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The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel Kindle Edition
by Robert Dugoni (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (85,030)
Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s coming-of-age story is, according to Booklist, “a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.”
Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.
Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.
Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design—especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open—bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.
Winner of Suspense Magazine’s Crimson Scribe Award.
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We realize it is in those quiet moments that each of us has the ability to make our lives extraordinary.
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There comes a day in every man’s life when he stops looking forward and starts looking back.
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There comes a day in every man’s life when he stops looking forward and starts looking back.
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“Time is wicked. It comes and goes like a thief in the night, stealing our youth, our beauty, and our bodies.”
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A Suspense Magazine Crimson Scribe Award Winner
A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction
An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Literature & Fiction Category
"This is the bestselling Dugoni's masterpiece, the book by which his work, and that of others, will be measured for years to come." --Providence Journal
"Dugoni has produced a novel that, if it doesn't cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border...Told in two separate time lines (Sam as a boy, and Sam as a man) that eventually come together, and written in a gentle, introspective yet dramatic style that is very different from that of Dugoni's crime fiction, this is an inspirational story of a man who spends a lifetime getting to know himself." --Booklist
"Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption." --Kirkus Reviews
"Robert Dugoni has a rare and brilliant talent for infusing his characters with complex emotions. It is very hard not to ache for young Sam...Frankly, this might be the best book of the year." --Bookreporter
"Distinctly different in style from Dugoni's typical fare, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, is a captivating and poignant journey of strength and the power of finding your true self. Without a doubt, this is Dugoni's best yet." --Suspense Magazine
"Dugoni's writing is compellingly quick, simple, and evocative; readers will immediately empathize with young Sam and will race to discover how his story ends. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is a heartwarming novel that celebrates overcoming the unfairnesses of life." --Seattle Book Review
Past Praise for Robert Dugoni:
"Dugoni is a superb storyteller..." --Boston Globe
"Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers." --Associated Press
About the Author
Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series, including My Sister’s Grave, Her Final Breath, In the Clearing, The Trapped Girl, and Close to Home. The Crosswhite Series has sold more than 2,500,000 books worldwide, and My Sister’s Grave has been optioned for television series development. Dugoni is also the author of the bestselling David Sloane series, which includes The Jury Master, Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One, and The Conviction; the stand-alone novels The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, The 7th Canon, and Damage Control; and the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year; as well as several short stories. He is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for both the International Thriller Award and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award. His books are sold worldwide in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni.
Product details
ASIN : B074H8NFDF
Publisher : Lake Union Publishing (24 April 2018)
Language : English
File size : 3.0 MB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 449 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : 1503948978Best Sellers Rank: 5,222 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)146 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
210 in Literary Fiction (Kindle Store)
260 in Family Life Fiction (Books)Customer Reviews:
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (85,030)
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Robert Dugoni
Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, the Keera Duggan legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including the literary novel, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - One of Newsweek Magazines Best Books of All Time and Suspense Magazine’s Book of the Year. Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also written critically acclaimed historical novels based on true events: The World Played Chess a coming of age story and the Vietnam War; Hold Strong an untold story of WWII; and A Killing on the Hill, about a 1933 killing and trial in Seattle. HIs nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, was a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. His novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and multiple awards for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.
Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than forty countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Visit his website and follow him on Amazon, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media sites.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Customers praise the book for its engaging story and captivating characters. They find the story compelling, heartwarming, and emotional. The characters come to life throughout the book. Readers appreciate the faith-based themes and uplifting message about love and compassion.
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Top reviews from Australia
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TassieReviewer
4.0 out of 5 stars Rose-tinted glassesReviewed in Australia on 3 July 2024
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I enjoyed this book and found myself swept up in Sam's story. There are some heavy dramatic twists, and the characters leap off the page.
A few things began to niggle at me in the latter half.
