Staff Pick
The Plover is not exactly a sequel to Mink River — more of a companion piece — but fans of the latter will be thrilled to find out what happened to one of the most beloved characters. After sailing his little boat off the final pages of Mink River, the story of Declan O'Donnell continues in The Plover. Declan is a man of serious solitude, and he is pleased to be starting a journey of peace and quiet. But there is no quiet in Brian Doyle's head — it is full of magic, mutterings, and musings, and once these things are in motion, there is no stopping them.
Before Declan knows what has hit him, he has a boat full of bodies — both human and otherwise — along for the ride, "...ranging in size from [enormous] to an infinitesimal acorn barnacle, just born as this sentence began, and no bigger than the period which is about to arrive, here." No, there will be no solitude for Declan — and how lucky for us. The Plover is a rambling, charming sea voyage, full of thrills, danger, and narrow escapes.
It's also an excellent observation on the nature of things unseen: on what may be, on ideas, on imaginings, aspirations, and dreams. There is so much substance underneath Doyle's dazzling, rich language, I just wanted to read each sentence over and over until every whisper of nuance was absorbed, recognized, and experienced. Doyle's writing is a discovery of how shattering and awe-inspiring language can be, and his literary contortions are both improbable and captivating at the same time. Remember the first book you loved as a child? Remember how you wished so much you lived in that book? That feeling is Doyle's "normal," and we should all be so lucky to live in his world. Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Declan O Donnell has sailed out of Oregon and deep into the vast, wild ocean, having had just finally enough of other people and their problems. He will go it alone, he will be his own country, he will be beholden to and beloved of no one.
No man is an island, my butt, he thinks.
I am that very man... But the galaxy soon presents him with a string of odd, entertaining, and dangerous passengers, who become companions of every sort and stripe. The Plover is the story of their adventures and misadventures in the immense blue country one of their company calls Pacifica. Hounded by a mysterious enemy, reluctantly acquiring one new resident after another, Declan O Donnell's lonely boat is eventually crammed with humor, argument, tension, and a resident herring gull.
Brian Doyle's The Plover is a sea novel, a maritime adventure, the story of a cold man melting, a compendium of small miracles, an elegy to Edmund Burke, a watery quest, a battle at sea—and a rapturous, heartfelt celebration of life's surprising paths, planned and unplanned.
Review
"A rare and unusual book and a brilliant, mystical exploration of the human spirit." ---Kirkus Starred Review
Synopsis
A compelling, marvelous novel from the acclaimed author of Mink River.
Synopsis
A compelling, marvelous novel from the acclaimed author of Mink River.
About the Author
Brian Doyle is the author of The Plover, Grace Notes, Cat's Foot, and many other books. His work has appeared in the annual Best American Essays, Best American Science and Nature Writing, and Best American Spiritual Writing anthologies. His many honors include three Pushcart Prizes and Foreword Reviews's Book of the Year Award.David Drummond has been narrating audiobooks for a few years now and hopes one of these days to get it right. He much prefers dead authors and live audiences.
Exclusive Essay
Read exclusive essays by Brian Doyle from 2010 and 2014