Big Fish

View other editions of Big Fish.
View books by Daniel Wallace.

A tale of mythic proportions - Rated
I bought this because I saw the film and loved it. The book is obviously very similar to the film but as is usual with books made into films has a lot of detail, which sets it apart and in some ways makes it more enjoyable. The book is a story told by a man about his father's life and death, his father is a man who lived his life telling stories and jokes, some of them true, some of them untrue, some of them debateable! It's a beautiful story, funny, sad, heart-warming and very, very creative. I read the book easily in a couple of days and I loved it! Big Fish, to me, is like a fairy tale but for adults.

Unsure - Rated
I made the mistake of reading Big Fish after I had seen and fallen in love with the movie. Although I'm sure I would have loved the book had I not seen the film, I was disappointed by many things. The book holds none of the magic and brilliance that fill the movie. The father in the book is not the same as the father on the screen, and anyone who has seen the film would be disappointed by the difference in his character and actions.

Disappointing - Rated
Perhaps it is unfair to make comparisions with the film. I'm usually the kind of guy who will read a book after seeing the film as I often find the book to contain a great deal more detail. However I was extremely dissapointed with Big Fish especially after loving the film and hearing many good reviews of the book.

In my mind the book was repetitive and disjointed, lacking the emotion of its on-screen counterpart. Being an optimistic kinda person I believe it is important not to merely critise the book but marvel at Tim Burton's ability to realise it's (very well) hidden potential and turn this apathetic book into a cinematic delight. I hoped I never have to recommend anyone to watch the film instead.

A very different book - Rated
I can safely say that no-one will have read a book like "Big Fish" before.I picked it up to read prior to seeing the movie (can never read the book after seeing the movie!),& for 2 days it captivated me totally.
It is a magical story,deeply sentimental,very funny & thought provoking.
You will meet some remarkable characters & be transported to places you have never dreamt exist....even on paper.
The book is written in a simple style,which is almost like a childrens book.The chapters are short & easy to read,but leave you eager to catch up with what happens next.
I could not put it down & am now dying to see the movie,which I am sure will be great.Tim Burton is just the man to bring a story like this to life!

A fairytale mix of Paul Auster and Arthur Miller - Rated
Wholly original, Big Fish is possibly the most charming book you will read this year (hey, perhaps any year). Bursting with energy, avoiding mawkish sentiment, full of generous characterisation, Wallace has created a truly magical tale.

While Tim Burton is now directing a film version, originally Spielberg was attached, which should give you a fairly obvious pointer as to the tone and settings of the book.

The character of Edward Bloom is a mix of Willy Loman (albeit successful), and the protagonist from Moon Palace by Paul Auster, Marco Stanley Fogg (albeit with a deep rooted sense of family and belonging). His tales make the centre of the story, and it's easy to keep reading and reading due to the short chapters and the wonderfully understated yet totally absorbing nature of each adventure.

Highly recommended, a great read and, if you live in London, the perfect distraction to heinous journeys on the Tube.