Life Among Giants

By: Bill Roorbach

Narrated by: Pete Larkin

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

At seventeen, David "Lizard" Hochmeyer is nearly seven feet tall, a star quarterback, and Princeton-bound. His future seems all but assured until his parents are mysteriously murdered, leaving Lizard and his older sister, Kate, adrift and alone. In a mansion across the pond from their Connecticut home lives the world’s greatest ballerina, Sylphide, and her rock star husband, whose own disasters intersect with Lizard’s - and Kate’s - in the most intimate and surprising ways.

Over the years that follow, Lizard and Kate are obsessed with piecing together the motives behind their parents’ deaths, returning time and again to their father’s missing briefcase, his shady business dealings and shaky finances, and to Sylphide, who has threaded her way into Lizard’s and Kate’s lives - much more deeply than either had ever realized. From the football fields of Princeton to a stint with the NFL, from the elaborate dances at the mansion to the gourmet restaurant he opens, it only takes Lizard a lifetime to set things right again.

©2012 Original material © 2012 Bill Roorbach. Recorded by arrangement with Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Company, Inc. (P)2012 (p) 2012 HighBridge Company

Not great literature but lots of fun

If you could sum up Life Among Giants in three words, what would they be?

entertaining curious food

Who was your favorite character and why?

The characters do not stick with you. I finished it about 2 weeks ago. I listened to it. I suppose, the sister's boyfriend since he was the most "normal" and intellectual.

Have you listened to any of Pete Larkin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. I do not know.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Crazy financeer, ballerina, football, mystery with architecture and amazing food.

Any additional comments?

Long plotline across several decades. It was fun and pulled me in. Each chapter leaves you wanting to read more. Not deep or thoughtful but good.

Quite an interesting read.

Would you listen to Life Among Giants again? Why?

Yes. I enjoyed the book but since I'm doing audio I'm actually repeating it to make sure I didn't miss anything.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Life Among Giants?

When Lizard watched his parents being murdered.

Which scene was your favorite?

Towards the end at the restaurant when they were all working together to catch their parents murders.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't cry but quite a few parts that made me laugh.

Any additional comments?

This book goes back and forth so you really have to be completely tuned in or you may miss something vital. Overall I liked the book and its wacky characters. Lizards family and all the secrets kept amongst them all made things a mystery. You could never really guess what was happening next.

VERY ENTERTAINING and highly recommended

I bought this based on a few reviews. I usually listen to non-fiction when I drive but thought I would try this book.
It is just great - well written, fully developed characters, unexpected twists and turns. All played out against people who are famous and/or kind of famous - from pro football and tennis to rock and ballet.
"Lizard" the narrator is an excellent choice.
You'll be hooked from the first chapter!

Great little story

The funny thing about this book is that the characters are all strange -- an overly tall teenager, a rock star, a Swedish prima ballerina, a quirky butler, a father who seems to be a character out of Mad Men...And yet, the thing that makes the story come alive is that they all seem so real. Their problems, even though (hopefully) they are nothing like your own (the main character's parents are shot right in front of him) seem like they could have happened to anyone because the characters' reactions to what happens to them makes so much sense. You relate to all of them. You get to know them. By the end of the book, some of them are like dear -- if emotionally disturbed -- friends. (Think a very toned-down John Irving.)

The language is perfect. And Mr. Larkin does a great job with the narration.

Definitely will be keeping an eye for more from this author.

Smooth

The smooth language, perfect amount of character detail and interesting enough plot make for a memorable listen. It's the kind of book that grabs you right away and doesn't let go. But, it's not really an intense kind of grab, it's more like a light hug or an arm around your shoulder. I didn't really realize I had been thoroughly intrigued by the story until it was over. Well done.

Ummmm, No.

What a miserable waste of a credit. Pointless, boring, silly, and not a single likeable or memorable character. After 6 hours I gave up because I did not care what happened to any of them. Narrator was pretty good. That's all!

Ridiculous story and terribly narrated

Don't waste your time and money. the story wanders and never sees to get anwhere. You don't care about any of the characters. The worst part is the narration. The tone, the flow, the voice are just awful. If there is a plot it gets lost in all the time that is covered. Lost interest early on and just kept listening hoping for something that never came.