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Cold Storage, Alaska
- Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
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Cold Storage, Alaska
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Summary
Cold Storage, Alaska, is a remote fishing outpost where salmonberries sparkle in the morning frost and where you just might catch a King Salmon if you're Zen enough to wait for it. Settled in 1935 by Norse fishermen who liked to skinny dip in its natural hot springs, the town enjoyed prosperity in the mid-20th century, at the height of the frozen fish boom. But now the cold storage plant is all but abandoned and the population is shrinking every day.
Clive "the Milkman" McCahon returns to his tiny Alaska hometown after a seven-year jail stint for dealing coke. He has a lot to make up to his younger brother, Miles, who has dutifully been taking care of their ailing mother - and, really, all of Cold Storage. Miles is a physician's assistant and the closest thing to a doctor this side of Sitka. But Clive doesn't realize the trouble he's bringing home. He's reformed now, and his dream is to open a bar-slash-church (a Cold Storage ordinance requires there to be as many churches in town as there are bars). Clive's vengeful old business partner is hot on his heels, a stick-in-the-mud State Trooper is dying to bust Clive for narcotics, and, to complicate everything, Clive might be going insane - lately, he's been hearing animals talking to him. Will his arrival in Cold Storage be a breath of fresh air for the sleepy, depopulated town? Or will it turn the whole place upside-down?
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Just a reader
- 10-09-21
Unexpected gem
I've listened to a few books since Plus was introduced about a month ago and this one has been the best by far. I will try to review it without spoilers.
Based on the description I expected a crime/mystery novel set in Alaska, but that doesn't really do it justice. Nor does it accurately describe the book. Instead it is a very funny and interesting yarn about a small community with plenty of very colorful characters. The two main ones are somewhat estranged brothers (one has been in jail for years) who reconnect. They are surrounded by a whole host of eccentric characters who truly come to life. I would believe it in a heartbeat if these people were based on real life acquaintances of the author. There is intrigue and quite a few laugh out loud descriptions. But, there are also some touching moments and an overall sense of getting to care for these oddball misfits. The end is a bit meandering, but overall I still liked the whole tale itself enough to give it 5 stars.
Part of that 5 star rating is the tone in which this novel is written. It is down to earth, sometimes crass and like I said, very funny. But it is also poetic and respectful. The characters are people you laugh with, not at. When I googled the author I saw that he has published a lot of poetry and that makes sense. It explains why such a funny novel also feels beautiful and thoughtful. The author resides in Alaska so that would also explain why it all feels so true to life, regardless of the sometimes absurd situations these people find themselves in.
Either way, this is a wonderful little gem of a book, written by a very skillful writer. The narration is top notch as well. Easy to listen to and just like you are sitting next to someone spinning a yarn. I absolutely recommend this.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 18-06-22
Hilarious, touching, gripping.
great cast of characters with Alaskan independent streak, very well read. just going to check out another read from John Straley.
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