A tough guy, a man of few words, a dude with twelve bullet holes in his body, Samuel Hawley is no stranger to violence. But, he's got a heart of gold, deeeeeeeeep down, much like Clint Eastwood in any of his spaghetti westerns. We are meant to see that and sympathise with him, despite his criminal past, because of his love for the now-dead Lily, and his devotion to Loo, their teenage daughter.

Loo (can't stand the spelling of her name) is just as tough, breaking fingers and swinging rock-filled socks like a pro. She's spent most of her life on the run with her dad, until he decides to settle in the same town as Loo's maternal grandmother. This naturally brings up questions for Loo about her mother, her mother's death, and Hawley's involvement in it.

The format of the book alternates each chapter between the present story, and the past, itemizing the story of each bullet to hit Hawley. The "bullet" chapters are quite suspenseful and high action.

Maybe it's because I'm fresh from reading Lincoln in the Bardo (tough act to follow) but I'm just sort of "meh" about this book. I'm not sure who is the intended audience. It has a YA feel, is primarily plot-driven, and left me a little empty. I get that this is a story about a lonely guy who obviously went down the wrong road more than once. I get that this is a story about a father who loves his daughter, in the flawed yet full-on way that he does. But, I felt the story was a not particularly original. And, I felt a bit led by the author to like Hawley and Loo, and all the other unpolished diamonds in the book, which in the end, didn't sit well with me.

A bleak, but hopeful, story of the complicated relationship between a father and daughter.

I throughly enjoyed this book. Ms. Tinti weaves a story of hardship, heartbreak, and love, as well as all the complexity that entwines these areas of life for Sam Hawley and his daughter, Loo. I found myself seeing this book like a movie as the script played out due to the authors through chapter development. I found my feelings very mixed all through this book. At times I was furious with Sam and felt he was a villain and then the author suddenly turned him into a hero, then back to a villain, and another circumstance came along and here comes the good guy again. Needless to say, the pages kept turning wondering what would happen next.
I was given an advanced copy of this book to read by the publisher. I am under no obligation to provide a positive review on this book. My review is my honest opinion of this author and her book, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley. Thank you to Ms. Tanti and The Dial Press for this wonderful reading experience.

I this is one of those stories that will stay with you for all of your days. A beautiful book that envcokes so many different emotions. A story of love, loss, secrets & the depths we will go to keep them safe.

This is the story of Samuel Hawley and his daughter Loo and all that Hawley does to protect here from his shady past, and the past is indeed shady. To me this was good for it's fluidity of time but may have tried too hard...

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

I loved this book and was so drawn into these characters. Such an interesting way of telling this story too - it enables you to feel the reasons why the characters behave the way they do and turn your feelings on end about what is right and wrong.

The story is told in two voices and times - Samuel Hawley and his daughter, Loo. Samuel's story is spun out in alternating chapters, each focusing on how he got a bullet would in his body, so the narrative is from his early past into the future. In the present day chapters, Samuel and Loo have finally stopped their lifetime of running from place to place and have settled in Olympus, Massachusetts. Samuel has a job as a fisherman and Loo tries to fit in at school, mostly unsuccessfully. Loo is haunted by the death of her mother when she was just a child and is obsessed with learning more about her. Samuel is also obsessed by Lily, Loo's mother, and keeps a shrine in the bathroom wherever they go.

Because we learn about Samuel's criminal past slowly through his bullet wounds while we see in the present day how much of a good father he is, it really does color your perception about doing bad things for good reasons.

An amazing book - highly recommended!

I absolutely loved this coming=-of-age novel about Loo and her father, Samuel. As they travel across the country--running from Samuel's past, we see the challenges this small family faces as Loo must navigate all the typical hardships of childhood along with the difficulty of being raised by a single, very unconventional father. The story weaves back and forth between the present and the past as we see Samuel's "twelve lives"--marked by bullet scars from his often criminal escapades. Both touching and poignant, the mystery behind Loo's mother's early death is explored as we empathize with this small family who will go to extreme lengths to protect each other!

Scars, both physical and emotional, and the history of each. (Should I hate the dad?) A "bad" guy trying to do right by his daughter. (Should I love the dad for this?) This is their story, their relationship. Violence, the love of a father, and Loo's desire to know what really happened to her mother, all bind together to make this a spellbinding, thought-provoking novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC to review.

Here is a review by Jennifer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1935805892

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, by Hannah Tinti, takes us on a journey through the lives of a father, his daughter, and the people who were important to their lives. Through the mysterious stories of his twelve lives, we watch Samuel grow as a man, as well as a father, who has discovered his purpose in life. This book is heart-warming, as well as mysterious. I couldn't put it down.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley is a strange and beautiful novel that defies classification. It’s rich in symbolism and mythology, situated as it is in Olympus. Olympus, Massachusetts, that is. But if you ignore all the embellishments, the watches, the whales, the obvious mythological references, it is essentially a story of a father and daughter and how their love is tried, tested, and true.

