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casspro's review against another edition
4.0
One part fairy tale, one part folklore, one part family tradition. It's hard to categorize Big Fish. A good book? A great story? There's something very magical happening here. I suggest you get it on it as well.
categj's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read — well-written with short chapters.
This little book was a bittersweet story about a father/son relationship and death. Sad, whimsical, and funny with lots of bad Dad jokes. I especially liked the one about Jesus watching the Pearly Gates while St. Peter took a break. I won't share it here — you will have to read the book to see what I mean.
The story was narrated by the son {William Bloom), who told the stories of his Dad's (Edward Bloom) life — from birth to his last days. William tells these fantastic, anecdotal missives that he has heard from his dad all his life as he is waiting for Edward to die.
Edward Bloom's life is mythical in proportion and his corny jokes are legendary, or so his son is told. In the retelling of his father's story, William searches for a deeper understanding of his dad before the inevitable happens.
I liked the chronology of the book. Edward's life is told in a linear fashion — short, fantastical fairytale-like pieces, while the story of his death is written in four parts, each from the same day but all slightly different.
I loved the ending.
This little book was a bittersweet story about a father/son relationship and death. Sad, whimsical, and funny with lots of bad Dad jokes. I especially liked the one about Jesus watching the Pearly Gates while St. Peter took a break. I won't share it here — you will have to read the book to see what I mean.
The story was narrated by the son {William Bloom), who told the stories of his Dad's (Edward Bloom) life — from birth to his last days. William tells these fantastic, anecdotal missives that he has heard from his dad all his life as he is waiting for Edward to die.
Edward Bloom's life is mythical in proportion and his corny jokes are legendary, or so his son is told. In the retelling of his father's story, William searches for a deeper understanding of his dad before the inevitable happens.
I liked the chronology of the book. Edward's life is told in a linear fashion — short, fantastical fairytale-like pieces, while the story of his death is written in four parts, each from the same day but all slightly different.
I loved the ending.
tinymo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
patvulaj's review against another edition
3.0
I was looking for quick read to help get me out of a recent reading rut and Big Fish definitely helped activate my reading brain again. The chapters were short, stand alone stories about the main character with a present day story playing over top of that. The short stories really helped build up this character, while still leaving them a bit of a mystery.
madeleinegeorge's review against another edition
4.0
The spiritual inspiration for my Favorite Movie Of All Time, I now have my very own signed copy from Flyleaf, NC with a lovely note from Wallace as we both head into our London years.
Big Fish asks the questions we periodically, if reluctantly, must answer. What does it mean to miss a father you never truly knew? Is a life-time of grieving an absence really supplanted by the acute mourning for a presence? When one is consumed in the life-saving practice of a storied life, how do we protect that Truth from being consumed by what is real? Reaching for the soul and finding only fiction, how can we be convinced that reality has a place for us?
The bones of this story comprise the skeleton upon which I built my understanding of myself, wrote into being the compass by which I navigate my own incomprehensibilities, the strangerhood I find in myself. If I could, I would take another way home. But it remains Big Fish , as ever.
Essentials:
“It was as though he lived in a state of constant aspiration; getting there, wherever it was, wasn’t the important thing: it was the battle, and the battle after that, and the war was never ending.”
“Everything he did was without parallel. At home, the magic of his absence yielded to the ordinariness of his presence. [...] So he was not a good candidate for death. [...] He became just a man, a man without a job, without a story to tell, a man, I realized, I didn’t know.”
“Remembering a man’s stories makes him immortal, did you know that?”
“Beneath one facade there’s another facade and then another, and beneath that the aching dark place, his life, something that neither of us understands.”
“Regardless of how much he loved his wife, his son, he could only stand so much love.”
“We all have stories, just as you do. [...] Lots of stories, big and small. They all add up. Over a lifetime it all adds up. That’s why we’re here. We’re part of him, of who he is, just as he is a part of us. You still don’t understand, do you?”
Big Fish asks the questions we periodically, if reluctantly, must answer. What does it mean to miss a father you never truly knew? Is a life-time of grieving an absence really supplanted by the acute mourning for a presence? When one is consumed in the life-saving practice of a storied life, how do we protect that Truth from being consumed by what is real? Reaching for the soul and finding only fiction, how can we be convinced that reality has a place for us?
The bones of this story comprise the skeleton upon which I built my understanding of myself, wrote into being the compass by which I navigate my own incomprehensibilities, the strangerhood I find in myself. If I could, I would take another way home. But it remains Big Fish , as ever.
Essentials:
“It was as though he lived in a state of constant aspiration; getting there, wherever it was, wasn’t the important thing: it was the battle, and the battle after that, and the war was never ending.”
“Everything he did was without parallel. At home, the magic of his absence yielded to the ordinariness of his presence. [...] So he was not a good candidate for death. [...] He became just a man, a man without a job, without a story to tell, a man, I realized, I didn’t know.”
“Remembering a man’s stories makes him immortal, did you know that?”
“Beneath one facade there’s another facade and then another, and beneath that the aching dark place, his life, something that neither of us understands.”
“Regardless of how much he loved his wife, his son, he could only stand so much love.”
“We all have stories, just as you do. [...] Lots of stories, big and small. They all add up. Over a lifetime it all adds up. That’s why we’re here. We’re part of him, of who he is, just as he is a part of us. You still don’t understand, do you?”
stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Daddy issues, the novel! In all seriousness, this is a beautifully written piece of magical realism. Much like the father/son relationship at the heart of the story, the difficult and emotional parts are wrapped up in humour and legend. This made me want to laugh and cry.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
2.0
This book can be summed up in four words. Pay close attention, I won't say them often.
The movie was better.
Not that this book is horrible, but considering I have limited relaxed reading time as of late, this felt like a rather huge waste of my very precious time.
I'm not saying don't read the book. I'm saying go watch the movie. This book is a basic outline of what the movie ends up being. The movie fleshes out the stories, adds love and whimsy.
Go watch the movie. I mean, you should watch the movie anyway. It's funny and delightful and sweet.
Plus Ewan Mcgregor.
The movie was better.
Not that this book is horrible, but considering I have limited relaxed reading time as of late, this felt like a rather huge waste of my very precious time.
I'm not saying don't read the book. I'm saying go watch the movie. This book is a basic outline of what the movie ends up being. The movie fleshes out the stories, adds love and whimsy.
Go watch the movie. I mean, you should watch the movie anyway. It's funny and delightful and sweet.
Plus Ewan Mcgregor.
mirandarin's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thought provoking read, as a fan of the movie was good for reference. The movie definitely fleshes out the characters a lot more and makes them loveable, also is just more entertaining which is not usually something something I would say about a book vs movie - book just feels a little flat in comparison.
gabyngaway's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0