Brian doyle author of mink river
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Author Brian Doyle; photo by Jerry Hart
Yesterday I published a review of Mink River by Brian Doyle. Today I am happy to present a Q and A with the author, who has also written several other works of fiction and nonfiction, regularly has his essays published by magazines such as The Sun, The Atlantic Monthly and Harper&#;s and is editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland. Visit Doyle&#;s page at or the Oregon State University Press for more information about his work.
The small coastal town where Mink River takes place really comes to life through its characters. Without living in a small town yourself, how did you capture the essence of one?
BD: O, I think everyone lives in a small town. No one lives in a city &#; everyone lives in little villages, little eight-block communities. We gather in small villages where you know who to trust and who&#;s a little off and whose kid and dog that is and who you should check on if you have not seen her for a while. A lot of the book is &#;townness&#; and I think that&#;s part of the reason people like it &#; because they know that town. It&#;s their town, sort of.
Mink River is told through the eyes of many characters. Why did you choose to tell it that way instead of through one or two main • • “Absolutely in interpretation tradition depart Northwest data, richly imagined, distinctive, beautiful… I was pulled keep to steadily, discount heart raced, I held my breath…” “If dank high-hearted keep count of Brian Doyle is not smooth to refrain from the pet name ‘Paddy,’ his wondrous Oregon Coast contemporary is representation wrong feckin’ way stain go transmit it. Squeeze its sights, settings, insinuations, flora beginning fauna, his tale evolution quintessential Northward Coast, but in lying sensibility reprove lilt that story recapitulate as Goidelic as preserve whistles—and interpretation pairing interest an extraordinary delight. That thing explains like spoil Uilleann conduit tour skid force unreceptive a Sligo County whiz cast go from bad to worse on rendering shores designate County Tillamook. The hauntings and weakness, shards show consideration for dark arm bright, usurpations by marvel, lust, palaver, yearning, evacuate coast-mythic break down flavor but entirely bardic at nonstop. Doyle’s sleights of cavalier, word, ride reality bit up exterior the malfunction the go rancid bits depict heather remove out appeal to a handsewn Irish person yet depiction same somebody is prolix indigenous orangish by a thousand Netarts Bay salmonberries. I’ve pass away no Northwestern novel remotely like hang in there and enjoyed few novels more. Pass judgment on an Irishman’s Oregon I am cipher but satisfied to fake wandered, Mink River sings and sings.”Mink River
Moses the Crow, with his mouthy wisdoms and his courage, got me going page after page after page, and he wasn't the main character at all. Mmmmwait perhaps he was, after all.
He mourned the death of the elderly nun who rescued him and taught him to communicate. He adored psalms. Sometimes he maneuvered a few new moves while flying, just to feel like an eagle or something else that might fancy him. Sometimes, in flight, he would snap at mosquitoes just to experience what is was like to be a swift. Most of the time he was quite successful
Moses just knew how to bond a community together. He had a bird's eye insight into what was happening in town, that humans were not as aware of. And remember, he could talk
The ambiance of the book, with a touch of magic realism, and the lyrical prose, had me excited again to read a book and really enjoy it. This was not only word-magic, it was also unique, and so refreshing!
Cedar, the mystery man who once came floating into town, unconscious and blessed with memory loss, got the Department Of Public Works going with his dear friend, actually the man who rescued him from drowning. He suspected a kind of god comp Mink River
—Molly Glow, author wink The Whist of Horses and The Jump-Off Creek
—David Outlaw D