Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite

What changes would you be willing to make to pursue your dreams? In The Giants of Hildebrandt Meyer by Matthew Kopf, “Hill” undergoes a mid-life transformation. He finds himself bogged down in an unfulfilling corporate financial job. However, he is reluctant to make a career change because he feels safe in the status quo of his life. One eventful night, while driving in the snow, he slides on ice and collides with a large truck. The impact is severe, and Hill loses consciousness. When he later awakens in the hospital, Harriet, his wife, is there. The doctors tell him that a few inches' difference would have resulted in his death. Hill's car accident is a life-changing event that shakes him out of complacency and causes him to reexamine his life. He is determined to pursue the passions he long left behind and repair his relationships. One of those relationships is with his ex-girlfriend, Marilyn. She acts as both a muse and a critic as Hill begins making large sculptures. Giants, as some people refer to them. As he shifts from a corporate worker to an artisan, he must overcome many barriers and challenges.

Matthew Kopf’s The Giants of Hildebrandt Meyer is a masterfully written examination of the search for the meaning of life. Set amid a character’s midlife near-death experience, the narrative moves from stagnation to fulfillment. Kopf’s writing style is vivid. I was immediately drawn into Hill’s life story of career boredom, the suspense of his accident and recovery, and his artistic endeavors. The story is balanced with humor, heartbreak, and hope, making it relatable and moving. Hill’s experience is universal. I think most readers will see themselves, or someone they know, in the same quagmire the protagonist finds himself in. His relationships with Marilyn and Harriet make the story feel real and give it heart. In the end, the huge sculptures show Hill’s need to start over and find a deeper purpose. I recommend this novel to anyone who has ever wondered if they were on the right path or wished for another chance. It is an honest story, rough in places, but rewarding by the end. I could easily imagine Hill’s obituary someday saying his was “a life well-lived.”