Galore by Michael Crummey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Written with Michael Crummey’s highly readable wit and insight, Galore is a rethinking of the story of Jonah and the whale, albeit without the Biblical admonition about destiny. In fact, one might say Crummey refutes the concept of preordination in this family saga rife with pig-headed vengeance, of conversations never opened, of secrets and shames. It is a raw tale, a ridiculous tale, and despite that element of the ridiculous, there is also the ring of truth to the lives Crummey reveals to us.

The language is clever, employing literary devices with a deft hand while keeping the Newfoundland dialect intact. The characters he sketches are fully-realized, and although their lives are beset with the incredible, they are also quite believable. It has always been an amazement to me how Crummey does that: creates extraordinary characters who are believable and accessible.

Definitely going on my shelves in hardcover.

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