Joel Fishbane

I always knew that my dad had been a life-long fan of the Detroit Tigers, but it wasn't until I read Thunder of Giants which touched on the 1934 and 1935 World Series (in both of which the Tigers played) that I really understood how that came about. Those years he would have been 8 and 9 years old - prime years for a boy of that time to begin to follow professional baseball and to be caught up in the excitement that must have gripped both Detriot and my dad's hometown - the city of Windsor Ontario, just across the St. Clair River from Detroit.

That connection to this book would have been enough to recommend it to me, but it also is the story of real-life 19th century giantess Anna Swan, born and raised in the hamlet of New Annan Nova Scotia, just down the road from the village of Tatamagouche where her museum stands today. Tatamagouche has been my home for the past 16 years and to see it mentioned (many times) in a novel is - well, novel indeed.

The third story strand of The Thunder of Giants is about fictional giantess Andorra Kelsey, on her way in 1937 from her hometown of Detroit to Hollywood to make a movie about Anna Swan.

The timelines seem at first to be linked only by that thin thread, but other connections emerge that bring to life Anna and her husband, extending their timeline into the 20th century.

All in all, an excellent story and recommended reading.

I made a note of a line from the closing page, regarding Anna Swan: "Maybe she would have been happy knowing that today she was no longer the famed Nova Scotia giantess; today she was just another woman who had died." Not around here, she isn't. In these parts, she's still the famed Nova Scotia giantess.… (més)

Wow, this book blew me away. I was looking for something unique and was always looking forward to this novel due to the unique subject matter. Especially after reading the novel on Mrs. Tom Thumb earlier this year, my anticipation for this one skyrocketed. My expectations were paid in full!

I loved both of our female giantess’, Andorra and Annie. They both faced very similar challenges due to their size and society’s views, but both me them with grace and grit. I liked seeing how each was affected, both professionally and in their personal lives. It was fascinating to see how they built families and careers, some despite their size and some because of it. Both characters had characterizations as large as their bodies and as bright as their show business stars.

How each of these giantess’ lives mirrored each other was also fascinating. Where one thing succeeded for one girl, one thing failed for the other. They both went into show business with varying degrees of success. Each had successful areas in their personal lives when it came to husbands and children. I also was very intrigued by how much their lives intersected and were connected, via people they both ended up knowing and the meetings of Andorra’s ancestor with Anna. Even decades apart, they still touched.

Given the subject matter alone, I’d recommend the book, it’s so unique. But the author has done a grand job in the characterization and storyline departments as well. So even more reason to recommend. Definitely give this one a gander if you enjoy unique historical fiction that sucks you in.… (més)

Anna Swan was a real giantess who lived in the 1800's. Born in Nova Scotia, she found herself as a part of Barnum's American Museum where she was put on display and toured. She received much attention and found the life pleasing. Andorra Kelsey is a fictional giantess born in Andorra (near Spain). A shame to her family, Andorra comes to America where in the 1930's she finds herself recruited to play the part of Anna Swan in a Hollywood movie. The attention Andorra receives is not as pleasant as that Anna received.

Their stories are told in parallel fashion against the history of the time. In a twisted plot, the wife of the Hollywood producer, is actually the daughter of a companion to Anna Swan, Miss Eaton. The story is funny in parts, sad in others and usually gripping. Both women have to endure their size of over 7 feet which causes difficulty wherever they go. Anna is carefully researched and her part of the story historically reflects her life which included marrying a giant Civil War veteran and touring Europe. The story is told in parallel fashion switching back and forth from Anna to Andorra often times dealing with some of the same issues.… (més)