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Externalities
Tuscany, 1950. A chance encounter between two young people on the street marks the beginning of a whirlwind romance. Yolanda and Clemente Gallorini are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime as they begin to build a life together. No one ever suspects it will end in suspense, intrigue, and tragedy.
Join multiple generations of Gallorinis in this family saga, beginning with the story of a young couple’s move from Tuscany to Toronto in 1950. Through the second generation—Marie, Ana, and Michael—the saga continues all across Canada, from Yellowknife to Vancouver, from Collingwood to Penticton. No one can predict the twists and turns of this family’s story as they navigate relationships, disappointment, and jealousy. Through the lows of discrimination and rejection and the highs of success and love, the story of the Gallorini family depicts the trials and tribulations of the immigrant experience. Family dynamics are constantly shifting, and ambition threatens to cloud judgement as Marie, Ana, and Ana’s husband, David, a retired member of the RCMP, undertake a legal battle over an inheritance and the investigation of tragic family mystery.
A multi-generational saga, Externalities showcases a full cast of characters to portray the experience of one family’s immigration and life in Canada.
Join multiple generations of Gallorinis in this family saga, beginning with the story of a young couple’s move from Tuscany to Toronto in 1950. Through the second generation—Marie, Ana, and Michael—the saga continues all across Canada, from Yellowknife to Vancouver, from Collingwood to Penticton. No one can predict the twists and turns of this family’s story as they navigate relationships, disappointment, and jealousy. Through the lows of discrimination and rejection and the highs of success and love, the story of the Gallorini family depicts the trials and tribulations of the immigrant experience. Family dynamics are constantly shifting, and ambition threatens to cloud judgement as Marie, Ana, and Ana’s husband, David, a retired member of the RCMP, undertake a legal battle over an inheritance and the investigation of tragic family mystery.
A multi-generational saga, Externalities showcases a full cast of characters to portray the experience of one family’s immigration and life in Canada.
300 pages, Hardcover
Published July 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
July 27, 2026
Externalities is a richly layered family saga that explores immigration, identity, legacy, and the enduring consequences of the choices we make across generations.
What I appreciated most is the novel's expansive perspective. Rather than focusing on a single chapter of one family's life, D. McCall Johnston traces the Gallorini family's journey across decades, revealing how love, sacrifice, ambition, and unresolved conflict continue to shape future generations. The immigrant experience is portrayed with honesty and depth, highlighting both the opportunities and the emotional costs of building a new life in a different country.
Another of the book's greatest strengths is its blend of family drama and suspense. The inheritance dispute and tragic family mystery add genuine tension while remaining firmly rooted in the emotional lives of the characters. As relationships evolve through joy, disappointment, forgiveness, and loss, the story continually reminds readers that every family carries both visible and hidden histories.
At its heart, Externalities is about the legacy we leave behind. It explores how the lives of one generation quietly influence the next and how understanding the past can become essential to finding peace in the present.
A thoughtful and engaging novel for readers who enjoy multi-generational family sagas, historical fiction, immigrant stories, and emotionally resonant literary fiction.
What I appreciated most is the novel's expansive perspective. Rather than focusing on a single chapter of one family's life, D. McCall Johnston traces the Gallorini family's journey across decades, revealing how love, sacrifice, ambition, and unresolved conflict continue to shape future generations. The immigrant experience is portrayed with honesty and depth, highlighting both the opportunities and the emotional costs of building a new life in a different country.
Another of the book's greatest strengths is its blend of family drama and suspense. The inheritance dispute and tragic family mystery add genuine tension while remaining firmly rooted in the emotional lives of the characters. As relationships evolve through joy, disappointment, forgiveness, and loss, the story continually reminds readers that every family carries both visible and hidden histories.
At its heart, Externalities is about the legacy we leave behind. It explores how the lives of one generation quietly influence the next and how understanding the past can become essential to finding peace in the present.
A thoughtful and engaging novel for readers who enjoy multi-generational family sagas, historical fiction, immigrant stories, and emotionally resonant literary fiction.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review