Galore: A Novel

Galore is a spellbinding novel set in far away Newfoundland. Author Crummey uses his exotic but fiercely real homeland to create the setting for a novel which is by turns magical and real.

The Divine family takes in a stranger who slips from the belly of a beached whale. We follow the Divines and other families of the small shore village through generations, as they adapt to changes in faith and fisheries on the North Atlantic.

John Lee's narration is outstanding as always. His sonorous voice and the prose of the book were so engaging that I found myself swept away and needed to backtrack a few times to follow the story.

Galore is outstanding, but not perfect. I enjoyed the magical realism, but other readers may find it a bit too woo-woo...... 4 1/2 stars.

The first time I started to listen to this, I was doing it passively and waiting for the book to draw me in. After half an hour or so, I gave up in frustration, unable to keep up with the fast-paced character introductions. The second time I tried, I gave it my full attention, and let it take me where it would. Soon, I was hooked and loving the ride. John Lee's narration is wonderful and enhances Crummey's multi-generational tale. The book reminds me of the oral histories I heard as a child in upstate New York, rich and familiar. The characters are immigrants from Ireland, many still speaking Gaelic, and like immigrants everywhere, they carry their histories and prejudices with them. Their society is divided by status and wealth, as most are, but the individuals are well-drawn and compelling.

I didn't know much about Newfoundland, but this was a good introduction. Now I'd like to visit.

This is a long, beautiful genealogy of a Newfoundland town that is forever altered by the appearance of an albino man found in the belly of a whale is superbly narrated by John Lee. The inhabitants of this town are affected and unaffected by world events and Michael Crummey does a fantastic job of describing the insularity and deprivation of a small fishing village that is dragged into the early twentieth century.

Very poor writing (crummy) and the narration, in my view, ruined the listening experience. I felt the story lacked any sense of refinement and the crudeness unnecessary, no sense of feeling developed for any of the characters. I couldn't finish it.

I loved this book. It was a little hard to keep all the names straight, there are multiple generations of families. (My memory for names is not good anyway.) But it was beautifully written, very interesting to read. I actually wish I had read it instead of listening, partly to be able to go back and remember who was who and partly to savor the reading experience. John Lee is a great reader, too. I felt ( to my American ear) that the accents were understandable. But they were still definitely accents that take the listener to another time and place, allowing me gain insight into people living in a world very different from the one I am in.

Just couldn't get into it. Didn't hold my interest, only book I haven't finished.

I love "sagas" but found this very hard to follow. The jumping back and forth from one generation did not add add anything to the story and the author often repeats himself. To make it worse, the reader's monotone, sing-song style did not help. It's hard enough to tell when Lee switches between characters, as he does them all the same. Couple that with the confusing story line and this was not a winner for me. Perhaps this is one book that must be read to be appreciated. (or read by someone else)

Two hours into it and all I'm getting is the "Charlie Brown" wah wah wah wah. Can't take it anymore!

I swore after reading Angela's Ashes I would never read or listen to another Irish novel again.

How a whole culture and it's literature can be built on drunkenness and starvation is beyond me.

It is a good story with an array of interesting characters.

Well read by John Lee who has become my favorite reader.

why can't i just write a review without answering these questions?