainly is. also, I noticed that when a book has many characters, having a great narrator helps to keep them straight as he can give subtle inflections that help in that department. this is definitely in my top 10 all-time audiobooks of my nearly 400.

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2 people found this helpful

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I wasn't ready for the story to end!

Very engaging story. Loved the characters and descriptions of the setting. The narration enhances an already enthralling tale.

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1 person found this helpful

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Good listening again and again!

Enjoy the depth of character development, the turn of events and the variety of stories.

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1 person found this helpful

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Pure delight

I don’t know what I liked more, the delicious writing or characters so special and real that I’d know them if I saw them on an airport tram. My only sadness was to discover Brian Doyle and immediately make him only the second author I’ve ever followed, only to learn a brain tumor took him from us in 2017.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

The interminable lists. S-L-O-W!!

So slow moving. I generally stick with a book. I gave up on this one after about 2-1/2 hours of its 12+. Could not listen to another word.

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