Sam becomes something of a saint himself and comes across as something of a flawless character. Ocular albinism aside, he is constantly on the moral high-ground, doing the right things by and for everybody. I guess that tracks with both his upbringing and his relationship with his deity, but it began to wear on me - I just wanted him to squash a bug, or maybe fart a couple of times, just to illustrate that he was, in fact, a fallible human.
He meets his challenges pretty easily, and lots of things go his way.
The other thing that bugged me was poor Mickey, who was more or less sidelined unless Sam had need of her. She was an interesting character to begin with, but seemed to sacrifice her own agency in favour of Sam's; she insists on becoming his friend, stays a loyal friend, visits his parents, even patterns her career after this guy she's apparently loved for her entire life. Their relationship stretches credulity. She could have done better.
Those things aside; I found the story absorbing, with genuine moments of surprise and emotional response. The fact that I'm talking about the characters as if they are real people is a good indication that this is a well-written, engaging story of a life.
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Carrin
5.0 out of 5 stars The extraordinary life of Sam HellReviewed in Australia on 22 February 2022
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The extraordinary life of Sam Hell.
It's been a long time since I have wanted to binge read a book. I'm so thankful this book was part of the daily deals on Kindle unlimited otherwise I wouldn't have come across it.
I loved the writing style and the short chapters never made the book feel to heavy, in fact it made me not want to put the book down, I just HAD to know what was coming next.
I enjoyed reading the story from the first person view, in saying that, the character development of Sam all the characters in this book were on point for me.
This was another book that made me feel all the emotions.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Worth the ReadReviewed in Australia on 14 January 2019
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There is some truth in the other reviews I read for this book. One star ratings for this book are ridiculous though. It's well-written and a page turner. I finished it quickly and was quickly hooked. The story is very good but more importantly there's a point to the writing- you go away from the book feeling richer for reading it. I probably wouldn't read this book again though- which to me is the sign of an exceptional book- 5 stars. But I'd recommend anyone read it and I'd be happy to tell friends I enjoyed reading it. This to me gives it 4 stars with no qualms. The characters are well-developed and believable and you happily go along the journey with them.
6 people found this helpful
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Kaye Frost-Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Most Enlightening!Reviewed in Australia on 4 January 2019
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I fell in love with devil boy, I learned a great deal about what it must feel like to have an 'affliction ' like no other. I enjoyed the time setting and reminisced about growing up. I had friends who were brought up in a Catholic environment, quite foreign to my own upbringing. The characters were most credible in fact the entire story was like reading a diary. A great read that kept me reading to the end in the wee small hours. I wanted the story to go on longerbut everything I needed to know finished just right!
2 people found this helpful
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Karen
3.0 out of 5 stars Great beginningReviewed in Australia on 17 April 2019
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It was a great read in the beginning, shades of Irving. But descended into sentimentality at the end and a religious zealousness that I think is too easy for fiction and too hard for real life.
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TEE
5.0 out of 5 stars A handicapped child is blessing beyond wordsReviewed in Australia on 6 February 2025
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I know what it is like to be different and I also had a wonderful supportive mum who never stopped loving me ,as a result I have had a wonderful life full of love and laughter
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Mrs. J. Richmond
4.0 out of 5 stars Is it God's Will or Free Will?Reviewed in Australia on 2 September 2023
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If you are not a religious person you may not enjoy this book..I did, and I'm not religious..I did find the ending a bit mawkish though, which is why I gave it four stars.
This book is about many things, not the least of which is tolerance. The main protagonists,Mickie, Ernie and Sam deal with this every day in their early lives. Sam, the main character and narrator lives with discrimination all his life, and how he deals with it is one of the main themes of the book..
There are so many underlying themes: Discrimination of all.kinds, in Sam's case physical, Ernie's colour and Mickie's, well she's just different..The American education system plays a major role in the book, especially Catholic education. And of course any story about American education has to feature sport.
Mickie's family is destroyed by alcoholism and another by child abuse and domestic violence..The main characters in that thread run right through the book.
