Big Fish
A Novel of Mythic Proportions
Book - 1998 | 1st ed.
The classic novel that inspired the beloved Tim Burton film and the Broadway musical.
In his prime, Edward Bloom was an extraordinary man. He could outrun anybody. He never missed a day of school. He saved lives and tamed giants. Animals loved him, people loved him, women loved him. He knew more jokes than any man alive. At least that's what he told his son, William. But now Edward Bloom is dying, and William wants desperately to know the truth about his elusive father--this indefatigable teller of tall tales--before it's too late. So, using the few facts he knows, William re-creates Edward's life in a series of legends and myths, through which he begins to understand his father's great feats, and his great failings. The result is hilarious and wrenching, tender and outrageous.
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From Library Staff
In his prime, Edward Bloom was an extraordinary man. He could outrun anybody. He never missed a day of school. He saved lives and tamed giants. Animals loved him, people loved him, women loved him. He knew more jokes than any man alive. At least that's what he told his son, William. But now Edwar... Read More »
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Add a CommentI HATE to say this, but skip the book and watch the movie. For such a short work, it's a shame that I can't say it was concise. The only aspect of it that carried the magic of it's superior film adaptation was the ending.
It's not often where I suggest skipping the book in preference to the movie. This is one of the few cases where the movie is much better.
I go the point that we all use myths to explain our lives and that our lives are full of stories and characters, some real, some that we think are real and some plain fabricated. But I did not like the Dad in this story enough to even want to learn about him. I felt the same way about the movie. I just read this in preparation for the show coming to Hamilton in Fall 2016. I trust it will be better.