As a voracious reader of Canadian fiction, I am astounded that I never came across Giller-nominated Michael Crummey's work before I picked up his latest novel, Galore. Set in an outport in Newfoundland, this can't-put-it-down novel tells the story of a six generations of two families. It has it all - love, affairs, difficult relationships between the generations within families and between families - set in the stark, beautiful and challenging landscape of  the island. But it isn't your typical historical life-in-an-outport story because of the central pivotal event - the arrival of Judah, a man who appears from the opened belly of a beached whale one day.

This masterful novel weaves historical fiction with magical realism skillfully.

Sounds bizarre? Sure, it does. At the time of this writing, there are many holds on this book that was nominated for the Govenor General's Literary Award in 2009 but that's okay. Go ahead and place your own because it's worth waiting for.

For a detailed review, see the Globe and Mail.

While you're waiting for your turn for Galore, try Wonderfull (the 2008-2009 London Reads winner, compared thematically to García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude") and Of Bees and Mist. These are two more magic realist novels I discovered this year.

~ Lisa