Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo Book Review

About the Book:

Gabriel Fisher was born an orphan, weighing eighteen pounds and measuring twenty-seven inches long. No one in Lakota, Wisconsin, knows what to make of him. He walks at eight months, communicates with animals, and seems to possess extraordinary athletic talent. But when the older brother who has been caring for him dies, Gabriel is taken in by his devout Amish grandparents who disapprove of all the attention and hide him away from the English world.

But it’s hard to hide forever when you’re nearly eight feet tall. At seventeen, Gabriel is spotted working in a hay field by the local football coach. What happens next transforms not only Gabriel’s life but the lives of everyone he meets.

My Review:

This novel has a large element of magical realism with a child born unusually large and growing up to giant status and with a special relationship with animals. His mother was unwed and had been cast out of the Amish community of her parents. I liked receiving some new insights into how the Amish see life and choose to live it.

The pace of this novel is methodical and will be enjoyed by readers who like a deep study into a character as opposed to lots of action. Gabriel is a gentle and loving giant. How others relate to him and his personality makes the book enjoyable. It also explores the intersection of two worlds, the Amish and the world outside that sphere.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Ron Rindo is a professor of English and creative writing at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has published one previous novel, Breathing Lake Superior, and three short story collections. He lives in Pickett, Wisconsin. Photo credit: Claire Rindo

St Martin's Press, 324 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. Mine is an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)