Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
|
Loading... The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hellby Robert Dugoni
   No current Talk conversations about this book.  Chrissylou62 | Apr 11, 2024 |   Samuel Hill has ocular albinism, a rare disorder wherein his eyes are red. His devoted, faithful Catholic mother insisted that Sam attend OLM grammar school, Our Lady of Mercy. And so begins a lifelong struggle of bullying, discrimination, loneliness, and difference. From a young age, Sam meets and befriends his best friends, Ernie Cantwell, who will become a professional NFL player, and Mickey Kennedy, the fierce girl who would ultimately become Sam's business partner. The first-person prose is beautifully written, poignant for anyone who has ever struggled with their difference (which we all have in one way or another), wanted to be "normal," and questioned their faith (not necessarily religious). While the entire book is surrounded by, intertwined with, and related to religion, the Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is far from an in-your-face church/God book. Sam Hell is an extraordinary novel about love, belief, forgiveness, and finding your way. I highly recommend this book. NOTE: I listened to this book, narrated by the author, and I am so glad I did - he did an extraordinary job. (  ) LyndaWolters1 | Apr 3, 2024 | This is a well-written coming-of-age novel, and one where you can't help but root for Sam while at the same time fall in love with the cast of supporting characters around him. That's a simple summary of my feelings for this book, but it's accurate. Recommend! (  ) indygo88 | Jan 4, 2024 | ) jcoleman3307 | Nov 23, 2023 | ) KarenThompsonFarrell | Oct 9, 2023 | no reviews | add a review
Notable Lists
"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."-- No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.17)
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English
2
Sam Hill, while growing up in a devoutly Catholic household and attending Catholic school, struggles with faith. He was different- ocular albinism meant he had red eyes. He was dubbed "devil boy" or Sam Hell. He was bullied his whole life. As an adult, he was able to become a successful optometrist. He still suffered from low self-esteem due to his past. Through acceptance he can finally learn to forgive and achieve peace. (