Thank you to St Martins Press for the free electronic copy. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up
The title caught my eye but the story of Gabriel kept me hooked from the beginning. Born out of wedlock to a Amish woman, Gabriel was a giant from birth. Raised by his brother and longed for by his Amish Grandmother, Gabriel is raised away from the faith of his mother who passed upon his birth.

At times this tale was fantastical but in the most delightful way. I was as invested into Gabriel's life as those characters that surrounded him throughout his youth and early 20's. The lonely veterinarian, local bar owner, high school football coach, and his Amish Grandmother.

A gentle (mostly) story of a gentle giant who's life touched many around him in ways not to be forgotten. The sins are too egregious for the reader to find this a light book, but as in life, there is joy, laughter, love, and forgiveness all lived out in the life of Gabriel. I highly recommend this book.

While this book started out slow, it did pick up toward the middle. I enjoyed the characters, but I wanted more from the plot.

The synopsis gave a retelling of Simon Birch for me. Sadly I didn’t like it as much because the story kept jumping around. My neurodivergent brain can’t focus when it jumps a lot. I would recommend to readers that like stories that do.

“Life, and Death, and Giants” by Ron Rindo is one of the best books I have ever read! The story is powerful, unique and remarkable. It tells the tale of a boy of Amish decent born into tragic circumstances as his mother dies in childbirth and the devoted community that raises him. He is exceptional in every way, and not just because he grows to be over eight feet in height but because he has a special way with animals and humans alike. He is raised by his brother, by his Amish grandparents and the English veterinarian who delivered him. He grows up with a foot in both the Amish and the modern world and becomes a sports legend and a worldwide wrestling sensation. The novel gives a sensitive and touching insight into this young man’s extraordinary life and beautifully explores the Amish culture, death, grief and most of all love. The story is tragic and uplifting at the same time and it’s a story that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend this book to everyone and congratulate the very talented author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one wasn’t for me, as someone who is an atheist I had a hard time immersing myself in the story.

Are you looking for a book to tug on ALL of your heartstrings? Then get ready for Life, and Death, and Giants. This beautifully sad story tells the tale of Gabriel, a literal giant, as he navigates his unusual life. After losing his mother, he's raised by his brother and then his Amish grandparents. Despite his size, he's got a gentle nature, an almost supernatural connection to animals, and an athletic ability that captivates his small town and then the world. But this book isn't just about Gabriel - it's also about those around him, how they shaped him, and how he changed them. Nearly every character in this book stands out with their unique voice and perspective - especially Amish Grandma Hannah (I could read a whole book about her!). 4.5 stars for this memorable tale! Thank you to NetGalley, the author & publisher for giving me a sneak peak.

Really loved the book - it showcased the challenges of "abnormal" people... And how the people around them will be there for them in big and small ways to make their lives more comfortable and meaningful. It was interesting to read the "giant"'s POV, but more so, the folks around him, and how they all try to navigate in everyday life. The book also delves into the complexities of belonging - by juxtaposition of the "modern" world with the Amish customs of their specific community.

One thing that threw me off while I was reading... I was under the impression that this is a completely fictional and mythical story, which, in a sense, it is. I also assumed it was fantasy, which is my fallacy. Only when I read the author's note did I realize that this book is based on a true story. Knowing this beforehand (that there are some elements of truth included) would have probably provided a different experience while reading it.

All in all, I enjoyed reading it .. and it was heart touching. Explored a lot of emotions and thoughts from different perspectives.

What a wonderful book! At birth Gabriel Fisher weighs in at 18 pounds and is extraordinary in so many ways. In addition to being a gentle giant with amazing physical abilities he has an uncanny connection to animals. The story is told through the voices of people who care about Gabriel, giving different perspectives on this exceptional young man and his exceptional life as he grows from an infant to an adult.

In addition to telling a remarkable story, this book offers opportunities to learn about the Amish culture and to explore so many emotions. It is very well written and the characters are so well developed. I laughed, I cried, I pondered.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Oh, I loved this book! The characters, the plot, the heroes (there are many) are all giants. I learned a great deal about a religious sect I knew little about. All in all a very satisfying read. Thank you Ron Rindo for this gem!

This is a remarkable and unique story that unfolds from the birth to the premature death of Gabriel Fisher, a giant among men at almost nine feet tall and weighing over five hundred pounds. However, this novel embraces far more than his physical anomaly; it explores the intersection of two cultures, death, grief, and most of all love.

The author shows sensitive insight into this extraordinary life as perceived through the eyes of four adults: his grandmother, a local veterinary doctor, a tavern owner, and Gabriel’s coach. Each in their own way loved him for varied reasons and all mourned his loss as well as celebrating his life.

