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.

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.