Ron Rindo's novel has been on my radar for a while now. I will admit that I am not a fan of the cover, and although I know not to judge a book by its cover, this book kept moving down my stack.
And then, my friend Kristin reminded me of it. I'm so glad she did. This one is nearly perfect.
Narrated by several different characters, this is the story of Gabriel who weighed eighteen pounds at birth and continued to grow at a rapid rate, topping out at over eight feet tall.
Set in small town Wisconsin, the Amish community Gabriel's mother was raised in, excommunicates her when she is pregnant with her first child and is unwilling to name the father. After she dies in childbirth, Gabriel is raised by his older brother, Jasper.
Gabriel's grandparents watch his life from afar, until they are Gabriel's only living relative and take their grandson in to raise him. Still Amish, they would like to shelter Gabriel from the world, but to allow him to continue his friendship with the local vet who he assists.
However, Gabriel is noticeable wherever he goes, and the pull of the English world is too hard for him to ignore. Because of his size, Gabriel is recruited to play football, and his decision to leave his Amish home is one that changes the trajecotry of his life.
Despite the fact that Gabriel's family is small, he is surrounded by peope who love him. And when I think of Gabriel, one phrase keeps returning, his is a life well lived.
I'm so glad I looked through my TBR stacks and moved this book to the top. It might be one of my favorites I've read this year. Book clubs will also enjoy this one as will anyone who loves a good story.
1 comment:
An unusual background to the story. Thanks for the review.
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