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.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy of, Life, and Death, and Giants, by Ron Rindo, published by St Martin’s Press with release date of Sept 09,2025
In exchange for the copy I have agreed to submit a honest review and that I will.
This book grabbed me from page one being a wonderful story of life losses and a gentle grant Gabriel.
Gabriel Fisher came into this world in a tragic way his birth was on the day of the loss of his mother. He was born a large baby at a whopping weight of 18 lbs, born to an Amish mother. Gabriel has had a lot of losses in this life. The story is told by alternating views of the characters in this novel.
This was a very interesting story of a boy who tipped the scales at birth and continued to tip them all his life. The story was definitely bittersweet! I really enjoyed the book and appreciate being able to read early. Highly recommend this book, Ron Rindo really knows how to spin a story. I will be looking for more of his books. Thank you!!
Five stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This is a story about Gabriel Fisher, who was born a large sized baby and continued growing to become an even bigger man and not just physically. Told by those who loved him, supported him, cheered him on and were blessed to have spent time with him. Gabriel was a big man with big dreams, big plans and a big heart.

This is a beautifully written story, it can be sad at times and yet your heart sings too. Told in the voices of alternating characters and their experiences and different perspectives of Gabriel. This book contains different aspects, in part, a look at an Amish community and the way of life, in part, a look at how the outside community view the Amish and interactions with them, and finally, partly, a look at how one man tried to have a foot in the Amish life and in the world outside of the community. The author did a great job of weaving the voices together to tell the story, each voice adding to the complexity of the character of Gabriel, the descriptions of Amish life, of friendships between the Amish and English (those living outside of the Amish community, and what meant to them. Bravo!

This was a wonderful story! Told from many viewpoints and narrators, the story unfolded over several years and several characters. Running through most of the characters’ stories was the theme of redemption, and how life can give us second chances. The story also straddles two cultures - the Amish and the « English ».

We follow the giant Gabriel’s story from birth to death. Through his story, we meet everyone involved in his life some way or other. His grandfather, grandmother, brother, coaches and « adoptive parents ». They all play a role in his development, until at a certain point, Gabriel blazes his own trail.

I enjoyed the gentle pace of the novel, and each character’s journeys and musings about life and death. The final chapters of the novel are beautiful and touching. I must admit, I shed a few tears. That is the sign of a novel that truly touches your soul.

This was a beautiful book. I was drawn in from the first chapter. So many rich characters and stories that I will think about long past today. I think special people come into our lives and transform them. That is what Gabriel did for everyone who knew him.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ron Rindo writes as if he has intimate knowledge of this saga. It is written with respect and incredible wonder of the giant among them, yet
plagued by the sinful nature of man.
I sobbed through various parts of this book, but it is a heart-touching story.
You won't regret reading Life, and Death, and Giants. Bring the tissues.

I received a free copy of, Life, and Death, and Giants, by Ron Rindo, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Gabriel Fisher was born weighing 18 lbs, in Wisconsin, to an Amish mother. Before he is an adult, Gabriel is almost 8 feet tall. This was an interesting story of a man who was tall.

Life, and Death, and Giants is an absolutely wonderful book that chronicles the life of Gabriel Fisher, an extraordinarily tall young man born to an unmarried Amish woman who had left her religious community. Gabriel's life is told through the voices of those who are closest to him. He is an amazing human being who touches many lives. Being over eight feet tall, he excels at sports, which takes him away from his little town and exposes him to the larger world.

Ron Rindo is a brilliant storyteller, and this is an amazing book. I did find the descriptive sports scenes a little tedious, but that's just me. I also would have loved to learn more about Isabella. I feel like we never really got to know her at all really. But those are nit-picks. This is a touching, beautiful novel. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This is a fascinating, thought-provoking story of young Gabriel Fisher, who at birth weighed eighteen pounds and was twenty-seven inches long. His unmarried Amish mother died at his birth, so Gabriel was raised by his brother until his death at which time he then went to live with his Amish grandparents. Over the years Gabriel continued to grow until he was over 8 feet tall. He was gifted with a natural athletic ability and even as a young boy playing T-Ball he could hit the ball out of the park. Later he went to college on a football scholarship and became known world-wide for his athletic ability.
There are many moving parts to this compelling story, including memorable and lovable characters that enhance the story. They include the country veterinarian who delivered him and later was his mentor; the owner of a bar who seemed to be the connection between the Amish and English communities and the football coach who also mentors him. His Amish grandparents, love him and do whatever it takes to accommodate his size as he continues to grow. Each of the people in Gabriel’s life, play an important role.
Life-long secrets come to life that are shocking; the close-knit Amish community is overrun by paparazzi and others who are hoping to catch a glimpse of Gabriel. This touching, heartfelt story will stay with me for a while, even after the last page is turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.,

This was a very special book. Every aspect of it was creative and interesting. This book teaches one to cherish the people around you and the monumental impact something extraordinary can hold. I learned a great deal about the amish lifestyle, which is portrayed in a way that sheds light on the complexities and challenges the community faces. At the same time, the Amish community is highlighted for their powerful love, strength of community, and overall intentionality with their lives and their actions. This book is beautiful. I will be thinking about Gabriel and this story for a while.