Gabriel was an appealing protagonist even though no one (and no reader) could relate to his challenges and his successes. The juxtaposition of the values of the Amish culture and the opportunities of secular society made for an interesting and informative view of Gabriel’s dilemma.

Overall, this novel offers an emotionally touching exploration of life in rural Wisconsin as the background of Gabriel’s experience as a global football phenomenon. It was a worthwhile read and one I strongly recommend.

My appreciation to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I really liked this book it was a very touching story and a good read. His death at the end was also displayed and pirtrayed very well .

What a beautiful and unique story! I loved the setting of a small town in Wisconsin inhabited by both Amish and English (non-Amish) people. When a child with giantism, Gabriel, is born, his mother, who had been banished from the Amish community for having a child out of wedlock, died. He is first raised by his much older brother and eventually comes to live with his Amish grandparents. I was fascinated to learn about the Amish lifestyle, both its beauty and harshness. Gabriel's very unusual story is told by several characters: his grandmother, the English veterinarian, a coach and a tavern owner. He had a huge impact on all their lives as well as the community as a whole. The author did a wonderful job bringing all these unique characters to life. It was interesting to imagine what Gabriel's life must have been like, dealing with his giantism as well as straddling the Amish and English communities. I think this book would be a wonderful choice for book discussion groups, and I highly recommend it.

You learn about this character through adult narratives. They were nurturing, interested (due to proximity or situation), and at times uncomfortably exploitive, self-serving, taking advantage at times of his youth. As the tale progresses, you realize it's more about his family and community and how they engage with his special attributes, physicality, and circumstances. There are a lot of emotions and twists with lifestyle & sports being strong topics. I wished better for this young person and felt like his character was a prop, not a catalyst, in this unusual story. Worth reading

This was a beautiful book, following the life of Gabriel, a literal giant, told by the people who loved him most (plus a bartender and a coach). Yeah, that's a bit of a dig about the book.

While the perspective of Gabriel's grandmother and the doctor touched upon Gabe's humanity, the coach and bartender are mostly there to give us exposition--what cool things Gabe is up to because of his enormous size and physical strength. For me, these were the weakest scenes of the book. While some of the football stories were dramatic, the detailed play by play was tedious at time.

It's a strange narrative choice not to let us inside Gabriel's head for this story (or rather to only hear his voice talking to others.) Not sure I entirely loved it. Maybe it was a choice to keep us on the outside, seeing him as this wonder, rather than a real human. But I yearned for his perspective on all sorts of things--his relationship with animals, his faith, his girlfriend. We hear OF these things, but never really understand them. Again, maybe this is true of anyone we mythologize.

This is mainly an artistic quibble though. The book is compelling and the story is rich (though not necessarily a page turner) and well written. Loved this quote: "being rich beyond imagination ensured only that one could buy anything desired except what really mattered: contentment, community, love, a sense of purpose."

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my usual read, but very enjoyable. Gabriel’s life and the lives of the people around him made for an interesting story. From life in the Amish community to the crazy world of wrestling, Gabriel is constantly at the mercy of his enormous size, but he learns to live with it and even benefit from it.
Highly recommend!

Gabriel Fisher is an unforgettable character—part mystery, part miracle—and his journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The writing is lyrical and thoughtful, with the added beauty of Emily Dickinson’s poetry threading through the narrative. Readers who love character-driven stories about family, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit will be swept away.

Life and Death of Giants is the story of Gabriel, a man of Amish descent born into tragic circumstances and the community that raises him. Gabriel is special- not just because he grows to over 8 ft tall, but because he has a gentle demeanor charming animals and humans alike. Partially raised by his brother, by his Amish grandparents, and by the English veterinarian who delivered him, Gabriel grows up truly straddling both worlds. The sports world comes calling multiple times and Gabriel becomes a bit of a worldwide sensation.
I felt the book was slow to start. Once I got into it, I enjoyed it but it took awhile. The story is told from several perspectives and touches on Gabriel’s impact on each person. The characters are likable and well written. This is a solid 3.5 but because of the slow start I can’t round up to 4 stars.
Thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to this ARC.

really, really enjoyed this one. stunning characterization and beautiful writing. thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc <3

This book exuded the feeling of a gentle giant. A captivating and powerful story about a boy named Gabriel, who was born huge and the trials and tribulations he endured. His family is Amish so we get a healthy mix on the Amish way of life versus the Americanized way, which is a huge theme in the book.
This story is told from a variety of characters, all battling and experiencing the woes of life.
While the book is about Gabriel, it’s never told from his POV which I found interesting.