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Angela M is taking a break.'s Reviews > The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
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by
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.
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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Reading Progress
April 10, 2018
– Shelved
April 10, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 16, 2018
–
Started Reading
April 18, 2018
– Shelved as:
netgalley-reviews
April 18, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 112 (112 new)
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Norma
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rated it 4 stars
Apr 18, 2018 07:50AM
Oh I like those 4 stars Angela! Looking forward to your review!
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Norma, thanks. I thought the ending was too much but loved it anyway. I’ll post my review this afternoon,
I loved his book! Glad you found it to be a four star read.
Very good review Angela. We can be so cruel to one another, it's so sad.
Marialyce, I saw your terrific review. Actually 4.5 for me . The ending was just too over the top but I still loved it .
Ace, thanks. Yes , especially kid can be cruel. So many stories of bullying- it’s frightening.
This sounds so good Angela. Am adding thanks. Great review.
I rated this one 4.5 stars rounded down as well because of the ending but just like you I still loved it! Wonderful review!!
I was waiting with bated breath, lol, for your review. Hoped you would fall in love with Sam. You did and am so glad. I know I said the ending was a little mushy too, but happy we are in agreement that it didn't change how we felt about the book. Awesome review, Angela.
So glad you enjoyed it, too. It truly is a special book.
So happy to see your rating Angela. Will resist reading your review until I have read this.
Diane, I was pretty sure I’d love it after your recommendation! Thanks again! You know me pretty well by now ! As you said in your review, the end was over the top but still couldn’t help but love the story !
Dem, thanks ! Hope you love it too !Norma, thanks ! I think a lot of us feel the same, in spite of the ending or who knows maybe because of it - lol!
Liz, thanks , glad you loved it too .Sharon, I’ll look for your review. Hope you love it too .
Good review Angela. Your personal touch to this was especially nice.
Sandi , thanks very much .
What a fantastic review Angela! Your review has now given me that little nudge to get my hands on a copy of this ASAP! So glad you enjoyed! 😊💕
And I may have missed it too! Great review, Angela
Lindsay and Jen, thanks! I hope you both like it !
Great review Angela!
Wonderful review, Angela! It sounds like a must read!
Fantastic review. I did like his mum and her determination and devotion to her son and husband. In many ways, Sam had it better than many, he had the perfect parents, was middle class etc.
Thanks , Wendy and Jennifer!
Bianca, thanks . I agree that his family circumstances and friends were instrumental in getting him through the bullying and so many kids today may not have that support system. I do get why this wasn’t for you .
Brilliant review Angela!
Wonderful review, Angela. It sounds like a book that I would enjoy.
Great review Angela. Been hearing wonderful things about this one.
Great review Angela! Looking forward to this one.
Susanne, Connie, Kendall and Jan , thank you all. Look forward to your thoughts if you read it .
You said it so well Angela! Such a great story.
Judy, thanks! I was glad to see you loved it too !
Libby , thanks so much !
Fabulous review, Angela, I will have to wait for the library for this one, I think, but your review said all the right things for me!
Cheri, thanks very much . I thought it was a good story . Hope you get a library copy .
Wow— great review! This sounds very good (though, like you, I don’t need my ending wrapped in a tidy bow).
Melissa, thanks . In spite of the over the top ending, the book has a lot to offer on bullying, friendship and wonderful characters.
Fantastic review Angela, I didn’t want to read it until I read the book. I just loved these characters too!
Thanks, Karen. So glad you loved it !
Thanks, Elyse . It’s a good one .
Great review! Added to my 'want to read' list
Thanks, Sohinee. Hope you enjoy it !
Fantastic review, Angela. I loved this book, too!
Kathleen, thanks. Hard not to love these characters. Glad you did too !
Julie , thanks so much .
Deanna, thanks!
Sharon wrote: "So happy to see your rating Angela. Will resist reading your review until I have read this."Having just finished reading this book I have finally allowed myself to read your excellent review. I loved this book and readily admit to my guilty pleasure of enjoying big ribbon endings where authors tie off all the loose ends so for me that didn't detract. Like you, I loved Sam's mum and think it's a beautiful tribute that Robert Dugoni fashioned her after his own mother.
Sharon, thanks so much ! I love when an author pays tribute like this to someone, especially his mother - right! Glad that the neat bows didn’t detract . I still loved this in spite of my reservation.
