Of the novels set in Toronto that I've read during the last few years, my favourite (for now) is Michael Redhill's Consolation. The story takes place in both late-twentieth and mid-nineteenth century Toronto, and addresses (among other things) the city's amnesia about its past and its inability to preserve or respect its history.

A few days ago Consolation was long-listed for the Man Booker prize, one of the more prestigious prizes in literary circles. Although the story is very much about Toronto, it also addresses several universal themes that might turn the heads of readers outside of the city. The Calgary Herald summed the book up pretty nicely:

"A beautiful and dreamy story, gorgeously written and movingly told, about the myriad ways the past lingers just below the surface of the present and inevitably shapes the future. It is the story of a family, but also the story of Toronto, a city that's constantly recreating itself and, in so doing, constantly shrugging off its awkward past.... Redhill's recreation of old Toronto is so vivid you can almost hear the rumble of carriage wheels on the cobblestones as you turn the pages"

There are some strong contenders for the prize (as there always are), so on behalf of Toronto I wish Mr. Redhill the best of luck!

Image from Random House.