Religion plays a major role. Sam's mother in particular is deeply religious. Mickie is not and it is interesting how Sam balances these two women in his life and how important the two women are to each other. Tolerance at work.
The narration is so well done you feel as if the narrator, Sam is having a conversation with you. His story goes back and forward in time, but it is easy to follow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is so well written. Sad at times, inspiring at others. Another ending would have appealed even more.
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olivia
5.0 out of 5 stars WunderschönenReviewed in Germany on 7 January 2025
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Dieses Buch ist wunderschön, ich könnte es nicht aus der Hand legen, leider war das Buch in 2 Tage durch gelesen, hätte gerne wenn es noch weiter ging
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catherine timmins
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a good book about the Catholic familyReviewed in Spain on 3 June 2022
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I love the book!!!!!
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Abhijeet
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching, engaging, sad at times but heartwarmingReviewed in India on 31 January 2024
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A lovely story of a difficult life for a child who was born different at a time when differences were feared a lot more than they are now.
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Chagalix
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good bookReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 27 December 2024
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A heartfelt tale of growing up with a difference.
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music fan
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good character studiesReviewed in France on 17 October 2023
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Very well written and interesting, just a bit more action is missing for the 5th star.
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======
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
Robert Dugoni
4.44
190,313 ratings18,051 reviews
Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2018)
Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.
Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.
Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design—especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open—bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.
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448 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2018
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Robert Dugoni
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Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 11 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and The Keera Duggan legal thriller series. He has written several stand-alone novels including the historical novels A Killing on the Hill and Hold Strong, as well as the suspense novel The 7th Canon, and Damage Control. He has written the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - one of Newsweek Magazine's Best Books of All-Time and Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also written the critically acclaimed novel, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. His novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a four-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.
Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than thirty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni
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Angela M
1,385 reviews
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April 19, 2018
4.5 stars
It was impossible not to care about Sam Hill, his loving parents and his best friends Ernie and Mickie. Impossible not to admire Sam’s strength of character to endure the bullying and ridicule he experienced because of how he looked with his “devil eyes “, red eyes as the result of being born with ocular albinism. Impossible not to love the man he turns out to be. Impossible not to detest the psychotic bully, David Freemon or the mean Sister Beatrice who was unlike any nun I encountered in the 8 years of my grammar school education. Having grown up in a Catholic family and having attended a Catholic grammar school, I am very familiar with the phrase “God’s will” which in my experience was almost always used to justify less than desirable circumstances out of one’s control, as it was with Sam’s mother who uses the phrase frequently. I love the champion that his mother was for him . She’s my favorite character who instills in Sam that his eyes are not rare, but “extraordinary”.
There are other extraordinary characters who embody what unconditional love is, what friendship truly means. It is a story of fate, of faith, of family and of friendship and how all of these things make us who we are, not how we look. These characters are introduced as Sam’s story is told in alternating time frames between the present and the years he was growing up . I was connected the whole way. If I have one criticism, it’s just that the ending was way too much, as if the author felt he had to tie up every loose end. Having said that, this well written story is moving. I felt that it was even more meaningful when I read in the acknowledgements about how his parents were when his brother was born with Down syndrome. I was moved that the seed for this story was an article he read about a young boy in Australia who “had been denied admittance to Catholic school because he had been born with ocular albinism and the nuns thought he’d be disruptive to the other students. It turned out that the other students had nicknamed this poor child the devil boy.” I’m glad he read that article and that he gave us Sam Hell because of it.
Thanks to Diane for letting me know while she was reading this that I should probably read it . Without her nudge I may have missed it .
I received an advanced copy of this book from Lake Union Press through NetGalley.
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MarilynW
1,675 reviews
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July 7, 2022
Update June 6, 2022
I read this story in March of 2018 and it's a favorite of mine. Finally I was able to listen to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and I love the narration. Once again, the story brought tears to my eyes but I'm also struck by the love of Sam's parents for him and each other and his love for them. I was reminded how humorous this story is despite very serious and sad subject matters. I love the banter between Sam's parents and with Sam.
