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.

I liked this book. I found the plot and timeline to be Intriguing. The book was well written, it flowed nicely and descriptors were well balanced.

- when i first started reading this book, i figured it would be a magical realism novel, however I was very happy to learn that it was simple fiction
- i enjoyed the different POVs throughout the book that gave us an insight into Gabriel’s extraordinary life
- each character proves to have an impact on Gabriel to which he is forever grateful
- the characters are beautiful written and you get a true sense of who they are, complete with detailed back stories (which was very interesting to read)
- I enjoyed learning about the Amish way of life and their true sense of community
- there was many events that were unexpected, and made you wanting to keep reading

- highly recommend this book!

What an absolutely amazing story, this one really hit the mark and will stay with me for a long time. A young Amish woman who had been exiled from her community for getting pregnant out of wedlock, gives birth in the back of a pickup truck belonging to a local veterinarian, she had not been able to get to a doctor before going into labor. The baby is huge, weighing 18 lbs and 2 ft tall, the woman dies as a result and her other son takes on the responsibility of raising the child named Gabriel. The child grows at an astronomical pace, walking at 8 months, he also has a gift with animals, and is a gentle soul. The story slowly reveals the story of Rebecca, the mother of Gabriel and eventually why she was exiled, a sad story on its own. Gabriel eventually is recruited to play baseball but due to his size and power, he is quickly moved up to higher levels, his brother commits suicide and Gabriel moves in with his grandparents, who are Amish and he no longer can play baseball. One day he is spotted by a high school football coach and since Gabriel is of an age where he can choose to leave the Amish community for a year, he does and becomes a star football player. A devastating injury suddenly ends his career, he takes up another one as a wrestler and travels the world, eventually coming back home when he is diagnosed with a deadly disease. By then is is nearly 9 ft tall and weighs over 400lbs. This was such a well told story and so very sad and uplifting at the same time, I would whole heartedly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #St Martins Press for the ARC.

Told in multiple voices, Life, Death and Giants is the story of Gabriel Fisher who is born to a shunned, unwed Amish woman who refuses to name the child’s father. Gabriel is an unusually large baby who grows into a giant of a man. Parts of this book are beautifully written, and the bucolic surroundings of this small town are described in poetic detail. The many characters who tell various parts of this story add some interesting perspectives, but some of the chapters felt forced and unnecessary. What I was missing in this book was a connection to Gabriel himself, a peek into his feelings, his experience of the world. There was an odd lack of emotional connection despite some touchingly beautiful interactions between characters - it often felt like I was reading a newspaper article, and I kept waiting to hear from Gabriel himself to round out what I washing told about him and about the people he loved.

This is a new author for me and based on this book, I probably would not read another book by him. I felt that a lot of the book was long and drawn out, especially the parts about the main character’s forays into the world of various sports and the outcomes there. Perhaps if I were an avid sports fan, I might feel differently, but I felt like the descriptions were a bit long-winded and lost my attention. The book itself did not quite capture me the way that I wished it would have. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

This was such a beautiful, tenderhearted read, and I am so glad I received an early copy of it.

I'll admit, the blurb had me very skeptical, and I was worried that it would read as gimmicky or too saccharine. But Rindo masterfully handles this story of an extraordinarily tall young man who changes the lives of all he encounters. Life, and Death, and Giants is told in the multi-POV of important people to Gabriel Fisher: the disgraced veterinarian, Dr. Thomas Kennedy, who delivers him and later mentors him; Gabriel's Amish grandmother, Hannah; the local pub owner and baseball coach, Billy Walton; and the college football coach who scouts him, Trey Beathard.

I loved the use of multi-POV; most are in first person (except for Kennedy's) and the way Rindo evokes the voice for all of the characters is amazing. I am not even an audiobook fan, but I can imagine this being a fantastic audiobook. Each of the characters vividly comes to life through Rindo's use of dialect and even the way he changes the sentence structure for all of them. It's incredible how he can switch from the POV of a devout Amish woman to a fast talking football coach and have both ring true.

For it being an extraordinary story, I like how it's still grounded in reality; for the most part, I didn't have to suspend my disbelief and that made it easy to sink into the story and stay there (in the acknowledgements, he mentions that Gabriel is based on the growth chart and life of the tallest man who ever lived, Robert Wadlow). Honestly, it kind of reminded me of A Prayer for Owen Meany, and I loved that book, so trust me, it's a super favorable comparison: the same mix of pathos and humor, the prose, the subtle politics.

