Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions [Paperback]

Daniel. WALLACE (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Algonquin,; First Edition edition (1998)
• ISBN-10: 1565122178
• ISBN-13: 978-1565122178
• ASIN: B000JZUWEK
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fool and a hero to his son's eyes, December 14, 2003

By 

Alysson Oliveira "Alysson Oliveira" (Sao Paulo-- Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions (Mass Market Paperback)

The world is full of mother and daughter books, such as 'The Joy Luck Club', 'Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood' to name a few, it was high time we had found a good book about fathers and sons. And here it is. Daniel Wallace's 'Big Fish' does not disappoint when it comes to explore this universe.

It is not a novel, but a episodic book, nevertheless, it must be read in the order, because they chronologically tell the story of Edward Bloom, through the eyes of his son, William Bloom. Edward is dying and in order to reconstitute his life, his son starts telling his (Edward's) stories --somehow, he believes that telling this father's adventures is a form of keep him alive. Like his father advises to him once: 'Remembering a man's stories makes him immortal'. Of course, that to William's eyes his father is a hero, more than that sort of a mythological figure-- hence the subtitle of the book 'A Novel of Mythic Proportions'.

From time to time, a chapter called 'My father's death' pops up, and this is the bitter side of this bittersweet book. While most of Edward's stories are sort of expanded jokes, these chapters are much more serious --even being funny when Edward shows up-- and sad, because that's when William has to come to terms with that his father is dying.

When commenting a hard fishing, William states 'Only a fool or a hero would try to catch a fish that size, and my father, well -- I guess he was a little of both'. The love that William has to his father is touching. More a dreamer, like a Don Quixote, it is hard to tell how Edward really was, because his stories a very fantastic --he fights against giants, meets fantastic creatures etc.

As a book of episodes, it is undeniable that they don't share the same level, some are much better and more developed that the others. It seems that Wallace put a lot of effort in some particular chapters --which ended up being very good, by the way -- and working in others segments in a hurry. It is clear that 'The Day He Left Ashland' and 'In Which he Buys the Town, and More' were much more crafted than the rest of the book. It is not a majot flaw, because the writer's style is light and he keeps it most of the book, but when comparing these two particular chapters to the rest of 'Big Fish', one notes the difference and wonders why it happened.

As a whole, the book is fairly good, whit funny and sad moments, that will certainly touch many hearts. Nevertheless I wonder about its gender appeal. I'm not sure women will enjoy 'Big Fish' as much as man. Of course, the girls can like it, but maybe not for the same reasons boys do.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply magical, November 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Fish : A Novel of Mythic Proportions (Hardcover)

BIG FISH is fantastic. I read it a few weeks ago, and it has totally stayed with me. I can't get it out of my mind, and keep picking it up and start rereading it at random, just to be back in its magical world. It's funny, witty, sad, and in the end incredibly moving. It's about learning to come to terms with your parents, with a son writing about his father as myth, a superhuman who seemed like he would live forever (and in a way, he does), and it's really remarkable that so short and light a book could be so incredibly powerful. BIG FISH should become a classic. Whatever you do, don't miss it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious, January 15, 2004

By 

KundaVega "kundavega2" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions (Mass Market Paperback)

As a lover of myth, folklore and fairytale I was absolutely enchanted by this book. I do believe that storytelling is a direct route to our psyches, especially all of our collective unconscious as humans who share trials and triumphs with each other and forever wonder how we rate as individuals. Daniel Wallace has created an endearing world within a son's imagination of the father he desires to know. As a daughter I can embrace this same longing with both my parents. The beauty of our minds and souls is how we can indeed fill in the negative spaces with dreams and tall tales that somehow do reality and truth justice within the reflection. I loved this book for all it had to share. A lovely read and I recommend it to everyone.