Barkskins by Annie Proulx

This is a sweeping epic novel that goes back to the founding of Canada and moves forward.  There are two major families that we follow throughout the book, one of them white settlers and one of them largely Native American.  The story is a sweeping saga that spans three centuries and that is both its beauty and its constriction.  On the one hand it is a brilliantly told story that encapsulates the history of the nation to our north.  The author is a storyteller of the finest kind, and this book is no exception.  The thing that I wish it had was more detail about each individual character.  The problem with a book that spans 300 years is that if you want a more in depth portrayal of any one character you are not going to get it.  I actually would have liked a longer book, weirdly enough.  But this one is well worth wading into.