- Date Published:
August, 2025 - Length:
336 pages—Listening Time: 11 hr 29 minutes - Genre:
Fiction, Magical Realism - Setting:
Present day, Lakota, Wisconsin primarily on an Amish settlement - Awards:
Since the book has only been out a few weeks, it's too soon for awards, but I predict it will win many - Languages:
English - Sensitive Aspects:
Death in childbirth, social shunning and exile, grief and loss, faith struggles, cancer - Movie:
There is no information available about movie deals for the book Life, and Death, and Giants - Recommended for Book Club:
YES. YES. YES.
As a book reviewer who has been blessed with countless literary adventures, I can honestly say that 2025 has gifted me with two extraordinary 10-star reads that have left me utterly transformed. First came Fredrik Backman's My Friends, a masterpiece that reminded me why I fell in love with storytelling, and now Ron Rindo's Life, and Death, and Giants has swept me off my feet with equal force. I feel like the luckiest reader alive to have discovered these gems in the same year.
Life, and Death, and Giants is a novel that defies easy categorization, teetering beautifully on the precipice between reality and fantasy, between the familiar and the magical. Rindo has crafted something truly special here: a story that pulses with both depth and compassion, where every page feels like a gentle revelation. The way this book dances along the edges of magical realism creates an atmosphere that's both grounding and transcendent, much like the rolling farmlands of Wisconsin where the story unfolds.
What strikes me most profoundly is Rindo's masterful character development. Each person who walks through these pages feels achingly real, complex, and beautifully flawed. The insights into Amish life in Wisconsin are nothing short of stellar—respectful, nuanced, and deeply researched. Rindo doesn't present the Amish community as a curiosity or stereotype, but as real people navigating real challenges with grace and humanity.
The concept of "giants" in this novel works on multiple levels that fascinate me. In our world, people of extraordinary size—those with gigantism or acromegaly—often face a complex relationship with society. They're simultaneously marveled at and marginalized, celebrated and isolated. The word "giant" itself carries such weight: it speaks to physical presence, yes, but also to something larger than life, something that commands attention and awe. Giants in literature and mythology represent power, wisdom, and often, surprising gentleness despite their imposing nature. Rindo understands this duality perfectly, in the character of Gabriel, who embodies both the literal and metaphorical meanings of being a giant in a world that doesn't always know how to embrace what it doesn't understand.
This is a book I recommend for all ages. I found myself "gushing" about it yesterday at a gathering of friends. It has etched itself into my psyche and now lives in me, a true literary giant in every sense of the word.
Imagine a small Wisconsin town where whispered secrets outnumber church pews, where the ordinary is interrupted by a miracle that’s also a mystery. Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo plants its roots deep in the soil of a rural Amish community, then reaches for something vast and unforgettable—a story about faith, family, and what it means to grow so large, in every sense, that the world can’t help but notice.
Enter young Rachel Fisher, shunned by her community, alone with her secret and her labor pains. She gives birth to an astonishingly large baby boy, Gabriel, before tragedy strikes and leaves him orphaned before his first cry dries. This is no ordinary coming-of-age tale; Gabriel’s childhood is steeped in animal kindness, early athletic prowess, and the conflicting loyalties of his Amish grandfather’s home and the bustle of the “English” world just beyond the fence. Rindo doesn’t let us hear Gabriel’s voice directly—instead, we know him through those who love and shepherd him: his watchful grandmother, who wrestles with her faith; the compassionate vet who delivers him into the world; the gruff local bar owner with stories of his own; and the high school football coach who spots something special in the tall, enigmatic boy working the hayfield. Through their rotating perspectives—each vivid, flawed, achingly real—we glimpse how one extraordinary life can ripple through an entire town, and how those same people, in turn, come to better understand themselves as they orbit Gabriel Fisher.
There’s a quiet depth to Rindo’s storytelling, a tenderness that never veers into sentimentality. He weaves Dickinson’s poetry through the narrative, grounding the novel’s magic in questions about belief, forgiveness, and the search for belonging. The Amish are never caricatured but explored with nuance and respect; their faith and rituals brush up against the fervor of American sports, the solace of art, and the ache of buried truths waiting to surface. There’s wrestling, football, and, surprisingly, Emily Dickinson recitals in the barn—an unlikely but poignant mix.