I really loved this book. I enjoy reading about the simple, rewarding lives of the Amish. Gabriel was a loveable, gentle giant whose spirit was one with all creatures. I loved the sense of community in Lakota and the way both Amish and English came together to care for Gabriel. All of the characters were well developed and likeable with the exception of Absalom. Birth, death, love, heartbreak, incest, betrayal. This book has it all and will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC of 'Life, and Death, and Giants' by Ron Rindo.

The description of this book made it sound so unusual and I'm so grateful to have been approved to read it. It's really wonderful.

We're introduced in double-quick time to several generations of Wisconsin Amish people and to key characters in the tiny Wisconsin town of Lakota. We arrive pretty soon at the remarkable personage of Gabriel Fisher, a very big baby at birth who just continues to grow. And grow. And grow.

Blessed with athletic skills and strength that are only matched in scope by the twists and turns his life in Lakota and beyond takes Gabriel is the glue that holds this book and its characters together. Through the lens of Gabriel's life and experiences we're given a view into the lives of his Amish family and community, his sports coaches and their families, the local bar owner and baseball football booster, the central character of the blow-in vet who becomes a key figure in Gabriel's life.

For me there were shades of John Irving and Howard Frank Mosher in this novel, especially in the way the people of this small community are treated so lovingly and caringly and small-town, rural American life is portrayed.

Although it's full of tragedy of various hues, this is a really life affirming and heartwarming story where divisions are closed and barriers are crossed to the betterment of everyone. We could do with more of it in the real world.

This is a story that will make you think about your life and the lives of those around you. It is unlike anything I've read in recent years. Rindo is an expert storyteller and has crafted a very unique tale. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book. The story of Gabriel, the giant, is told by various points of view, including his grandmother, the local vet, the football coach, and owner of the local bar. Gabriel came into the world in an unusual way. His mother died in childbirth and so he was raised by his brother for a time. He was then taken in by his Amish grandparents. His size allows him to become an athletic prodigy. I saw the “deaths” of the title to be more than just of the human body. There is also the death of dreams and lifestyles. Life as well is more than births, but also of new experiences and of new relationships. Gabriel brings an entire town together. This is a poignant story that will make you smile, cheer and cry. This will be one of my favorite books of all time.

I think this book every bit as powerful as Where the Crawdad Sings and Lessons in Chemistry and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. Gabriel Fisher was 18 lbs at birth, walked at 8 mos, and was a giant by the time he was in little league.. An extraordinary human being with unique abilities, loved by all who knew him. He had a special communication with animals and a gift for athletics. Gabriel’s story is told not by him but through the eyes of 5 important people who helped him become the person he was.. The veterinarian who delivered him and became his defacto father, his devout grandmother, his coach, and others who were impacted by this young man. A heartfelt story of resilience, hope, love and embracing life.

5 stars is not enough.

The first two paragraphs were slow, then remainder of the book was very intriguing. I couldn't stop reading it. I was hoping to get answers for the questions brought up in the prologue. The plot didn't disappoint. The characters were very believable. I identified with them, and appreciated their reflection. There were many plot twists to keep you guessing, and interested. I highly recommend reading this book.

I really enjoyed this book. A gentle but captivating read, with wonderful character development; it was another one of those books where the plot, while important, didn't feel like the main purpose of the book. To me, it felt like the purpose was to allow us to drop in on Lakota, Wisconsin, for a few years, and learn more about some of the characters in the town.

We're introduced to a whole host of characters - Gabriel Fisher of course, but also Hannah Fisher, Dr. Kennedy, Billy Walton, and Trey Beathard. Interestingly, the book is told in alternating viewpoints, but never from Gabriel's point of view. We only hear about him through his grandmother, who tries to reconcile her Amish lifestyle with her grandson's English one and through his mentors - Kennedy and Beathard - both of whom try to give him guidance on how to navigate a world that frankly, wasn't prepared for him.

As all four narrators narrate Gabriel's stories, we also get a chance to learn more about them. All four struggle with aspects of their past (and, in some cases, present), and we see each of them struggle through it and try to move past them in their own ways. Of the four narrators, Hannah's was the one that resonated with me the most, because in her story, we saw the struggle of trying to reconcile two very different worlds. It was fasincating watching her question the world that she had grown up in.

The abstract of the book states - "Threaded with the poems of Emily Dickinson, Life, and Death, and Giants weaves together an unforgettable story of faith, family, buried secrets, and everyday miracles." I couldn't agree more.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Life and Desth and Giants by Ron Rindo
Received as an arc.
Gabriel when born was 18lbs and 27 inches long. Delivered by the local veterinarian Thomas his mother passed giving birth to him. This when the legends started.
Since he was big he was good hitting a baseball but had a gentle way with animals. Thomas cared for him like a grandson. Helping with school, baseball, and caring for animals.
When Gabriel’s brother decides to leave this life Thomas is forced to try to have his grandparents who excommunicated his mother care for him. They would not allow his natural skill of baseball.
An out of state football coach convinces Gabriel’s grandparents to allow him to play football. A natural and tough to stop due to his extreme size.
Becoming a football hero and finally in love while in college yet another tragedy to our gentle giant.
Overcoming a new obstacle in life Gabriel thrived yet again.
We visit Lakota and its residents as well.
I’ll stop here not wanting spoilers. But this book was many various stories and characters narrating them. A beautiful life story that made me happy and sad.
5⭐️