Just like its weather forecast, the town of Neawanaka seems to offer more rainy times than sunshine for its residents in the book “Mink River” by Brian Doyle. With courage and grace the people of this small town continue to push through their lives even as they struggle with hard times. A bicycle accident, a stroke, depression, unexpected pregnancies and lack of money are among the circumstances with which the people of Neawanaka have to deal during one summer alone. Despite their hard times the people pull together with the help of stories about their ancestors and love for each other.

The most significant theme in this book is that of stories and storytelling. The novel is narrated by an omniscient third person narrator who tells the reader the story of Neawanaka. Meanwhile, the narrator’s story works as a frame that is filled with stories about the characters and the ancestors of the characters. The narrator includes stories told by animals, trees and even the Mink River itself.

There are several storylines that are developed during the course of the novel. The first is the story of 12-year-old Daniel and his bike accident. He smashes both legs when he is thrown from his bike off a cliff. Although he’d wanted to leave Neawanaka when he grew up Daniel changed his mind because the people in his town supported him and pitched in when he needed help. Also a significant story thread in the novel is a deep depression suffered by Daniel’s mother who is known by the name of No Horses. With the help of her friends and family members she finds her way out of the darkness and back to herself.

Four children are left without parents after their hard-hearted father Red Hugh O'Donnell dies. The oldest son tries to sell the property on which his father raised milk cows but learns both the property and the cows are considered worthless. He shoots the cows giving the town the short time reward of a free community wide picnic. Later, Grace, Red’s daughter, swaps her father’s land for the town pub. Stella, who ran the pub, had dreams of growing a vineyard and thought the former farmland would be the perfect place. Grace, meanwhile, had visions of turning the joint into an old fashioned pub where people came to talk instead just getting drunk. These stories and other describe the nature of this small but tough town where the people refused to let hard times get them down.