I think at this point I could recognize a piece written by BD within a few paragraphs. That remarkable melding of thoughtfulness and sly [never mean] humor. The love of just about everything. The anthropomorphism that somehow makes sense. You were taken from us far too soon...

I don't tend to reach for essays very often, but this book was so meaningful to the spouse of one of the members of my book club that he bought each of us a copy for Christmas! I am so glad he did. I was not familiar with this author. This collection of his essays was curated by friends and associates after the author was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Doyle had an amazing sense of wonder. His curiosity about the world and willingness to find beauty in all things is truly inspiring. His essays made me want to be more curious, more observant, and more open to the world around me. They also made me want to try my hand at writing personal essays. This book is just overall inspiring!

A beautiful, deeply true book. I have read Doyle's essays here and there over the years, mostly in the pages of Orion, but to sit and swim in his prose, short essay after short essay, was a wonderful thing, especially since he seems to have been a man fully in love with life.

Wow, wow. Gently gently lift my heart out and hand it to me with both hands and bowed head. God is jealous and takes the best of us too soon.

I told a friend that I was reading this, and he said, “Brian Doyle is deity and One Long River is scripture.” He said he was only partly joking. He’s not wrong.

A collection of beautiful, moving essays that capture the human experience and celebrate every ounce of it so, so well. The second to last, “What Were Once Pebbles Are Now Cliffs,” struck especially close to my heart as the mother of two boys who God-willing will someday become “cliffs.”

We read this book club and all loved it. It’s beautiful writing and tons to talk about. ❤️

What beautiful essays. So delightful. About family, hawks, sports, love, children, God, and more animals. Just beautiful.

All the best things about Doyle’s extreme joy and wonder, boiled down.