Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Carol Tyree rated it it was amazing May 19, Randy rated it did not like it Oct 28, Cheryl rated it it was amazing Jul 08, Betty Lehman rated it it was amazing Sep 18, Brenda rated it it was amazing Aug 10, Brenda added it Aug 10, Karen Murphy marked it as to-read Aug 24, ChrisGA marked it as to-read Dec 18, Jo Notary added it Jan 16, Stephen Robertson marked it as to-read Mar 06, Lynne marked it as to-read Mar 07, Twilightwatchers marked it as to-read Mar 08, Cindy marked it as to-read Mar 09, Gina Hott marked it as to-read Mar 11, Sandra Sales marked it as to-read Jul 25, Denise Garlow marked it as to-read Aug 16, Dorothy marked it as to-read Aug 19, See all 5 questions about Martin Marten….

Lists with This Book. Jan 07, Esil rated it it was amazing Shelves: Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read Martin Marten. And to my surprise I was completely enchanted by Doyle's quirky style and vision. So I was quite happy to have a chance to read an advance copy of Doyle's upcoming book and again I was enchanted.

It is about Martin -- a young marten --yes the animal -- and Dave -- a teenage boy -- who live in a tiny community called ZigZa Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read Martin Marten. It is about Martin -- a young marten --yes the animal -- and Dave -- a teenage boy -- who live in a tiny community called ZigZag on a mountain in Oregon.

There's not much of a plot, but Doyle does a brilliant job describing this community, its generous isolated residents and the natural world they live in. But trying to extract a plot is besides the point. Doyle does a lovely job creating a set of characters who one would want to sit down down with for a cup of tea.

Alessia Cara- Growing Pains (Acoustic)

He also does an amazing job of bringing the natural world around them alive. It's a book to be read slowly at the meandering pace of the world in which it takes place. A book to be savoured. And it's probably not for everyone -- after all, it's partly told from the perspective of a marten called Martin -- but I was delighted a second time by Doyle's lovely idiosyncratic writing and sensibility.

I am reminded to go back and read Doyle's earlier books and I will certainly be looking for his books in the future. View all 8 comments. Apr 05, Nikki rated it it was amazing. This is another splendid book from Brian Doyle. I swear he makes me nicer and smarter with each book of his that I read Reading him somehow makes me feel that everything will be all right, and lets me think and know more about the natural parts of the world we live in.

The books are filled with joy but not sloppy sentimental stuff. There is bone and gristle here, too, but it all fits together. View all 3 comments. This was the book selected for my city's annual summer read, and what a selection! It is not often that I give a book five stars, but this book is so beautifully written that I knew even before I finished it that it would be more than worthy of every one of those five stars. I won't tell you the details of the plot here, just get yourself a copy and discover it for yourself.

Hi This was the book selected for my city's annual summer read, and what a selection! His presentation was hilariously funny, especially the tales he told about his big Irish family. In addition to the funny parts of the presentation, he revealed himself to be passionate about writing and the importance of stories in our everyday life and society. I loved the evening, laughed a lot, and got a little teary-eyed, too.

Martin Marten

Mar 19, sarah morgan rated it it was amazing. I'll state right up front that I'm a die-hard Brian Doyle fan, and this book is one reason why. Rather than go on and on about it, I'll just say it's magical, it could be life-altering--if you let it-- and it's just a damned good story. If you want to read the rest of her review, which is quite good and why I should go on and on when she nailed it then go to this link, but whatever else you do, give yourself a treat and read Martin Marten.

Jul 03, Dianah rated it it was amazing Shelves: Hood what "Mink River" did for the Oregon coast; that is, it somehow shows just how whimsical and quaint a small town can be, and to such a degree that you fall in love with Doyle's version of this place and secretly want to live there. Martin Marten follows the lives of two inhabitants of "the Zag" near Rhododendron on Mt. Told in Doyle's distinctive attention to minute details and thin "Martin Marten" does for Mt. Told in Doyle's distinctive attention to minute details and things often unseen, "Martin Marten" is bursting with the adventures of not only Dave and Martin, but all the millions of inhabitants animal, vegetable AND mineral on this small patch of land on the side of a mountain.

Doyle's fervent affection for both humans and non-humans is the foundation of this story of survival, home, family, coming of age, love, and grace. Doyle has a sharp eye for breathtaking beauty and a sharp ear for dialogue, and his staggering language will wrap you up in its enormous embrace and take you on a trip so unusual and so entertaining, you will love every minute of it. His style is so remarkable, it doesn't go too far to tap him as one of Oregon's most beloved wordsmiths.