I can't say much more without giving away the plot twists, but this one is a character-driven stunner of a book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ron Rindo for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Life, and Death, and Giants" weaves an extraordinary tale that will tug at your heart strings and make you fall in love with the characters. This captivating novel follows the remarkable life of Gabriel Fisher, an Amish child born at a staggering eighteen pounds and twenty-seven inches, whose extraordinary physical abilities and connection with animals mark him as something beyond ordinary.

Multiple narrators are used to tell Gabriel's story, each offering a unique perspective. Doc Kennedy, the veterinarian who delivers Gabriel, becomes an unexpected mentor and bridge between worlds. Hannah Fisher, Gabriel's grandmother, provides emotional depth through her struggles with faith and loss. Billy Walton and Trey Beathard round out the perspectives, offering insights into how Gabriel's existence affects both Amish and English communities.

What I loved about this novel was the blend of fantastical elements of Gabriel's life with genuine human emotion. I also enjoyed learning more about the Amish and the impact the Amish culture had on each of the characters. This book did make me cry and not just a little. There were also some difficult topics in this book. Overall though, it left me with a sense of how strong people can be and can really come together in times of need. A very remarkable book that anyone will enjoy.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Well....uh.....this was definitely not what I expected. Life, Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo is a head scratcher. I was interested in the book because of the Amish aspect. But that turned out to be a very small part of the story. I also could not decide if the book was fact or fiction. It reads like a story that would be real. The characters and the events could actually happen. But then you have the "Giant." There are people in history who are described as being physically large and powerful. Gabriel Fisher is definitely a giant, both of physical statue and personality. He leads a remarkable life in a short amount of time. His influence on family and friends forms a close knit community. From his birth to his death he is loved, admired, and a part of a community. Gabriel story involves sports, from Little League baseball to football to wrestling. I am not a huge sports person but I muddled through that part simply to keep up with Gabriel's life. That is the reason I gave the book four stars instead of five.
I voluntarily received a copy of the book from NetGalley.

There was a lot of sadness in this story, but it was told with such tenderness and hope, that one is left uplifted, rather than sad. A one-of-a-kind character, who has to deal with his physical peculiarities, all while living in “two worlds”. The author found a truly unique way to blend the influences of the Amish and the “English”. Just a sweet, heart-tugging tale

The structure of this book (each chapter from a different character's perspective) and the character development were wonderful! The author pulled the storyline together well, tying up loose ends but not in a perfect, unrealistic way. An interesting window was provided into the lives of the Amish and their intersections with the "English," as they called the non-Amish. The surrounding flora and fauna were important to the storyline, the main character's development, and relationships and were described richly.

This was a beautiful book. I live in an area with a very active Amish community so I was really interested in reading about Amish life in this unique situation. It was also a tear-jerker in several places but a well-written story.

I received a free ARC of ‘Life, and Death, and Giants” from the publisher and Netgallery in exchange for an honest review

Through changing perspectives, we are told the story of Gabriel Fisher. Set in Lakota Wisconsin, Gabriel is born weighing 18lbs.

I enjoyed how the Author, Ron Rindo, brought the area and Gabriel to life through different characters. I was captivated how each story gave us a glimpse into that character’s life while at the same time furthering Gabriel’s story. The imagery helped bring Lakota alive.

There was A LOT of sports talk, play by plays and references which is not my cup of tea but didn’t impede my ability to enjoy the overarching story.

I would have rated this higher than 3 stars but for two points.

First -There are many run on sentences. So many paragraph’s should have utilized periods instead of commas. I could excuse the occasional one, but page after page I found examples and it impeded the flow while I read. Ultimately I found this undermined the writing.

Second- Some of the conversations felt wooden. I don’t think the author tried saying the dialogue out loud and the responses didn’t match what was occurring in my opinion. There were also explanations where it felt inserted for the readers benefit, and not what someone would have actually said.

#Life,andDeath,and Giants, #Ron Rindo, #netgalley

How I loved this book. Set in a small Amish community in Wisconsin, Life and Death and Giants gently touches us twith the quiet, hardworking, insular, faithful ways of the Amish community. Other residents, the English (non Amish), round out the community with their interactions with Gabriel, the giant of this story. From his birth, he is different, connecting people with his faith, abilities, innocence and exuberance. Character driven, his book will uplift you and tear your heart out and leave you thinking about life, death, and giants. Highly recommend.

this was a really interesting book! I like the story, and I liked the characters. It was entertaining, it was funny, sweet, sad, and happy all at the same time. I think it was a good book, and I recommend it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Gabriel is born at 18 pounds and just kept growing. His mother died while giving birth to him. No one knew who his father is. He is raised first by his older brother and then his grandparents.
This is NOT told by Gabriel, its told by his grandmother, a bar keeper, and a veterinarian.