***
This book brought out so many feelings in me and I'll be thinking about it for a very long time. It's such a different book from Dugoni's other books, which I enjoy and I enjoyed this one too, despite how different it is from his usual books. After I finished the book, the author tells us what led him to write this book and I appreciated getting to read his reasons, also.
Sam has so much, parents who love him unconditionally, two true life long friends, the will and ability to excel in his studies, but he was born with eyes that were different and that sets him apart from "normal" kids. He has to endure bullies, prejudices, the fear of those who can't deal with those who are different, while having a mom who knows he will be and is extraordinary.
Sam searches for why things are the way they are and his search leads him away from faith and towards faith. Family and friendship is so much a huge part of this book and while my heart hurts for Sam and others who are treated cruelly, I was also so aware of how much Sam has in his life. All that happens to Sam makes him the man he is at the end of the book. I very much recommend this story.
Pub April 24, 2018
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
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Bianca
1,237 reviews
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December 4, 2022
I may get crucified for this review, anyway, I’ll take my chances.
I, like many others, enjoy an underdog story. This is the story of Sam Hill, who has ocular albinism, a genetic abnormality that makes his eyes look red. It’s the early 1960s, so people are less enlightened. Sam’s mom is an ardent Catholic and she’s fierce. She would not let anyone or anything stay in the way of her son getting an education and achieving his potential. Sam’s hardships start early on, practically on the first day at the local Catholic school, affiliated to the church they attend. His nickname became Sam Hell or Devil Son. The poor boy, not only is he shunned by his colleagues, he draws the Principal’s ire, the mean sister Beatrice.
The novel moves back and forward in time. During the school and high school years, Sam makes two great friends, Ernie, the only black boy in the neighbourhood, and Mickie, a tomboy, outspoken girl. The three of them are very tight.
This started off pretty well. Unfortunately, as I read on, I became irritated with this novel. It’s like a soap-opera, lacking in nuance. Sam is a saint, saving and helping everyone left, right and centre. Also, I would be remiss not to mention that I found all the religious connotations, overtones and undertones and not so subtle Catholic mantras suffocating.
This novel is basically a Catholic allegory of good vs evil. I found it emotionally manipulative. While I’ve never read a Christian novel, had this not had a few mild sex scenes, it could probably be labelled as one.
There were a few things that didn’t agree with me. The White saviour trope - of course, Sam, the brave white boy, has to save the black boy by not only befriending him but also by helping him with school work, as he was dyslexic. Not only that, while in high school, Sam became a school sports correspondent for the Times!, so because of his raving reviews of his friend's sporting prowess, Ernie ends up getting a basketball scholarship at Stanford University. Who knew high school students had that much power …
I’m going to be pedantic now: I’ve read on ocular albinism – Sam doesn’t seem to have as many issues as others seem to have, even when allowing for individual differences. Also, I had big doubts that someone who had had a stroke that had developed into dementia would last as long as Sam’s father did.
So, this was an accessible, competently written novel. I’m sure Robert Dugoni had the best intentions, obviously informed by his own convictions. I’m certain that my own secular views are not to blame for my disenchantment with this novel. This reader enjoys reading novels with characters that are more realistic. I also don't care for melodrama.
I’ve received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
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Liz
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April 14, 2018
I’m used to Robert Dugoni for the Tracy Crosswhite series. This book isn’t even a mystery. Instead, it’s the story of a young man growing up with a genetic abnormality, ocular albinism. It’s a heartwarming tale as Sam struggles to avoid school bullies, including the nun who is the principal at the catholic elementary school. But it’s also the story of best friends and the lengths they go to help each other out. There are some laugh out scenes that had me guffawing in the middle of an airplane.
