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.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for offering me this ARC that totally wrecked me. The first few pages of the book slid over me like a favorite blanket and I knew I was hooked. And you might as well know right from the get go - plot twist! I had no idea. The framework of the book is the interaction of an Amish community and a small town in a place where it is challenging for either to make a good living. This is similar to areas near where I live, and I enjoyed learning more about the day-to-day lives of the Amish, their faith and the subjugation of women.

An enormous baby is born in the back of a pickup truck, killing the mother who was shunned from her Amish community for a previous pregnancy out of wedlock. The baby grows into a giant child and then a giant man. The accommodations in daily life made for his size are amusing at times. His life and the lives of those who care for him are at once joyous and tragic. The arc of his life is a shooting star, brief, but all the better to have have lived, loved and be loved. The touches of magical realism really pump up the emotion. Readers of Sarah Addison Allen may enjoy for those bits. There is a little bit of an Owen Meany vibe here as well. I think this will appeal to a fairly broad range of readers, so jump right on it when it publishes this September!

What a tale! This story highly exceeded my expectations. This was such a strange, but very complex and emotional story. I absolutely love the characters so much and was desperately rooting for them till the very end. I loved the poetic undertones weaved throughout, it was so thoughtful and intentional! Love, love, love this.

I finally to read this book. I had trouble with the change from Adobe to get it on my e-reader. I had to borrow a Kindle. ( It's causing a lot of issues for people)
Anyway, so glad I finally got to. This book blew me away. I loved all the characters so much. It was a very interesting, quirky at times, sad at times book that kept me enthralled throughout. This might be my favorite book this year! Look forward to more by this author, who has a brilliant way of writing that will touch your soul.

I loved this book. It's a complex story about a boy who is born a giant - so big that his birth killed his mother, despite the local veterinarian's best efforts as he attended the birth in the bed of a pickup truck. The characters in this mixed Amish and English small town are all quirky, interesting and well fleshed out. There is a lot of backstory, but the plot moves right along, taking a little bit of your heart along for the ride. It's about family, faith, friends and acceptance, while simultaneously showing us a bit of the dark side of human nature. I shed a few tears reading this one.

Thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC to read and review.

this is by far the best book of the year that I have read. the story is so compelling. many surprises along the way. your heart stops beating to learn about Jasper and his mother, Rachel at the beginning of the book. then there is Gabe Fisher, the extra large baby. enjoyed that the story was told from different people, learning something about the Amish way of life. thought it was interesting that the English way took over Gabe with the help of a local bar owner, a down and out football coach and the kind local vet. will be telling all my reading friends about this book.

Life, and Death, and Giants is hands down the best book I have read so far this year. What a wonderful story of a gentle giant of a man and the community and family around him. The characters are phenomenal. Gabriel, the character the story revolves around, is such a fantastic person. Kind-hearted and gentle in the body of a giant. His standoffish Amish family is complicated, and the more you read the more complex they become. I especially liked Hannah and her thoughtfulness. The local vet is another favorite as are the bar-owner and the coach, All very well-written characters that will stick with you long after you turn the final page. The reveal of Gabe's father blew me away. Wow. This book made me cry several times near the end. I did not want it to end. Fantastic work. I will read anything this author writes, they have a gift for storytelling.