Life, and Death, and Giants: A Novel

This book grabbed a hold of me in the prologue and continued its hold until the very end. I read the last few chapters with tears streaming from my eyes. A beautiful story of a giant baby boy born to an unwed Amish mother. This boy, Gabriel, was a true gift from God. I believe his stature as a true giant symbolized the strength his mother was made of and the faith she had. This is a book I will cherish forever.

Life, and Death, and Giants felt like sitting through a sermon I didn’t sign up for. Gabriel Fisher is born different in every possible way. He grows up in a strict religious environment where his size, his abilities, and his entire existence are treated as something meant to serve a higher purpose. The story follows his life and the people around him as he gets pulled further into that expectation. I clocked what this book was doing almost immediately. Josiah reads like a direct stand-in for Jesus. Gabriel is the chosen one meant to endure trials. The farm, animals, and lessons all mirror Bible stories blatently. If you’ve read the Bible, then you will recognize what is happening right away. I was rolling my eyes through most of this book. Every time I started to settle into the story, another heavy-handed religious reference would pull me right back out. The religious overtone never lets the characters exist on their own. They feel like vehicles for a religious message instead of actual people. Gabriel especially never felt real to me. He felt like an idea that the author was trying to prove. I wanted to feel something for him. I wanted to care about his life and the impact he had on others. Instead, I felt like I was being told what he represented at every turn. The audiobook cast did what they could. Having multiple narrators added some variety and helped separate perspectives. It wasn’t enough to make me enjoy the experience. This might work for you if you are deeply into Christian or Mormon-inspired fiction. That audience will probably connect with what this book is trying to do. I am not that audience. I needed this to feel like a story. It felt like a Sunday Church lesson plan.

This book is fantastic!! Best book I've read in a long time! It has ALL the feels! This is the story about Gabriel Fisher, who was born unusually large to an unwed shunned Amish woman who does not survive his birth. Gabriel walks early, has an unearthly connection with animals, and an undeniable athletic ability that draws the attention of his Amish community and well beyond.
This story is told in alternating perspectives from the four main characters in the book. Hannah, the only female perspective, is his maternal grandmother. She is kind & loving and opens up her heart in the most unexpected ways. Thomas is the local vet, who helped deliver Gabriel. I absolutely fell in love with this character. Billy is the local bar owner who adds lots of flavor to the story. Trey Beathard is Gabriel's football coach. The three men are not Amish; they are from the English world. They all play an important role in Gabriel's life. These characters are so well developed with engaging back stories. They all have a significant role in Gabriel's life.

This is a beautifully written, emotional story about human connection. Gabriel is a gentle giant, and he captured my heart immediately. I think it is better to read this story without knowing many details. The author was so smart to tell Gabriel's story through these 4 characters. It is rich and multilayered, full of faith, family and community but also the remarkable story of one individual. This story will stay with me for a while. All the stars...