Life, and Death, and Giants

A heartwarming tale full of magical realism and extraordinary hope that will change your life

By: Ron Rindo

Narrated by: Christina Moore, Will Damron, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne

'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 stunning novel' – OPRAH DAILY

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

Critic reviews

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)

'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 stunning novel

A small-town novel as magical and moral as a tall tale (Stewart O'Nan, author of Songs for the Missing)

A remarkable, profoundly moving novel (Larry Watson, author of Montana 1948)

Ron Rindo has crafted a novel that is remarkably generous, kind, and graceful. This is a novel that still believes in magic, goodness, and everyday heroes (Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs)

Deeply attentive and broadly generous . . . Rindo reminds us, through his careful and loving prose, that the mysterious and the certain are always partnered, and if we choose to, if we pay close enough attention to ourselves and the worlds around us, and if we share the news of what we see, we may build our own sturdy stools, and step up, and discover the giant in us all (Karen Shepard, author of The Celestials)

Rindo’s writing about animals and nature, about Amish faith, about art and sports—including pro wrestling!—is extraordinary . . . this is a must-read

A spellbinding story . . . Rindo spins an exciting chronicle of Gabriel’s athletic ability and the modern world’s mesmerizing pull on his cloistered hero, but he also exhibits a subtle touch, setting the stage for a surprising and moving final plot twist. This will linger in readers’ minds.