Jan 13, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: This is a story about everyday miracles. The author excels at getting into the minds of wild creatures and making human-animal interaction that some may scoff at believable. If you enjoy a little magical realism, love nature, and enjoy spending time in a small mountain town with real people, you would probably really like this book! I thought the pacing was a little off in this. Something pretty heart-stopping happens about halfway through, and something a little less impactful a li This is a story about everyday miracles.

Something pretty heart-stopping happens about halfway through, and something a little less impactful a little ways on But he writes so beautifully and captures the human experience so succinctly and wonderfully that I think a full four stars still could be a bit low for this.

The audio was good, not great, and pretty slow. The Audible app allows listeners to adjust the speed, which I found useful pretty much the whole way through. The narrator was much better at delivering dialogue than narration.

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A solid read, especially for fans of small-town fiction who are nature lovers. View all 6 comments. Feb 22, Cheri rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is the first book I've read since Brian Doyle died, and again, as I read his words, I was struck by what an empty spot Doyle left behind. From all accounts he was a good man, a good husband, a good father, a good friend.

But for me, what I feel is the loss of an amazing writer. I have read nothing like this. Martin Marten is pure Doyle, and it was so delicious to slip into his rolling sentences, to shift from animal to human to things that are not and yet are. In these pages are the pangs of This is the first book I've read since Brian Doyle died, and again, as I read his words, I was struck by what an empty spot Doyle left behind.


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In these pages are the pangs of thrills of growing up, of sliding from childhood to adulthood, of taking on responsibility while still figuring out what your life is going to be about. And here, too, are examples of love, of new love, of failed love, of enduring love, of love that exists beyond death.

Martin Marten by Brian Doyle

And isn't it always this way about Doyle; even in the harsh realities of life, love remains a grace that bolsters. Martin Marten is a marvelous book. We don't get explanations about relationships. Just delicate and powerful observations from a writer who has the amazing ability to spill language from his soul. Sep 05, Judy rated it it was amazing. Doyle's writing is like jumping into a pool of happiness. It fills me with wonder. The story about the coming-of-age of a boy and a young marten on the slopes of Mt.

Hood is only the container for the love I wish existed among us all. I strongly recommend this book and another of his, Mink River. Doyle is an engaging speaker. If you get a chance go listen to him. Aug 30, Cheryl Ames rated it it was amazing. I almost could feel him telling the story directly to me. The philosophy about life throughout the book provide wonderful gems for thinking. And I want to be on a trail or in my kayak by myself and have a momentary connection with an animal Aug 28, Kmalbie rated it it was amazing Shelves: I am so sad he is gone.

His books are great to listen to, he usually narrates them himself. Jun 13, HereAndNow rated it it was amazing. It felt tender and kind. Not saccharine, and not twee, but a sweet story of a place and people that we all should aspire to well, in ways. There is something deep about this book and maybe unwritten? I will say it was a slow burn for me in the beginning, but by the end, I was all hearts-for-eyes. Big hat tip to Stasia for her review and recommendation Aug 01, Alan rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Realists, aerialists, traditionalists, and other -list lovers of any description.

Recommended to Alan by: Previous experience, and the locallest of local colors. I actually read a fair chunk of Brian Doyle 's novel Martin Marten while camping in the very region it describes—in the Lost Creek campground, to be precise, up Lolo Pass Road just a few miles beyond the wide spot of Route 26 that is the real-life community of Zigzag. Doyle is careful to disclaim any relationship between reality's Zigzag and his version, though—and I agree with that disclaimer.

Doyle's Zigzag is a gentle, magical place, where benign quirkiness and pure motivations are the rule—a I actually read a fair chunk of Brian Doyle 's novel Martin Marten while camping in the very region it describes—in the Lost Creek campground, to be precise, up Lolo Pass Road just a few miles beyond the wide spot of Route 26 that is the real-life community of Zigzag. Doyle's Zigzag is a gentle, magical place, where benign quirkiness and pure motivations are the rule—a place much more like Cicely, Alaska as portrayed in Northern Exposure than any real hamlet. Is this why we write and read, in the end, in order to find new words for the things we feel but do not have words for?

One of them is the marten of its title; the other is a teenaged boy named Dave. But I'm not so sure that this alone makes this book a "Young Adult" novel. Oh, don't get me wrong I think a teenager could get a lot out of this book too, maybe even more than I did. I think Doyle is coming from a more fatherly perspective.

