To Me You Seem Giant

by Greg Rhyno

It's 1994 and Pete Curtis is pretty much done with Thunder Bay, Ontario. He's graduating high school and playing drums in a band that's ready to hit the road. Even though his parents, teachers, and new girlfriend seem a little underwhelmed, Pete knows he's on the verge of indie rock greatness.

Fast-forward ten years, Pete finds himself stuck teaching high school in the hometown he longed to escape, while his best friend and former bandmate is a bona fide rock star.

Greg Rhyno's debut novel is full of catchy hooks, compelling voices, and duelling time signatures. Told in two alternating decades, To Me You Seem Giant is a raucous and evocative story about trying to live in the present when you can't escape your past.

Genres: Fiction, Canada

264 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[Adam Sabaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't put this book down! This takes place in Thunder Bay around the same time I was playing in a band - the nostalgia is almost too much to take!

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

---- Disclosure: I received this book for free from Goodreads. ----

F'ing hell yeah! I have been looking for something to scratch my sonically-obsessed (Gen X) itches since I finished reading Party of One by Dave Holmes. Well, thank you very much, dearest Rhyno. You're one of my people, and you served up what ailed me. Jeez, I felt so much better after reading this book. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It just helps to know there are other people out there who get it, and it's obvious that you do.

So, for the rest of you, this is a tale that takes place in relatively small town Canada. If you're unfamiliar w/ the lingo it's easy to figure out from context. (Although I will let you know that a looney is a dollar coin used in Canada. To some of you this will seem a silly thing to point out, but trust me, plenty of people wouldn't know......like nearly everyone around the area I live, for starters.) It is well-told in alternating chapters by our teenage main character, and his grown-up counterpart. Usually that would make me crazy, but the writing style is so good that it's not a problem; it's the best way to tell it, actually. The story is full of throw-backs to the era, such as cassettes, homemade mix tapes, & movie rental joints. It's complete w/ the typical teenage desperation to be anywhere but where they are, and the reality that grown-up life can often be as much of a drag as teenage life. (You know, the same, but different.) Dreams don't often pan out to be what they seem, and people that messed you up back in the day don't usually turn out to have things work out all that great for them, later on. Life gets to us all, appearances aside. You learn to deal though, and if you're honest w/ yourself, you can still acquire solace and community from going back to those (sonic) roots. They remind you who you are, and allow oneself to gauge the distance traveled since those times. Music resonates the soul like nothing else, and reminds us that all things are relative.

The only thing that might have made this book better would be if it included a soundtrack! Perhaps an audiobook version could include the mentioned songs played along behind their included sections. Maybe that'd cost too much, but it'd be fun.

[Camille Sperling · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you went to high school in the 90's, have your finger on the pulse of the Canadian music scene, and want a sardonic glimpse at teacher life, you have to read this book. It had me laughing at loud at the cringe-worthy but accurate references to the pains and gains and the social highs and lows of being in high school from Pete's perspective, a somewhat nerdy, skinny, but talented Grade 12 student. His high school journey is punctuated with very relatable references to the 90's Canadian music scene as Pete fumbles his way towards minor celebrity status as his band forages its path in Thunder Bay. This is contrasted with a glimpse at life 10 years later as Pete is now begrudgingly teaching in the same high school and pales in comparison to the "Dedicated Teachers" (the one who have their shit together) with his dislike for photocopy room chatter, outdated resources, and standardized tests. The story cumulates in an undramatic and less than fairy tale ending, but such is life. Read it!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you've seen Sloan as many times as I have, you have to request that your library buy this book so you can read it, right? The chapters have names like "Today I Hate Everyone" and "Where Have All the Good People Gone" and "It Falls Apart" and the 90s references just keep coming. I came of age probably about 5 years behind this protagonist, in another weird in-between city. The main character kind of pissed me off but I appreciated it for the nostalgia.

[Matthew Busby-O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

while just being younger than the author and my musical touchstones slightly after I really related to the teenage characters and the way they navigated the terrain of secondary school. Thinking that playing music was the most important thing when really it means nothing hit home. I'm really excited to see what GT Rhyno writes next.

[Emmet Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Robbie Robertson says, "Oh this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me." There's a lot to recommend about this book. There are flashes of Richard Price in the dialogue and in the way the action plays out. It's kind of a combination of The Wanderers and Samaritan--with much less violence and lower stakes. But Rhyno's sense of occasion is excellent.
And, y'know, his 90s indie rock bona fides are beyond reproach. He fearlessly deep dives into the Canadian alt-rock scene of 1994 and doesn't apologize or overexplain. SPOILER ALERT: starring Chris Murphy as himself.
If you've ever kept cassette tapes in a Pizza Pops box, this book will speak to you.

