Et cetera : What We're Reading: Life, & Death, & Giants

I recently read ‘Life, & Death, & Giants’ by Ron Rindo. This remarkable novel tells the story of Gabriel Fisher, an unusually large baby born into, yet outside of, an Amish community in rural Wisconsin. When his mother, Rachel, an unmarried Amish woman, doesn’t survive his birth, he is raised by his older brother and devout grandparents. Towering over nine feet tall and weighing 600 pounds, his enormous size and gentle nature set him apart from his peers and draw outside, perhaps unwanted, attention to his quiet and humble family and their closed community. His size and athletic prowess take him to the football field and beyond, giving him a taste of fame and fortune and the challenges and temptations that come along with the ride.

Gabriel touches the lives of several people, including the local veterinarian called in to assist with his difficult delivery, the football coach with a checkered past who supports Gabriel’s athleticism, the owner of the local tavern, and Hannah Fisher, Gabriel’s Amish grandmother. Raised to never question her faith, Hannah lives the virtues of her religion while secretly harboring a chest containing a collection of her mother’s secular books, including poetry by Emily Dickinson, with her mother’s handwriting in the margins. Hannah begins expanding her inner voice to include doubt, pleasure, and a stronger sense of self.

This story captivated me and reminded me of Tim Burton’s film ‘Big Fish’ with its elements of dramatic fantasy. I particularly loved the curious amalgam of Amish culture, gigantism, poetry, and football. I’d recommend this book to readers looking for something a little out of the ordinary. It currently has 4.4/5 stars on goodreads.com, and we have it available for checkout in regular type here at the Vinton Public Library.

Happy reading,

Kelly