The story also gives us Sam as an adult forced to confront the same bully and the choices he makes color the next ten years of his life.
Dugoni tells the story with a brisk writing style using short chapters. It’s a fast, wonderful read that connects with all the emotions. It makes some very poignant points about faith, love and forgiveness. Make sure to read the Acknowledgements at the end of the book. For those who think of Dugoni only as a mystery writer, I urge you to give this one a chance. It really spoke to me.
My thanks to netgalley and Lake Union for an advance copy of this novel.
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Larry H
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May 3, 2018
4.5 stars rounded up.
Sam Hill's birth in 1957 caused quite a stir, as he was born with ocular albinism, which left him with red pupils. While his religiously devout mother viewed his eyes as evidence of the extraordinary potential his life holds. That's not the unanimous view of everyone in their community, however—his Catholic school classmates refer to him as "Devil Boy."
Sam's mother was determined that her son live life with great gusto, and not be discouraged by those who treat him badly or try to keep him from the opportunities given to every other child. Sam becomes the target of a trio of school bullies who wish to do him harm because of his eyes. But while his mother believes that events in Sam's life are determined by God's will, Sam isn't quite so sure that God would want him to suffer in fear and loneliness.
It's the arrival of Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in school, who first makes Sam believe people could be heaven-sent. Ernie becomes Sam's closest friend and confidante, and the two help each other battle those driven by fear and prejudice. And when brash Mickie Kennedy arrives at school, she is tougher and stronger than many of the boys, and proves that you really can go through life not caring what people think.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell follows Sam as he travels from childhood to adulthood, experiences the flush of first love and lust, is buoyed by the intense loyalty and love of his closest friends, and, for the first time, realizes that God's will isn't always positive. When a tragedy hits close to home, he has to change the course of his life and become the man his mother always knew he would be, and he learns to keep people at a distance so he doesn't get hurt—although that doesn't always guarantee emotional safety.
This book chronicles 40 years of Sam's life, relationships, work, love, family, and the bonds of friendship. It's the story of faith, disbelief, loyalty, and the struggle between right and wrong. But more than that, it's the story of one extraordinary boy who grows into an extraordinary man.
I thought this was a really great book. Sam is a fascinating yet flawed character who is able to find strength and courage in the face of tremendous adversity, thanks to an incredible support system of his parents and his friends. I grew very attached to these characters and found myself worrying about and cheering them, and wishing they'd say the things they needed to, to those they needed to.
I have seen many people wax poetic about Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series, although I've not read any of them. I was really impressed with his storytelling in this book—in some ways it felt a little like John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany or something similar. It's a book that touched me emotionally and made me think at the same time.
My one criticism of the book is that it was a bit melodramatic at times, and I felt that a subplot involving the return of a figure from Sam's childhood really wasn't necessary. But beyond that, this is a book which grabbed me from the very first page, and I read it in just a few hours while on a long flight. And I may have brushed away more than a tear or two...
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
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Lisa of Troy
839 reviews
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July 22, 2024
Has the Internet warped our psyches so much that we can’t just appreciate something even if it has flaws?
This little Booktube video by Robin Waldun on Critique Culture: Why Can’t We Enjoy Anything Anymore? has been rumbling around in my mind ever since I watched it.
So, yes, I am going to rate The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell five stars because I really enjoyed reading it—it was entertaining with unpretentious prose.
My mother called it “God’s will.”
What an incredible first line! This book certainly gives off A Prayer for Owen Meany chills.
In this fictional story, in March 1957, Samuel James Hill is born—with a pair of red eyes. While Sam’s mother believes his eyes are extraordinary, Sam isn’t so optimistic. Subject to cruelty and bullying, Sam turns inward, isolated as an outcast until he forms some unforgettable friendships.
One key difference between this book and A Prayer for Owen Meany is that Sam doesn’t believe that he is extraordinary or doing God’s work. In fact, one could argue that Sam isn’t extraordinary, but the community of people who loved him were extraordinary.
