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.

WOW! I absolutely LOVED Life, and Death and Giants.!! I have read many books about the Amish but this was book totally different and SOO good. It really made me think about life, family, relationships and so much more. I am still thinking about this book and will be for a long time. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, NetGalley and Ron Rindo for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is my first book by this author and I loved it!! It was a grilling book that kept me engaged. Character development was well designed

Without a doubt, this is the best book I have ever read. It’s simple story about a young man who changes the lives of everyone who knows him. It’s beautiful. Well written. Magical even. This is a book for the ages that can be read over and over. It was perfect. If I could give it. 40 I would! Congrats to the author. Thanks you to NetGalkey and the publisher. Great read.

I received a free copy of Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Life, and Death, and Giants was a captivating read following the story of Gabriel Fisher, who was born weighing 18lbs and grew to nearly 9 feet tall. More importantly than being a story of one extraordinary man, this is the story of how certain events can affect an entire community, and how no life is linear.

I found this book difficult to read until about halfway, and then I couldn't put it down. Many inconsequential details were added to paint a picture of the community that slowed down the pace, but once I had the full picture in mind, I saw that this book was a masterpiece.

The story is told from multiple points of view, each telling a passage of time. I found some POVs, especially those from sports coaches, unrelatable and challenging to understand due to my lack of knowledge on the subject. However, the point of the story is not lost during these chapters.

Around halfway through the book, the storytelling shifted from recounting the past to driving the plot forward. This book kept me up until 3 a.m. to finish, and I realized I had become quite fond of the cast. Their triumphs and trials will sit with me for a long time.

Wow, what an incredibly powerful novel! Every so often, a story comes along that completely blows me away, and Ron Rindo’s latest book, “Life, and Death, and Giants” most definitely falls into that extraordinary category. The narrative unfolds with a mesmerizing array of layers that skillfully intertwine the characters’ lives, making their journeys feel deeply authentic and relatable.

There were numerous moments throughout the book that genuinely caught me off guard, leaving this book unputdownable for me. I’ve rarely encountered stories with Amish characters as the focal point, and I found myself captivated by their rich traditions and values, which Rindo brings to life with such vivid detail. “Life, and Death, and Giants” deserves a total and complete 5 stars! It would be an exceptional choice for any book club, sparking lively discussions and deep reflections. I can hardly wait to read more from Ron Rindo in the future!

Life, and Death, and Giants stunned me. When I was offered the ARC, I debated reading it because the description didn’t interest me. However, the exceedingly positive reviews persuaded me to give it a shot; I’m grateful that I did.

Small town Lakota, Wisconsin is the kind of place people live if they want a quiet, unbothered lifestyle. Whether they are born there or transplanted, Lakota’s residents are fiercely protective of and private about their neighbors. There are what this book calls English, or what I’d call American, residents and Amish residents. The story is told through alternating perspectives, which include both English and Amish characters. I fell in love with all of them. The character development is SO good. In particular, I fell in love with Hannah Fisher, Gabe’s grandmother and veterinarian Thomas Kennedy.

The story is centered around the eponymous giant, Gabriel Fisher, but never told from his perspective. Instead, we view Gabe from the vantage point of his mother, his coaches, and mentors. We see the different emotions and struggles of family, religion, being othered, being venerated, and loved.

And while Gabriel’s size, topping out at almost 9 feet and 600 pounds, seems unbelievable, the story itself does not. And to my utter surprise, while the story is entirely fictional, the size of Gabriel is based on the world’s tallest man and entirely factual.

Overall, this book moved me in ways I did not expect. I loved it. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.