Product Description

Now a major Tim Burton film starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange and Helena Bonham Carter. Tim Burton's film has been nominated for 7 BAFTA awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #259844 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Winston Groom, author of FORREST GUMP
'A talented and fascinating writer. Daniel Wallace has created a jewel in BIG FISH'

BIG ISSUE
'Eloquent and witty...beautifully illustrating the importance of having the chance to say goodbye'

GUARDIAN
'Extravagent and endearing'

Customer Reviews

A very different book
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!

Disappointing
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 fairytale mix of Paul Auster and Arthur Miller
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.