Sometimes our lives are extraordinary, but we can’t fully see God’s plan.
In 2020, I started to chronically faint, couldn’t control my left leg, was constantly vomiting, and was covered head-to-toe in rashes.
Deteriorating to the brink of death, I went all the way to Mayo Clinic.
After one week, I am in the cardiac ward of the hospital. My heart rate is soaring to 230 beats per minute.
The Blue Light in my room has started flashing, and I can visually see white lights. Every medical professional on the floor has been urgently paged to my room, the sound of the crash cart being dragged to my room before I slip into unconsciousness.
At the time, I only knew one other person who had all of my symptoms, a YouTuber by the name of Amy Lee Fisher. In her last video, she was crying and looked very uncomfortable. She explained that her heart gave off a clot which traveled to her lungs, and she was in intensive care. She wasn’t in her normal glamourous make-up and she was clearly suffering, but she was brave enough to post this video shortly before she passed away.
She saved my life.
When the doctors discovered that I was close to dying, they recommended a heart rhythm medication. Because of COVID, they suggested I try it at home.
Because Amy had just died, I said I was not comfortable and would prefer being admitted to the hospital.
I coded five times on that very night.
When I was admitted, I took the doctor aside and repeated Amy’s last story.
You see when the heart doesn’t beat in a coordinated fashion it can give off a clot which can travel to the lungs, and it is game over.
As a result, every two hours, I was stabbed in the stomach with a blood thinner. I never clotted.
Amy was extraordinary.
Changing direction now, it is time for the bits of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell that didn’t sit well with me.
The portrayal of Eva was majorly cringy. She was extremely one dimensional—she didn’t want children and “Eva did not like pets. She reacted to any piece of dog hair on her clothing as if it was radioactive.” What is she going to do next—beat up Santa Clause?
Personally, I have a Code of Conduct.
I have exactly 2 friends. 2. It is not easy being my friend. Because I can be a bit intense. Like drinking fire at times.
But in return for fire drinking, I protect my friends. At all costs.
Once someone made a negative comment about my friend, and I cried, “HEY! Don’t say that! This person might be crazy, but that is MY crazy!”
So I have very limited sympathy for someone bashing their significant other. Either protect the person or cut the person loose, but don’t bash them.
If you want to be petty in life, you shouldn’t start with the person you are supposed to treasure the most.
Secondly, I was extremely disappointed that this book did not talk about the disability process in the United States.
Someone recently posted a TikTok video of an elderly gentleman stooped over a cart, attempting to pick up trash. She asked, “This is so sad. Why isn’t this person on disability?”
After I had two heart surgeries and was confirmed to have an incurable genetic defect, Social Security denied my claim.
They said, “At no point was I disabled, and I could work with accommodations.”
Interesting. Very interesting.
During my last heart surgery, the doctor had to stop my heart. For a few seconds, I was dead.
What job can you work while you are literally dead?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
After 2 years, I finally had my hearing. The judge said that I had one of the best documented cases he had ever seen and ruled in my favor.
For 2 years, I had no payments. Who can not get paid for 2 years? What landlord will allow you to not pay rent for years? And you can’t just get another job because you are sick!
The US disability system is a joke, and unfortunately when something truly horrible happens, this safety net can’t be relied on.
The disability process isn’t very flashy, but it is a vital social justice issue that authors should talk about.
The Green Light at the End of the Dock (How much I spent):
Softcover Text – $9.30 on eBay
Audiobook – $84.99 per year through Everand
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Elyse Walters
4,010 reviews
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June 6, 2018
FANTASTIC audiobook!!!!
.....I love Sam!!!!
.....l loved the way Sam’s mother defended him: awesome dialogue!!
.....loved the storytelling....
.....Endearing - engrossing - and inspiring!!!!
Thumbs Up - up- up!!!! 👍💕📚💕👍📚
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Regina
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February 4, 2021
Raise your right hand if you were bullied as a kid.
