The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel by Robert Dugoni
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Summary
The #1 New York Times bestselling series finale and sequel to A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night Bringing the magic and suspenseof the All Souls Trilogy to a deeply satisfying conclusion, this highly anticipated finale went straight to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. In The Book of Life, Diana and Matthew time-travel back from Elizabethan London to make a dramatic return to the present facing new crises and old enemies. At Matthew's ancestral home, Sept-Tours, they reunite with the beloved cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. From the Trade Paperback edition.
This book really got to me in ways that are hard to put into words. It had a profound impact on me. Normally, I wouldn't gravitate towards this style of book or this kind of story. In fact, I hesitated before buying it, but since it was part of a two-for-one sale and seemed intriguing enough, I decided to give it a shot. And man, am I glad I did. I will never forget this book.
Without spoiling too much, it follows the journey of a young child who faces numerous challenges due to the unique pigmentation in his eyes. His whole life is an uphill battle, and what resonated with me the most were the deep and loving connections he had with his parents and close friends. This book made me feel intense anger at times, profound sadness at others, and there were even moments when it completely swept me off my feet, making me feel like I could soar. It has definitely earned a spot on my all-time favorites list, and I've already purchased hard copies for several of my loved ones so that I can share the beauty of what I experienced while listening to this masterpiece.
I really liked the beginning of the book, but as it went on, it felt like it dragged on and had unnecessary details. There was a lot of repetition and the heavy focus on Catholicism got tiresome. It just felt like the story went on for too long, and I couldn't wait for it to be over. The main character started to annoy me, especially with his constant mention of his red eyes and his constant angst.
1. Rarely do I come across an audiobook with such a lackluster narrator that I actually continue listening. In fact, this may be a first for me. Perhaps the overall quality of the book would have improved with a more skilled narrator.
2. The author himself acknowledged, through a quote in the author's notes, that the book was initially rejected for being too episodic. And indeed, it was excessively episodic for my taste. Ernie, Sam, Micky, and Sam's mom served as the foundational threads of the story, but it felt like a collection of episodes involving them, rather than a cohesive narrative. There were moments that didn't contribute to the story's development, only prolonging it unnecessarily. The entire subplot about meeting his childhood tormentor as an adult felt unnecessary and disconnected from the overall plot.
3. Despite that, I found it hard to believe that Sam's life was solely influenced by the nuns from the Catholic school, Ernie, Micky, Sam's mom, and later Fernando. Certain crucial aspects of Sam's life were skimmed over to accommodate the episodes involving these characters.
4. This audiobook read more like a memoir, and I typically shy away from that genre. I prefer when I can truly connect with a character, and unfortunately, I just didn't feel that connection with Sam.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel was lacking depth, felt overly predictable, and had a generic feel, as if it belonged on the Hallmark channel. It read more like a sitcom from the 1950s rather than a captivating story. The characters were disappointingly shallow, causing a sense of discomfort. Their unrealistic portrayal made it seem like the author's perspective of the 1950s and 1960s was solely based on television and movies.
Sam Hill didn't see it coming. One moment, he's an average kid whose mom fights all his battles with passion, energy, and prayers; the next, he becomes the target of a heartless bully, someone who will grow up to be a psychopath, haunting him for the rest of his life.
"The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell" takes us on his journey as an outsider, as a wounded and angry child, as a young man who questions the love of a higher power, and as an older man trying to escape the consequences of his most courageous and heroic act.
Throughout it all, Sam has his loving parents and friends by his side. Although the book claims to be an epic tale of one man's life, I found it to be relatively straightforward in its writing style. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid book, just not very literary. Its strength lies in the incredibly well-developed and well-written characters that you can't help but care for deeply.
From a young boy brutally beaten, to a teenager struggling to fit in and find love, sex, and popularity, to an adult yearning to feel worthy of love, this audiobook is captivating, despite the occasional stumbles in Dugoni's narration (but hey, as the author, he knows the story inside out and hits all the right emotional beats).
Clocking in at just under 12 hours, this is a wonderful story that will have you rooting for the underdog, desperately hoping for Sam's Happily Ever After...
I managed to listen to half of this audiobook, but I couldn't go on any further. I initially gave the author credit for narrating his own work, but it turns out he's not quite cut out for it. The story itself seems like a pleasant tale of personal growth, but unfortunately, I can't continue listening. I'll be returning this one.
I'm an avid audiobook listener and rarely feel compelled to write reviews, but I just couldn't let this one slide. Let me tell you, the decision to have the author narrate "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel" was a major blunder. It felt like someone with zero experience was reading the book, which seriously hindered my ability to fully immerse myself in the story. While the book is written in the first person, it's important to note that it's not a memoir, so there was really no valid reason for the author to take on the role of narrator. Now, don't get me wrong, the story itself was actually quite enjoyable. However, I have to admit that the so-called "surprise" moments were anything but surprising. They were pretty darn predictable, to be honest.
I was really looking forward to a more satisfying conclusion, but the final portion felt like it was lacking effort. The concept behind the story is fantastic and there were some truly excellent moments throughout.
The book, 'The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel', sheds light on the lesser-known condition called ocular albinism. Dugoni weaves a captivating tale around this subject. While the narrative heavily delves into Catholic theology, the heartwarming portrayal of family love always manages to bring joy. Although some may argue that Dugoni wasn't the ideal choice to narrate his own story, I still think it deserves a solid 4-star rating.
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