Life, and Death, and Giants

Gabriel Fisher was a giant from the moment he entered the world, weighing eighteen pounds and measuring twenty-seven inches long at birth. His mother died during delivery, and his father remained unknown. Released into the care of his older brother, Jasper, Gabriel is raised with the help of their Amish community and the local veterinarian who helped deliver him.

No one in Lakota, Wisconsin, knows what to make of Gabriel. He walks before his first birthday, has an uncanny connection with animals, and dominates opponents on the baseball diamond and the football field. His feats of strength become legendary, drawing attention from across the country. Eventually, his devout Amish grandparents take him in. Disapproving of the media circus, they attempt to hide him from the "English" world, as they refer to all non-Amish. But iding is nearly impossible when you're the largest man on the planet, with the strength to match, and Gabriel quickly becomes a global sensation.

The novel is told from four primary points of view: Hannah Fisher (Gabriel's grandmother), Billy Walton (owner of the local bar in Lakota), Thomas Kennedy (the veterinarian who took Gabriel under his wing), and Trey Beathard (the local high school football coach). While the core narrative revolves around Gabriel's massive stature and extraordinary life, it also explores the backstories of these four characters as they evolve—both through Gabriel's impact and their own personal journeys.

The first half of the novel is generally entertaining, counterbalancing Gabriel's mystical, Paul Bunyan–esque exploits with a thoughtful exploration of Amish culture and their interactions with non-Amish society. However, once tragedy strikes, it continues relentlessly for the remainder of the book, to the point where the depressing plot twists and reveals feel gratuitous. Highly empathetic readers might get deeply invested in the drama, but for me, it felt overdone.

Subplots centered on romance and personal connections never fully coalesced, yet when deaths inevitably occur, the narrative lingers on them extensively. I had seen this novel highly recommended in several book groups, and I can see how it might leave a lasting impression if you fully buy into the drama. For me, the blatant push for an over-the-top tearjerker fell flat, leaving me rolling my eyes rather than wiping them. It is a perfectly fine novel, but it ultimately suffered from my high expectations and a lack of emotional connection.