Now raise your left hand if you still have the emotional scars from it.
I’m lowering mine just briefly enough to write out my thoughts on "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell." While my sins were being too skinny, too pale, too meek and too much or too little of whatever my tormenters deemed acceptable at any given moment, Sam Hill had only one: he had ocular albinism.
When he was born, even his dad took one look at his red eyes and gasped, “What the Sam Hell?” The name stuck. Growing up in the ‘60s in a devout Catholic family, congregation, and school, those eyes also made it easy to label him “The Devil Boy.” Nuns and kids treated him cruelly, but none more so than the despicable David Bateman.
It would have been too easy for Robert Dugoni to write a story about how in adulthood David was repentant and Sam was forgiving, but instead he gave readers something more realistic. David was mean and stayed mean, and Sam carried the memories of being his earliest victim with him through the years as if they became part of his DNA. All too relatable.
“Sam Hell” was another long-lurking title on my backlist, and I put off reading it because I had in my mind it would be a transcendent experience that needed to be savored. Ultimately I found it to be a very worthy read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, though I may have hyped it up too much in my own mind. My husband* read it as well and breezed through it. Short chapters make it a book you can nibble on here-and-there = ideal nightstand reading.
I’d also be remiss not to mention there are some serious “A Prayer for Owen Meany” vibes served here. In fact, Dugoni has mentioned John Irving as an early inspiration in various interviews. I can’t think of a more direct “Loved That? Read This!” scenario.
“The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” is currently available on Kindle Unlimited and includes WhisperSync for those who might prefer the audio book format. (As of 2/3/21.)
*That skinny, pale, meek little girl grew up to be a confident woman that married a devastatingly handsome man and lived happily ever after. Suck it, bullies!
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Em Lost In Books
997 reviews
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March 9, 2019
"Life is either a collision of random events, like billiard balls during a break careening off and into one another, or if you are so inclined to believe, our predetermined fate—what my mother took such great comfort in calling God’s will."
Sam was born with a rare genetic condition which made his pupils red. Because of this he was rejected admission in a Catholic School but the his brave mother did not let it happen and fight against this rejection. This was only a start to the difficulties that Sam, a great student, was about to face in his life because of his eye condition. He was called "devil boy" in his school and was an easy target for bullying. But he soon learned to stand up to this hatred against him, and there were his parents and friends on every turn who never lost in faith in him; and were a constant source of strength.
Story was told in past and present. Dugoni kept the chapters short and a very tight writing. Perhaps because he also write thrillers that he turned every chapter in a short suspense story keeping me on the edge. It was to put it down as I kept telling myself one more chapter and at the end of that chapter something would happen that I had to read the next chapter.
I don't even remember how I stumbled upon this gem, all I know is that am glad I read this. It is hard not to love this book for the courage that Sam shows when he was targeted because he was different, for the love and faith of parents in their son and for how they supported him, for the friends who devoted themselves to him even when they were frowned upon for it.
Dugoni explored themes of coming of age, honor, dignity, love, bullying, faith, in simple yet lively manner which made it a riveting read for me.
Highly recommended.
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Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader
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May 5, 2018
4 richly drawn stars to The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
What an engaging and poignant story! Sam Hell was born with ocular albinism, a condition that causes the blood vessels to show through the irises of the eye, giving a pink or red appearance. Sam’s family is deeply spiritual, and his mother believes his condition is simply God’s will.
Sam endures bullying and outright discrimination due to his physical appearance. His childhood is tough, and he questions his faith. Sam’s mother is his best advocate and champion. The love between all members of this family was palpable and inextinguishable.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is about his journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, but if you’ve ever felt different, left out, or lonely, Sam’s story could be your story, too.
This review also now appears on my shiny new book blog! www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Thank you to Robert Dugoni, Lake Union, and Netgalley, for the ARC. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is now available!
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