[J. E. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by our friend Greg! The male protagonist is a burnt-out teacher dreaming of his younger days as a musician, wondering if the grass is greener for his friend who made it big and if he should take one last shot at it. It will make you laugh and if you are like me, take you back in time. Good strong characters really drive the book and keep you wanting to see how they'll find their path. Way to go Greg and can't wait to see what you write next.

[Muriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who was a teenager during the mid- to late-nineties and big into music and the Canadian indie music scene, this was very enjoyable. Very funny and well-written. I hope Rhyno writes more books!

[Aaron Mazurek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first novel by a writer that shows a lot of promise. Hooks you in from the first pages and keeps you reading late past your bedtime. Definitely looking forward to more titles by Mr. Rhyno!

[Anne Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m making more of an effort to read out of my comfort zone these days, and To Me You Seem Giant by Greg Rhyno is a definitely a great example of this. It’s about music and teenage boys, both things I’m not too interested in these days (mind you, it was all I thought about when I was a teenager, but since I just recently celebrated a mid-30s birthday, I’ve thankfully moved on to more mature interests). Anyway, despite my misgivings about the subject matter, I really enjoyed this book, it felt like a trip back into my own youth, and from my own female perspective, the characterization of the young male protagonists really rang true.

The book is styled and formatted with a music lover in mind, more specifically a person who loves cassette tapes. The story toggles between Side A and Side B; Side A being the story of Pete Curtis’s last year of high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Side B is the story of Pete Curtis’s first year of teaching high school in Thunder Bay, exactly ten years later in 2004. In his youth, Pete was part of a relatively successful garage band named “The Giant Killers” who had a talented songwriter and singer at their helm: “Soda”. But when speed ahead to Pete’s adult years, we realize that something went terribly wrong that last year of high school which saw Soda realize his dream of becoming a rock star while his bandmates are left in their hometown pursuing more practical career paths. As a high school teacher Pete is only slightly bitter about this disappointment, but he’s still struggling to find something that brought him as much joy as making music once did.

This book is firmly anchored with popular and alternative music from 1994, so for those who were alive then, you’ll get those warm and fuzzy feelings of recognition with the name dropping. Just the descriptions of building mix tapes and the pure joy of having your favourite song come on the radio are wonderfully portrayed in this book. I know it sounds corny, but reading this made me nostalgic for that time in my life, even though I had dreadlocks (cringe).

Rhyno uses technology as a way to drum up some nostalgia for 2004 in the Side B sections. Although it was only 15 years ago, it still seems so far away. For instance, Pete regularly goes to rent movies at his local video store because he resents the proliferation of blockbuster locations popping up (!!!) and he’s just gotten his first cell phone and doesn’t know how to use it. 15 years ago people! Instead of making me smile wistfully into the distance like Side A accomplishes, I just felt old reading Side B. I can’t help but imagine this was the intention of the author, regardless of how cruel it may seem.

The friendships between the male characters were my favourite parts. I struggle to think of a topic I know less about than friendships between teenage boys BUT I still think these were well done, despite my lack of knowledge. The way the boys spoke, interacted with each other, and left so many things unsaid was like a window into a club I’ve never been allowed into until now. Sometimes they did mean things to each other, but each character was drawn so empathetically I felt like they were friends of mine by the end of the book; I was sad to close the last page on them. I didn’t connect with the characters as much when they were older, but the author did a great job of continuing their voices into the future decade. Everyone always says they don’t feel older, they just look older, and this book is a great demonstration of that; Pete ages in numbers only, and the fact that he finds himself in the same hallways of the same school as a teacher years later is telling demonstration of this.

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[Hyrum Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sweet! It's got a ton of 90s and early 2000s references, and it features a compelling Ocarina-of-Time-style "7 years" time dynamic, where half the book takes place in 1994 and the other half 2004. Every chapter jumps back and forth between the two timelines, and there are subtle references and allusions between the two. There will be a mention of a piece of graffiti in 2004, and then later on in the book we'll read about how it came to be in 1994. All of that was brilliantly done.

The story follows the life of a Thunder Bay resident in his senior year of high school and his first year as a teacher at the same high school yen years later. Instead of having an inciting incident that kicks off the plot and introduces some great problem that needs to be solved, Pete's main antagonist in this book is really just life itself and the monotony of it. He's trying to figure out what he's doing with his life while reconciling with the fact that he could have been a rock star. While at first I was wondering when the plot was going to kick in, it was actually a nice change, and by no means did the pacing suffer because of it. Rhyno's writing is enthralling enough that you want to keep reading anyway. As a music lover myself, I also loved music theme and all the references to band life.

