What: Murray Bail's novel Eucalyptus functions as a sort of One Thousand and One Nights, with a frame story and dozens of smaller stories within it. The premise of the frame story deliberately follows certain archetypes: A man in New South Wales with a larger-than-life background plants every variety of eucalyptus tree on his remote plot of land and sets a seemingly impossible task --- the suitor who can name every one of the hundreds of varieties shall win the hand of his beautiful daughter. While the frame story's challenge proceeds, a stranger finds the daughter wandering among the trees and tells her tale after curious tale.
Comparable to: Shares some territory with Peter Carey's books. Has some Gabriel Garcia Marquez-esque magic realism vibes.
Representative quote: "For the last seventeen years they had only spoken to each other through their dog."
You might not like it if: You find the fable-like qualities more odd than magical.
How to get it: The best availability is probably online and at libraries.
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