Ron Rindo

What a beautiful but heartbreaking book. The Amish community, their beliefs and practices are brought to the forefront in the telling of the birth of an extraordinary baby who will grow to be an remarkable young man. Lakota, Wisconsin is home to an Amish community that is central to this story. It is also home to some who choose anonymity and “the freedom to fail without punishment and censure.” That is our introduction to Dr. Thomas Kennedy, an integral character and foil who touches show more most of the others in this story.

There are so many excellent things running through this book, but the notion of forgiveness brought me to my knees. Among the many significant elements; community, faith and doctrine, temptation, love, guidance.

It is a gentle yet strongly written story that draws you in and stays with you. It is a story that inspires and yet, and yet, it breaks you in a million pieces. Many, many thanks to Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Publishing and NetGalley for a copy. show less

There are so many genres and tropes popular today, all enjoyable and fun to read: psychological thrillers, unreliable narrators, spicy romances, police procedurals, on and on. But it is such a refreshing treat – a gift actually – to find amidst all those themes and trends a book that is “just a book.” A book expertly written, finely crafted, with a well-developed plot and characters with depth and feeling. A book about people and their lives, their hopes, their disappointments, their show more families, their towns. “Just a book” but so much more; it draws you in, tells you an unforgettable story, uplifts and breaks your heart at the same time, leaves you thinking about it, and as a bonus gives you an author to add to the top of your ‘automatic buy’ list. Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo is one of those books.

The central character of Life, and Death, and Giants is Gabriel Fisher, born in rural Wisconsin to a young, unmarried, shunned, Amish woman. An unusually large – huge – baby who grows up to be an unusually large – huge – young man. Life is, of course, different and often difficult for someone of his size. But that is just one of the fascinating aspects and people in this story. There are also the Amish, their way of life, their rules, the struggles of some of them to be as unyielding as they are taught. There is the country veterinarian, who came to Lakota, Wisconsin a lonely, broken man to escape his heartbreak, who delivers Gabriel and becomes an integral part of his life, and a part of the community. There are the local bartender, coaches, friends, Gabriel’s brother and other family, all finely-crafted with many layers. There is the crippling rural poverty, the rivalries, the secrets, the betrayals, the evil and cowardice of some and the unwavering strength of others.

Life, and Death, and Giants is a masterpiece of fine, beautiful, poetic writing. It will not just touch your heart; it will work its way fully inside. It’s jarring and sad and heartbreaking but also uplifting, inspiring. You will feel drained when you finish reading it, but content and satisfied. Ron Rindo is a new author to me, but I will be reading more of his work. Life, and Death, and Giants was one of the best books I have read this year (or maybe ever) and I recommend it without hesitation. I received an advance copy from St. Martin’s Publishing Group via NetGalley. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo is simply sublime and it's a definite contender for My Top 5 Books of 2025.

A young woman shunned by her Amish community in the small rural town of Lakota Wisconsin refuses medical help and manages to give birth to a baby weighing 18 pounds thanks to the help of the local vet.

We watch this strange boy Gabriel Fisher grow up through the eyes of various characters including Thomas the vet who delivered him, his Amish grandmother Hannah and several others show more on the periphery of his life.

Astonishingly, Gabriel Fisher walks at the age of eight months and it's clear he's been a gifted young boy since birth.

"He's good at a lot of things. Animals love him, and he cares for them with uncommon understanding. At the rate he's growing, he's going to be bigger than two normal men and stronger than any three. God has given him many gifts. How can we be sure of His intentions so soon, when the boy is only ten years old?" Page 96

Each of these characters witnessing or participating in Gabriel's childhood and coming of age has their own interesting back story. I also loved the myriad practical ways they helped accommodate Gabriel's increasing size.

The Amish way of life in the novel reminded me of the shunning of Kai Proctor and later his niece Rebecca in the TV show Banshee which I highly recommend. A gentle people, they want Gabriel to continue living on their farm and participating in their community but his size soon attracts unwanted attention and Gabriel's life as he knows it is challenged by those who want to see him succeed in a different way.

Gabriel's gentle nature and amazing gift with animals reminded me of John Coffey in The Green Mile by Stephen King (highly recommend the book and the movie), not only due to his size but the fact that he was special and had a unique gift.

The writing in this was magnificent and I was deeply moved by the ending, especially when I understood the significance of the feathers on the cover. I don't want to mention much more than this as it's a story best entered into without any prior knowledge but I came to care very much for Gabriel and I was touched by the back stories and character growth within the novel.

Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo is entirely unforgettable and highly recommended!

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan * show less

“This boy!” she said to no one in particular. Her eyes welled with tears. “This boy is going to change the world.” from Life, and Death, and Giants

You could call this novel magical, or a fable, or a tall tale, or a story of family secrets, and it is all that and more. I did not expect to be drawn into these characters, to be so swept up.

A young woman who has left her Amish community gives birth to two sons out of wedlock, the second boy so large she dies in his birthing. The boy show more grows into a literal giant, reaching size 35 shoes. He is a gentle giant, with a special rapport with animals, and affecting every one who knows him.

The boy’s older brother diligently cared for him but inexplicably committed suicide. The local vet takes the boy in. His Amish grandmother stays in touch with him, eventually forging a deep friendship with the vet.

The boy becomes a part of the English world and schools. His size and strength garners interest in the football coach, and the boy becomes a star player–until an accident leaves him permanently altered.

But, he forges a new career, traveling the world, until another tragedy strikes and he returns home, surrounded by the people who love him.

Dark family secrets, and tragedy, and the unfairness of life fill the tale, and yet the story is one of great warmth, and the miraculous, and the everyday miracle of love.

The book is generous in its sentimental portrayal of small town life and the constraints and strength of the Amish community. And the poetry of Emily Dickinson speaks to us readers as it does to the Amish women who secretly find solace in her words.

Life, and Death, and Giants—
Such as These—are still—
Minor—Apparatus—
Hopper of the Mill—
Beetle at the Candle—
Or a Fife’s Fame—
Maintain—by Accident
that they proclaim—

Emily Dickinson

“It is the good we leave behind us…that makes a life worth living” sums up the novel’s theme.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley. show less