Thoroughly loved the book, and I'd definitely read more from Greg Rhyno.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason I didn't finish this book wasn't because it was bad, just that it wasn't the kind of book that I would normally pick up.
You may be wondering "If you don't like wouldn't normally read this book, then why did you?". The answer is simple. Rhyno was one of my high school teachers, so I wanted to give the book a try. The writing is really good, however the plot and the genre (I guess? Not quite the word I'm looking for, but it's close enough) weren't really what I would see and want to read. HOWEVER, what I did read was good! It's a well written book, and if it's a story that would peak your interest, then I recommend giving this book a chance.

Once again, I didn't finish this book because it wasn't my preferred genre. This rating has nothing to do with the book being bad, just with my lack of preference for this kind of book.
3.5/5

[Annet Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about this book from FB since a mutual friend posted about his new book - I went to high school with Greg and his brother and didn’t know he is now an author!
Loved all the more obscure references to Thunder Bay and how the high school he describes seem very similar to our high school (minus the auditorium) and even a lot of last names from other classmates or our old teachers crept in. The story flips between his life as a student in his last year of high school and his somewhat muted life as a new teacher in the same high school feeling like life wasn’t what he had expected. Lots of music references which I don’t get but if you know music you would. Definitely recommend esp if you have ties to Thunder Bay.
Congrats Greg can’t wait to read your next book, which I’m about to crack open!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t objectively say for sure if this is actually a 5 star book for the writing and story but the inside teacher jokes/Thunder Bay references/Degrassi and other 90s references, the fact that the author teaches in my hometown and especially all the 90s indie rock references (the chapter titles! Swoon!) guaranteed it was getting a 5 star rating from me from the jump. Loved every second of it.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible but with thoughtful themes and clever structure, this was a great read that I have shared with others in my social circle. The cultural references will appeal to anyone who was into Canadian music in the late 80's and 90's as well. Great gift for the GenXer in your life!

[Wendy Ledger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel will appeal to people who love rock and roll. Rhyno writes with authority about the magic of creating music.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especially enjoyable if you're Canadian and get all the references.

[Mary Ripley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern story line. Follows teen years while juxtaposing adult years of young male band member. Tons of swearing. Did not like for most of it but enjoyed it when I finished. Easy reading

[Chelsea Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story, such a great read from a local author.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

one and a half (1.5) stars.

[Jaaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review available on Worn Pages and Ink.

Although I’ve never been a huge music buff so many of the references in Rhyno’s book evaded me, I still really enjoyed this striking narrative that really portrays a quintessentially Canadian experience of growing up and living in a more rural city–full of mixed tapes and video stores. I was born around the time that this story is taking place, so I wasn’t completely aware of the references in this book until a bit later in life, but still, I felt a connection with the character and the city he lives in. The city that Pete Curtis calls home, Thunder Bay, has about 50,000 more people in it than the town I grew up in, but Curtis’ experience are so similar and relatable to my own. Rhyno had me laughing more than once at many a “typical” small town Canada reference. At least across Ontario, the smaller cities and towns aren’t so different from one another.....

[Alexander Kosoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate it when I’m right. I mean, it feels fine being right in general sense, but, in the context of a book that tries to surprise you, it tends to bring things to an unsatisfying conclusion, especially when the twist is presented as though it should have shattered your world. But how can an author prevent this feeling in his readers? It’s tricky, definitely. As I at least briefly discussed previously, providing too much information can make the surprise apparent and unsatisfying, but not giving enough can make readers feel cheated when we get there. I think at least part of the answer lies in the confidence of the author and the amount he respects his readers’ capacity for understanding, which usually presents as an earth-shattering plot points delivered without ceremony. (Great examples of this can be found in Jane Urquhart’s The Night Stages and the two Kazuo Ishiguro books I’ve read.)

But I think I need to move on from this line of discussion, for Rhyno’s book is more than just a surprise near the end. In To Me You Seem Giant, we jump between two time periods as they relate to our narrator, Pete Curtis, in alternating chapters. Half the time, we’re with Pete in high school as he and his buddies, Michael (aka Deacon) and Jesse (aka Soda), try to make it big with their band, Giant Killer. In the other half, Pete tries to turn his ramshackle world into something resembling a normal life, working as a substitute high school teacher after his dreams failed to launch–-at the old school he used to attend, no less.

And Rhyno makes the most of his time-hopping approach to his story. The separate plots walk hand-in-hand, with each chapter building upon the information the reader was given in the last, creating suspense and intrigue with the sudden switches and creating a cohesive whole in the book at the same time. And things build and develop in a satisfying way until Pete adds in a string of tangentially-related thoughts to the in-between–-often about the town he hates–-effectively killing our momentum. What strikes me as attempts to add comedy or depth to the narrative or, perhaps, to inject our narrator with personality greatly hurt the pacing in To Me You Seem Giant.

Even with this in mind, however, there’s still a lot to love in To Me You Seem Giant. It’s a story about the need to confront the demons of your past in order to move on. It’s bleak, yes, but touching and, ultimately, hopeful.