Take this passage, for example, which struck me deeply as I face the departure of my own children from the nest: Very soon, all too soon, Dave would go away—college, work, the navy, traveling, who knew? And while his dad, from layers one through fifteen of his soul, was delighted and thrilled and proud and happy that this would happen, pleased that things looked good for Dave to grow into a cool and responsible young man over the next four years, enough that he could launch into a stimulating life of his own, which every good dad wants for his kid, he also felt, silently, at level sixteen, in the innermost chamber of his heart, a terrible sadness that there would come a day when, look for him as he might, there would be no Dave in the cabin, in the school, on the mountain, and good and right and healthy as that would be, it would also be a hole that could never be filled by anything or anyone else.

I think this would be a great book for a parent to read aloud to an older child—if you can get the kid to sit still for it. I can be relied upon to cry at weddings and other momentous happenings, and I admit without hesitation that the conclusion of Martin Marten drew a few tears from me as well.

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It's a good book, and a good book Apr 15, Kate rated it it was amazing. Had I known this was coming, I wouldn't have given the other books that I read this year five stars but of course I did know it was coming. I had it on preorder for months. When has a third novel ever surpassed the author's first? Did Bryan Doyle's high school yearbook say "The guy least likely to be attacked by a bear due to his extraordinary capacity for observation? By page , the fear that I would run out and then I would go to the store to buy some more Martin Marten only to learn that it was no longer made tempted me to slow down even more.

It's not in the book but this is what I figured out on my own. Humans are the only living things that create garbage. Domesticated animals, pets, receive food and services and products that create garbage, but that doesn't count. Should be the Oregon State book. I was going to propose Mink River until this came along. I was going to call him the most masterful maker of lists ever, but it's more than this. He mind maps similar to Rebecca Solnit. I think he surpasses Rebecca Solnit. Did I mention that mapping — mind mapping space mapping relationship mapping web of life mapping existentialist mapping cosmic mapping is a central theme in the story?

And reverence, finally, reverence… and love I suppose that I should disclose here that while I love the idea of Mount Hood, as far the organic Mount Hood goes, it is cold up there, very cold, very windy, and always snowy at Timberline. Family and friends who know me will understand what I'm saying. Aug 10, Annie rated it it was amazing Shelves: It was an unexpected joy so I'm hesitant to rave about it in order to give you some of the same thrill of discovery.

Here's what you do: Give it a few chapters to settle in. It's a coming-of-age story about a teenage boy growing up in Oregon and a young marten yes, an animal, that kind of marten growing up in the forest nearby. Don't let that put you off--I've never b Loved this book.

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Don't let that put you off--I've never been an animal book person but loved this. Masterful storytelling and an unforgettable, unique narrative voice. Well done, Brian Doyle! Dec 07, Helen rated it liked it. There were many things I liked about this book. I appreciated the unusual narrative style, where an omniscient narrator commented on not only the characters' actions, but on elements of the Oregon mountain environment.

At times, though, this style distanced me from the characters and became precious instead of illuminating. Sep 15, Judy rated it it was amazing. Brian Doyle is a remarkable writer. His unending words scurry and scramble over every page, offering the kind of information you never expect in a novel. His story about Wy'east Mt. Hood country, its residents, both human and otherwise, is exuberant, wise and wonderful.

Aug 28, Kristi Richardson rated it it was amazing Shelves: I have read over books so that is a pretty amazing fact. Brian Doyle was a local author, I found his obituary for his death in while I was reading his book and trying to find more of his books to devour.

So I will have a limited number to read. It tells the story of young man named Dave and a young marten named Martin. They both live in the Zigzag, Oregon area and their lives intersect in multiple ways. There is also a matchmaking workhorse named Edwin who was my favorite character. I highly recommend this story for anyone that appreciates beautiful writing along with great storytelling. I checked it out at my local library. Aug 08, Nancy rated it really liked it.

Best way I can describe the wonder of this book is to say that Annie Dillard would love it! Martin Marten is a novel full of the intriguing and profound observations of the natural world that Dillard is so good at. But beyond observat Best way I can describe the wonder of this book is to say that Annie Dillard would love it! I'm not really sure there is one word to describe how much I enjoyed this book- it's magical, lovely, quirky, lovable, sweet, reflective, beautiful and complete all at once.

It's as if you captured a year in a moving snow globe; It's so small and doesn't look like much from far away but when you really look at it you see tiny intricate details that you never would have noticed had you just hurried by. It makes you appreciate all aspects of life, especially nature, animals and community which ma I'm not really sure there is one word to describe how much I enjoyed this book- it's magical, lovely, quirky, lovable, sweet, reflective, beautiful and complete all at once.

It makes you appreciate all aspects of life, especially nature, animals and community which may not be a fair word for this. His writing style is so different from most authors I normally read and I fell in love with it. I was listening to a story, not merely words but an experience full of love, happiness, sadness and observation. I highly, highly recommend this book!