Life, and Death, and Giants: A powerful, life-changing and heartwarming tale full of magical realism and extraordinary hope - Softcover

Rindo, Ron

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1035084546 ISBN 13: 9781035084548

Publisher: Macmillan, 2025

Synopsis

'A rare novel . . . Unbearably moving, yet hopeful and transcendent in all the best ways. Just read it. Lose yourself in it. Be changed by it' JENNIE GODFREY, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

A remarkable child transforms a small rural community – and, soon, the world . . .

In Lakota, Wisconsin, a young, unmarried Amish woman births a miraculous, eighteen-pound baby, and no one in the community knows what to make of the boy.

Raised by his brother on a struggling farm, Gabriel Fisher walks at eight months, communicates with animals and possesses astonishing athletic abilities. When his brother dies, Gabriel is taken in by his devout grandparents and, for a time, he disappears into the anonymity of Amish life.

But then, aged seventeen and nearly eight feet tall, Gabriel is spotted working in a hayfield by the local football coach and his life changes for ever . . .

In Life, and Death, and Giants, Gabriel’s extraordinary, timeless story is told by those whose lives are transformed by him: the veterinarian who delivers him and becomes his mentor; his grandmother, who is troubled by a deep void in her faith; the salty bar owner who acts as a bridge between the Amish and English communities in Lakota; and the football coach who tries to counsel Gabriel as his fame explodes, with consequences that no one could have anticipated.

An epic and unforgettable story of faith, family, buried secrets and everyday miracles for fans of Elizabeth Strout and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

‘Life, and Death, and Giants is an intriguing and alluring novel from beginning to end. The events are startling, sad, amusing, invigorating and informative. Reading it is like meeting a family that you never knew existed and becoming close friends in a few weeks. Highly recommended’ - JANE SMILEY, author of A Thousand Acres

About this title

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.

From the Back Cover

Threaded through with the poems of Emily Dickinson, Life, and Death, and Giants weaves together an unforgettable story of faith, family, buried secrets, and everyday miracles.

Edition details

• Publisher: Macmillan
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1035084546
• ISBN 13: 9781035084548
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336