Ron Rindo's *Life, Death, and Giants* is a fantastic story, beautifully told, and based on the life of the tallest man who ever lived. It begins with his birth, where his weight was over 18 lbs, and continues through his extraordinary life. Much of the story takes place in Wisconsin, where my own roots remain, which gave it an extra personal touch. Rindo does a wonderful job creating characters the reader can truly engage with and root for. There's a strong Amish presence woven throughout the na...

An unmarried Amish woman dies giving birth to an 18lb baby boy. The baby is raised by his brother and grows into a baseball prodigy, until a tragic event throws his life into turmoil. This is Gabriel's story. A gentle giant. The story of how his life was changed by those who saw his physical gifts as talent. At times, it's a struggle between the restrictions of his Amish upbringing and the potential opportunities that await him in the outside world. Yet, tragedy strikes again and again. Gabriel...

Every child deserves a grandmother as loving as Hannah Fisher and guardian angels like the men in Gabriel Fisher’s life. Men like Billy Walton, the local bar owner, Dr. Kennedy, the vet who delivered Gabriel, and Trey Beathard, his high school football coach. These characters, with their huge hearts and immense love for Gabriel, tell his story through alternating narratives. This structure elevates the story beyond just Gabriel's life as an 18-pound baby who grows into an eight-foot man. It al...

"Life, Death, and Giants" is a deeply moving and heartwarming story, rich with compelling characters, about a young man of extraordinary size. The touch of magical realism woven into the narrative feels perfectly natural and enhances the story beautifully. The book patiently establishes its premise. A young Amish woman becomes pregnant outside of marriage. When she refuses to reveal the father's name, she is excommunicated and forced to leave her community. She gives birth to a son of normal si...

At age one, Gabriel Fisher weighed thirty-four pounds and stood forty-one inches tall. It wasn’t just Gabriel’s unusual size that amazed Thomas, but also his special connection with animals. As a three-year-old, Gabriel would often sit on a milking stool next to Jasper’s chicken coop with a piece of bread hidden behind his back. He’d wait, watching the chickens peck around in the yard until his favorite hen, a barred rock named Betsy, slowly made her way to his feet. Then, he’d dramatically r...

Intriguing. Startling. Extraordinary. Moving... This is the story about Gabriel Fisher, who was born unusually large to an unwed, shunned Amish mother, who doesn't survive his birth. He walks early, has an uncanny chemistry with animals, and an undeniable athletic ability that draws much attention. His growth continues to be off the charts, in fact, it seems Gabriel may never stop growing... *Life, Death, and Giants* is told in alternating chapters through the perspective of the four main cha...

What a truly wonderful book! *Life, Death, and Giants* is packed with larger-than-life characters and so many scenes that really hit you in the feels. Gabriel Fisher's story starts with a bang – born to an unmarried Amish mother who wouldn't reveal his father's name. Ostracized by her community, she tragically doesn't survive his birth. And Gabriel? He's always been BIG – a whopping eighteen pounds and twenty-seven inches long at birth! He just keeps growing throughout Ron Rindo's *Life, Death, ...

This author's writing spoke directly to my soul. The story in *Life, Death, and Giants* is related with such extraordinary tenderness and compassion that it will linger in my thoughts for a very long time. If you're looking for a book review that steers clear of spoilers but still gives you the feels, keep reading! Shunned by her Amish community in Lakota, Wisconsin, Rachel Fisher lives on her own and gives birth to an 18 lb., 27" baby boy. Orphaned at birth and not knowing who his father is, G...

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On: The Book Review Crew BlogI absolutely adored this book. It's about an unmarried Amish woman who gives birth to an eighteen-pound baby (and I thought my babies were big at nine and eleven pounds!) and then tragically dies shortly after. The baby, Gabriel, is raised first by his older brother, and then by his grandparents. Gabriel is a gentle giant in every sense of the word. He has an incredible connection with animals and is naturally athletic. This helps him bre...

What a beautiful story, truly ❤️! Set in an Amish community in Wisconsin, *Life, Death, and Giants* by Ron Rindo tells a tale that will stay with you. Hannah Fisher’s daughter, Ruth, lives isolated with her son, Jasper, on a plot of land separate from her Amish parents, Hannah and Josiah. Ruth has been shunned by the church and community for years, ever since she became pregnant with Jasper. When this happens, Amish families are forbidden from interacting with the banished member. But Ruth was ...