GALORE

by Michael Crummey

I picked up Galore from my shelf with some trepidation because the only other book by Michael Crummey I had read, Sweetland, was excellent but bleak and depressing. But Crummey is my father-in-law’s favorite author, so I wanted to give him another try. I’m so glad I did because this book is a wonder.

Set over many generations in a wilderness settlement on the coast of Newfoundland, the book begins with a beached whale and a man discovered inside its stomach. This is the first of several moments throughout the book that are right on the border between reality and magic and keep you guessing about who has power in this tiny town and who is telling the truth. Essentially, the story follows a feud between two families, one with some financial stability and power and the other who are poor fishermen that have a bit of magic on their side. Despite the feud, the families often intermarry, and there are even affairs and illegitimate children. The tangle of connections is almost impenetrable but Crummey guides you through by highlighting the connections and lives that move the story forward.

Crummey somehow contains the epic nature of Galore in 300 tightly written pages. And, despite some incredible twists and turns, what sticks with me the most are the feelings shared by the ever-changing main characters. Many of them feel a desperate longing to leave their tiny settlement or to escape the confined role in which they have been cast. And yet, they all remain stuck, held fast by family, tradition and fear. Galore contains something magical and almost painterly and I highly recommend it. (Lily)