I liked learning about the Amish, the Lakota township, and Gabriels struggles with life as a giant.

However, the sports parts drug on for me. I also really didn't feel that the bartender added that much to the story.
Some of the challenges also began to wear down, yep we know he is giant and needs special shoes.
Characters would appear and then disappear (Colton)

Overall, I loved the plot and the characters, especially Hannah.

I wished that I could have heard from Gabriel what he was going through, his girlfriend, or his friend Colton.

Life and Death and Giants, by Ron Rindo, is a literary fiction novel following the life of Gabriel. Gabriel was born to a meidung Amish woman with two fatherless children born out of wedlock. He was raised first by his brother and English community members, then his Amish grandmother after a tragedy. The oddity of his birth, his large stature, abnormally fast development, and the melding of an Amish and English life lead to him following a unique path. As a reader, you witness his skill in multiple sports and his gift with animals shape his life in unexpected ways. Gabriel’s strength, height, and kindness ensure he is treated differently. As he transitions into adulthood the trials he faces by simply being different from the norm add an aspect of realism.
We never see from Gabriel’s POV, but his background is well-developed. With each chapter focusing on a specific character’s POV one is able to get an all encompassing understanding of the town, the residents, and the Amish community nearby. As a reader, you meet characters from all walks of life with different views and baggage. With each person introduced, Rindo describes them in such a way that you are able to understand why they are the way they are, even if you don’t like them.
The book is filled with unique imagery, some of which I found awkward, bordering on uncomfortable, but if you are someone who loves to feel like they are standing next to the characters and experiencing what they are experiencing, this is a book for you. His positive outlook throughout the book, despite the trials he faces, is heartwarming. You cannot help but to truly care for Gabriel. I had to look past the discrepancies in childhood developmental milestones. However, this book is about a child/young man who is different so there will certainly be things that are ‘abnormal’ and Rindo shares in the acknowledgments that the milestones are based on Robert Wadlow.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to others. It is an engaging, easy read, and despite sadnesses, it is uplifting. Sports knowledge would be beneficial, but is not necessary.

Overall Rating: 3.75/5 (Rounded average of below ratings)
Characters: 4/5
Plot/Structure: 3.5/5
Imagery: 3.75/5
Style: 3.75/5
Engagement and Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Rereadability: 3/5
Recommendation: 3.75/5

In a nutshell, this book is fabulous! I could not put it down. Gabriel Fisher was born to a single mother who was raised Amish and exiled from her community. She dies in childbirth and Gabriel is raised by his brother and later his Amish grandparents. The thing about Gabriel is that from the moment he was delivered by the local veterinarian (no doctor close by at the time), he is of unusual size and grows to be a giant in stature. The other thing is that this man and the ripple effect of his life on the community where he grew up knows no bounds. The story has multiple narrators - his grandmother, the veterinarian who delivered him and considered him to be a grandson, his first coach, his football coach - all these people have their lives touched by this amazing child then man. I can't do it justice - just get your hands on this book and become another person who loves Gabriel Fisher.

What a great story about the Amish way of life and living and socializing with the English people
Learning how to love find peace and forgiveness

Life, and Death, and Giants
By Ron Rindo

I am an avid and eclectic reader. That said, I find this to be one of the best books I have ever read. It is set in Lakota, Wisconsin. The area is inhabited by two communities – one Amish, the other the English (as the Amish call the people of the outside world).

The author has told the story in chapters, each narrated by alternating characters. Thus the story resonates from different viewpoints. Over the course of the book, the reader is exposed to the beliefs and ideas – both good and bad – which drive the narrators. Thus the reader comes to understand that there is no perfect way to live in this world. Life is indeed complicated.

We as humans are imperfect in our understanding; we can only keep an open mind to thoughts and beliefs which differ from our own – and take to our hearts the things that ring true.

It is obvious that Mr. Rindo spent much time coming to terms with what he wanted to say here. I shed a lot of tears reading the book. And yet I felt uplifted for having read it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.