Does Gabriel’s size make him a freak, a local hero, or something else entirely? Life, and Death, and Giants is less interested in simple answers than in the complicated, messy, sometimes miraculous ways we bend to understand each other—and ourselves. It’s a book that will tug at your heartstrings, then make you laugh, and perhaps, by the end, leave you looking at your own community with fresh eyes.
Expect to fall in love, to wonder, and—fair warning—to have your heart expanded a little (which, truthfully, might be the only way to fit a life like Gabriel’s inside).
By now you can probably tell how much I love this book. If you are drawn to layered family sagas, rich characters, and stories that ask big questions about what it means to live (and truly see one another), this is your next great read. Here are the top reasons I’d recommend Life, Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo to all RWW readers:
Evocative Exploration of Rural Life
Rindo captures the beauty and hardship of small-town and rural Wisconsin with deep empathy. His prose highlights the rhythms of farm, family, and community life while never romanticizing the struggles that shape people’s daily existence. Readers who enjoy books that balance grit and tenderness will find the setting both vivid and relatable.
Themes of Mortality and Meaning
The title is no accident—Rindo uses stories of illness, loss, and survival to push readers to reflect on what truly matters. Rather than dwelling in despair, the collection confronts mortality with moments of wisdom, grace, and unexpected humor. It’s the kind of book that lingers and sparks soulful conversations in a book club.
Strong Sense of Place and Culture
Rooted firmly in Midwestern landscapes and values, this book invites readers into a cultural world that feels authentic yet universal. Whether you grew up in the Midwest or not, the imagery of wide fields, quiet towns, and stark winters shapes the backdrop for human drama in ways that resonate far beyond geography.
Emotional Range and Literary Depth
These are not flat tales—they twist with grief, resilience, absurdity, and even joy. Rindo’s characters feel lived-in, layered, and flawed in ways that prompt careful thought and discussion. Readers who appreciate literary fiction with heart and substance will admire the emotional depth at play.
Perfect for Thoughtful Discussion
Each character's story touches questions that book clubs love to dig into: what constitutes a life well lived, how communities shape us, and how individuals face big moral and existential challenges. The stories invite multiple interpretations, offering fresh insights on rereading or hearing a fellow reader’s perspective.
Blend of the Ordinary and the Mythic
As the title suggests, there’s a sense of life being both ordinary and vast—humans confronting forces larger than themselves, whether personal tragedy or myth-like struggles. This balance of grounded realism with a touch of fantasy-like grandness makes the story memorable and conversation-worthy.
Get Life, and Death, and Giants today!
Ron Rindo is a genius! You will love this book!
Here is a list of books similar to Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo, with a brief description for each. The selected novels feature themes of faith, family, small-town life, outsiders, and the impact of extraordinary individuals on tight-knit communities.
- Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
A lyrical Midwestern saga about a young boy and his family on a journey to find his fugitive brother, blending magical realism, faith, and familial devotion in a narrative rich with warmth and moral complexity. - The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
Set in rural postwar France, this contemplative and haunting novel follows an intense childhood friendship tested by hardship, societal expectation, and the burden of extraordinary gifts. - The Green Mile by Stephen King
This deeply moving story revolves around John Coffey, a gentle giant on death row with mysterious healing powers, and the profound effect he has on those around him. - Plainsong by Kent Haruf
A powerful, quietly affecting novel centered on the intersecting lives of residents in a small Colorado town, exploring themes of resilience, kindness, and quiet transformation through hardship and community. - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A heartwarming novel about a grumpy but lovable curmudgeon whose solitary life is upended by new neighbors, showing the power of compassion and the unexpected bonds that form in close-knit communities. - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Loosely inspired by Hamlet, this novel tells the tale of a mute boy growing up on a remote Wisconsin farm and the complex drama that unfolds within his family and the wider rural community. - The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
This sweeping historical epic follows Alma Whittaker, born into a family of botanical explorers, as she seeks meaning and connection in a rapidly changing world through science, faith, and self-discovery. - Gooseberry Bluff Community College of Magic: The Thirteenth Rib by David J. Schwartz
For those drawn to the magical realism and community dynamics found in Giants, this quirky, mysterious tale set in a small college town features outsiders, connections, and hidden wonders intersecting with the everyday.
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