Big Fish

Edward Bloom has always lived a larger-than-life existence.  Tall tales and dad jokes have become his trademark – something that has irked his family for years.  But Edward Bloom can’t help it – even on his deathbed.  As his son William works through saying goodbye to Edward, he asks the father for the truth about Edward’s storied life, but parsing the truth from the imagination is no easy task for either man.  As William sorts through his father’s stories of childhood and beyond, he becomes certain of one thing: Edward Bloom was loved by everyone who crossed his path.

I was first introduced to Daniel Wallace’s Big Fish through the Tim Burton directed film released in 2003.  The cast, led by Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney as Edward Bloom throughout his life, has become a venerable who’s who of Hollywood with appearances by Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, and Danny DiVito to name a few.  The storyline of a son’s search for who his father really was, for the missing piece of his own life due to his father’s absence, and for the reconciliation of their relationship before it was too late resonated with audiences.  The screenplay stays true to the novel’s storyline and character development, bringing life to Wallace’s work in stunning detail.

Wallace’s debut novel has been compared to epic literature such as The Odyssey and Ulysses.  He uses fantasy and realism to work through the son’s grief at losing his father, and the father’s hope to always be remembered as larger than life.  The tales of Edward’s life leave the reader uncertain of what is truth and what is showmanship but leave you with a certainty of the man’s character.

I give Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions 4 out of 5 stars.  Wallace’s debut novel is full of entertaining imagery and imagination – a given since this would later become a critically acclaimed movie.  However, pieces of the story became hard to follow.  It wasn’t until researching the book that I discovered the multiple chapters titled “My Father’s Death Take” were William’s imagination of how his final conversation with his father should go – it was practice for the big event.  It is always difficult for me to read a novel after seeing the movie because I find myself comparing the two and I wonder if this book would have received higher rankings if I had not first seen the movie.

I recommend this novel to readers who love the movie, and those who have not yet watched it.  Readers who have recently lost a father, or are grieving a broken relationship with one, may also find this novel comforting – the frustration William has with his father and the way in which it affects both of their lives is evident.  The fact that William never really gets what he was looking for from his father may also be a comfort for some.  Given some light references to sex, I would recommend this book for more mature audiences over 13.

I chose Big Fish: A Novel of Mythical Proportions as my read for Father’s Day this year.  I haven’t always had a close relationship with my dad.  While there are no crazy “big fish” stories in our lives, we haven’t shared the kind of relationship I’ve seen with other families.  I take one thing away from this book though – dads aren’t perfect and forgiving them for their absence will help you move forward. 

Wishing all the dads reading along with me a very happy Father’s Day!  I hope you have the opportunity to spend time with the ones you love and spin a few Big Fish stories of your own!

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities, Heather Webber
• Current audio book: Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt
• Book I’m most looking forward to: The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, Colleen Oakley