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.

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!!!