85 pages • 2 hours read
Daniel WallaceBig Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, William Bloom recounts the extraordinary life of his father, Edward, as he lays dying from a terminal illness. Using Edward's outlandish anecdotes, tall tales, and allusions to classics like The Odyssey, William pieces together Edward's adventures, exploring themes of mortality, storytelling, and their strained father-son relationship, ultimately embracing his father's legacy as a storyteller.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Daniel Wallace's Big Fish captivates readers with its imaginative storytelling and whimsical charm, portraying the intricate relationship between a son and his father through tall tales. Critics praise its creativity and emotional depth, though some find the narrative disjointed. Overall, it's celebrated for its heartwarming exploration of familial bonds.
Who Should Read Big Fish?
A reader who enjoys Big Fish by Daniel Wallace likely appreciates magical realism, heartfelt father-son relationships, and Southern folklore. Fans of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude or William Faulkner's The Reivers will find this whimsical yet profound narrative appealing.