Giant

A Novel

By: Edna Ferber

Narrated by: Courtney Patterson

The basis for the classic film starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson, Giant is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edna Ferber's sweeping generational tale of power, love, cattle barons, and oil tycoons, set in Texas during the first half of the 20th century.

When larger-than-life cattle rancher Jordan "Bick" Benedict arrives at the family home of sharp-witted but genteel Virginia socialite Leslie Lynnton to purchase a racehorse, the two are instantly drawn to each other. But for Leslie, falling in love with a Texan was a lot simpler than falling in love with Texas. Upon their arrival at Bick's ranch, Leslie is confronted not only with the oppressive heat and vastness of Texas but also by the disturbing inequity between runaway riches and the poverty and racism suffered by the Mexican workers on the ranch. Leslie and Bick's loving union endures against all odds, but a reckoning is coming and a price will have to be paid.

A sensational and enthralling saga, Ferber masterfully captures the essence of Texas with all its wealth and excess, cruelty and prejudice, pride and violence.

©1952 Edna Ferber (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Forget the movie and you won’t be disappointed

I have watched the movie GIANT several times over the years and finally decided after watching it recently this would be a great time to listen to the novel. Although I do like the detail of the novel that of course can’t be portrayed in the movie I was disappointed in the ending. I actually felt like the ending of the movie was better. The novel is much better when it comes to the details of the characters lives and the additional characters that were actually in it. The reading was OK but I felt like the narrator had not grasped the proper inflections and nuances in the conversations.

Texans Beware

Loved the movie so thought I’d try the book-always better obviously! The reader did a pretty good job with the accents and keeping one interested, however this story is based in Texas, and as a Texan I think the reader could have researched word pronunciation better rather than guessing. There should have been a list of words/names pulled from the book to study. Mispronouncing our rivers, cities and even our heroes is a big no no. For a book all about Texas land, Texas style/way, and what we call state of mind, you just would’ve thought that hearing these words and names correctly would be a given. Sadly no. I heard so many in this read. Just a few examples; Mexia, Pecos, Jim Bowie-the list goes on.. Easy mistakes-but unnerving to a Texan all the same. I might be nit picking, but don’t come to Texas if you don’t like this review, we’ll tear you apart.

Would recommend reading though!

Still Timely

So glad to have read this finally. The topics and issues covered and questions raised are remarkably current. Its both amazing and depressing how much has not changed and is still being fought even today. An excellent opportunity to learn and understand the many seeds that have led us to today.

Perfect! Just perfect!

Loved listening as I read along with my copy of GIANT. Been reading books set in Texas this month as I traveled around West Texas for my anniversary and this one was my favorite!

Compelling and Relevant Fiction

This is the first novel of Edna Ferber that I have read or listened to. The begging of the book struck me as a little trite but I'm glad I continued to listen because the book presents an interesting story in which the main characters grow and develop against a backdrop of 20th century economic and social change. The writing is vivid and helps to carry the story. The conflicts between the characters in the book are well presented and still relevant.

Texas!

Loved this book!! I’ve wanted to read it for years. The only thing I didn’t care for was the performance reader. I couldn’t shake the image of Elizabeth Taylor and the reader’s voice didn’t match.

Hold your breath

Edna Ferber has long been a favorite author since I first read Cimmeron 50+ years ago. I love her rich descriptive vocabulary. Her tackling of social issues influenced my response to rights of women and other prejudices.
Giant was no different. One of the few times I saw the movie before reading the book. The movie was arranged in chronological order, which is good for movies, but the impact of the book was heightened by weaving the story from the ending and then telling the story.
What did I like about the book? The dialogue especially Leslie’s is spoken like she is holding her breath and then lets it all out at once. I also like the friendship that develops between Leslie and Jordan (Bic). Too often in modern relationships this sweet metamorphosis is not achieved as modern couples move on after some tough times. I would read it again, I will talk about it with others and I would recommend it to friends.

A Great Story

Love the story's of Texas. Especially of the old Texans and there history. I was so into this book , I wanted even more. Great Story, Narrated Great.

This isn’t a history book

I did enjoy the story. However, this wasn’t a historical story. I don’t know if I’ll listen to it again.

let's go to midcentury Texas

Edna Ferber's novel, Giant, transports the reader to Texas. It has the feeling of a sweeping, epic novel. It comes it at over 400 pages, and yet, I would have loved it to be much longer. Each character is realistic and intriguing. The era in which it is set is vividly portrayed, and of course Texas fells like a character itself. Ferber's writing is wonderful. And this book has prompted me to go down the rabbit hole, reading much more of her literature, as well as the biographies that highlight the author herself.

Published in 1952, the book was a huge success -- although much of the state of Texas found themselves angry over her portrayal of the people there. And, of course, she did take a very strong stance against the racism towards Mexicans. (I found it sad that much of the language and attitudes found on the pages are exactly the same today.) The book is filled with unique and interesting bits of information about Texas. She talks about the history of the state, the people who inhabit it, the culture, the food, the ideas, the landscape. Her descriptions are sharp and pictoral, bringing very specific images to the mind of the reader. You will feel the heat on your skin alongside the characters. You will close the book and feel the need for an intense moisturizer on your chapped, wind-bl0wn skin. You will drink extra water, hoping to quench your thirst.

The story centers itself around a man named Bick Benedict who runs a cattle ranch of more than 2 million acres. He rules an empire, which employs large numbers of Mexican laborers. At the beginning of the story Bick traveled East to Virginia to buy a horse, and brings home a new wife named Leslie. She is an intelligent woman, who looks at things differently. She loves her husband, but struggles against the Texas ways. Through Leslie, the reader grows to understand Ferber. They are the lens to view the harsh conditions under which the laborers are forced to live. They allow the reader to understand the underlying racism. They are the reason we see the stories with empathy and compassion.

Although the characters are not always likable, they are realistic and flawed people, and I liked getting to know them.

I recommend reading the book and following it up by watching the Oscar winning film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean.