The main character of this book is Gabriel, a young man who grew to be a giant, both spiritually and physically. Gabriel was born to a young Amish woman, and at birth, weighed 18 pounds and was 27 inches long. He was raised by his much older brother as his mother died in childbirth.

When his brother died, Gabriel went to live with his grandparents. They were devout Amish, and kept him hidden for a while, as they were not supposed to bring him into their household. Gabriel's mother and her brother had both been shunned by their Amish community because Gabriel was born out of wedlock and his mother would not name the father.

Gabriel was precocious in many ways. He walked when he was 8 months old, and was athletically gifted from a very young age. He could converse with animals, and they seemed to have a mutual understanding. His athletic ability was spotted by a high school coach, who saw to it that he went on to high school, something that few Amish youngsters did. Gabriel at the time was nearly 8 feet tall. He played college football and eventually played pro-football. This book is both sad and uplifting.

I received an e-arc from the publisher St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Gabriel is brought into this world as his mother is leaving it. Gabriel arrives at eighteen pounds and twenty-seven inches long. No one has seen a human this big. As time passes and he grows, Gabriel's size continues to shock everyone. He dominates the little league team as a young boy and is unstoppable as a high school football player. Born to an exiled Amish mother, Gabriel only beings to know his Amish roots after his brother passes away. He goes to live with grandparents he barely knows. They try to accept some of his English ways, but try to instil Amish values as he continues to grow up. Gabriel becomes a world-wide sensation as a young adult. This hasn't come without tragedy and set-backs. Gabriel always keeps his Amish roots in his mind but also takes his English ways into consideration. Gabriel touches so many lives.
Without giving anything away in this beautiful story, I will stop there with my description. Life, Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo is a first for me by this author. It will not be the last. This story will haunt you. I couldn't stop thinking about Gabriel and the other characters. The writing is beautiful, the storyline is captivating. You won't be able to put this book down. You will feel all the emotions with this one. You will laugh, be angry, and cry. Its everything all rolled into one book. I will be telling all of my book friends about this book and will be looking for Rindo's other work. Special thanks to NetGalley, Ron Rindo, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 BIG stars for me. This could be my favorite book of the year.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.