It’s easy to get entangled in the clever motifs that repeat themselves. The whale sighting near the beginning of the book as Hawley and Jove (Yes! Jove!) are escaping after being Jove is burned and Hawley is shot, the whale’s heart at the museum, the Whale’s Jaw in the center of Dogtown’s woods, and the whale that breeches near the end when Hawley is shot yet again and Loo is steering the boat toward hoped-for rescue. There are the clocks that are all over the place, the burglary where they realize that if the clocks are chiming, someone is winding them. The clepsydra, an ancient water clock, the wristwatch they he and Jove take from Talbot early in the book that Loo forces King to toss into the ocean near the end of the book. Tempus fugit! Whales are fraught with symbolism, life, death, and obsession. And clocks, the symbolism is obvious.

There are two story threads, the contemporary life of Loo and her father Samuel Hawley in Olympus, the town where her mother grew up. They are misfits in the town, both quick to resort to violence. Loo’s grandmother is still alive but does not welcome either of them. The other narrative tells of the twelve bullets (The Twelve Labors!) that Samuel Hawley has taken, often out on a job. He’s a criminal, one who is often the middleman in some antiquities and collectibles illegal trade and importation, delivering the payment to pick up the item for example. Like the Hercules of myth, he’s not the brightest bulb on the string, but he’s strong and has grit.

I liked The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley more than I probably should. I think the careful insertion of whales, watches and mythological references is heavy-handed. I think Tinti even got tired of the Twelve Labors motif, knocking out bullets 7, 8, and 9 in one chapter. I think that contrast between the brutal and obtuse Hawley of the bullets and the loving, mostly wise father of the contemporary narrative is a bridge too far to cross. He shot himself in the foot, for Pete’s sake. These inconsistencies are a weakness. We also have to suspend a couple Aegean stables full of disbelief to believe he has never been caught considering all the times he has been shot and the mayhem left behind. So, yes, the book has its problems, but I still loved so much about it.

Mostly I love Loo. She is smart, curious, and loving. She is capable and hard-working. She is a fascinating character whose uncertainty is hidden by bravado. She loves her father and even when Mabel tries to convince her that her father killed her mother, even when she learns the truth about her father, about his criminal past, she still loves him. She knows him.

Early in the book, Hawley meets a woman who loves a man unworthy of her. She says, “Love isn’t about keeping promises. It’s about knowing someone better than anyone else. I’m the only one who knows him. I’m the only one who will.” Love is the center of this story. Hawley’s love for Loo and for Lily his wife. Loo’s love for Marshall, her first boyfriend. The Lily’s maternal love for Loo and even Mabel’s love for her daughter and granddaughter, crabbed though it might be by loss and resentment. There is a lot of love in this book, underneath all the gunfire.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley will be released March 28th. I was provided an advance e-galley by the publisher through NetGalley.

★★★★

You don't work for anyone. You don't have a real job."

Hawley picked up the stinking apron off of the table and threw it at her.

"You," he said. "You're my job."


What an achingly brilliant novel.

Sam Hawley is a (possibly) reformed criminal trying to give his daughter, Loo, a chance at a semi-normal life. His wife, Loo's mother Lily, drowned when Loo was one, leaving Sam to try and navigate the waters of single parenthood while trying to hide the details of his ugly past from his daughter. He had a rough childhood himself, so doesn't really know how to be a parent beyond keeping his daughter safe and fed.

The chapters switch between the present and the past. The chapters about the past detail how Hawley got each of his twelve bullet wounds. Usually in books that alternate like this, I gravitate towards one storyline and rush through the alternate chapter to find out what happens next, but with this one I loved both!!! I couldn't wait to find out what really happened to Lily, and loved hearing about their relationship, but alternately, I really loved hearing about Loo and how she was just trying to find her own place in the world and learn about her mother.

I loved how there was a romantic connection in the book, but that wasn't what was driving the plot. I'm so glad that it didn't eclipse the love story between a parent and child, and it definitely didn't take away from Loo's discovery of herself and her past.

A few other reviewers complained about the violence, but I didn't find that it was gratuitous or over the top. I have definitely read worse and it didn't bother me. I thought that it demonstrated how even girls can be aggressive and have violent tendencies. I know that my friends and I sure did, and my daughter definitely does too sometimes.

I loved this book. It will definitely stick with me for a long time. I loved every single character and wish I knew more about them, I loved the action, I loved it all. I will be purchasing copies for both myself and for the library and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for her other books.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of The Twelve Lives Of Samuel Hawley. In exchange I am providing my honest review and opinion.

I thought this book was well written and I enjoyed the structure very much. Told in alternating chapters between past and present, we come to learn who Samuel Hawley is and how he obtained twelve bullet wounds. Each bullet is another chapter in his complicated life and another reminder that often we judge others without knowing their full story. To label Samuel as misunderstood is overly simplifying things. Much credit goes to the author, Hannah Tinti for making the reader root for the "bad guy." Beyond the violence and lawlessness lies a man who very much loves his wife and daughter and will go to any length to protect them.
I really enjoyed the present day story arch involving Samuel's teenage daughter, Loo and her budding romance. Will Loo repeat the same mistakes her mother made and can Hawley really shelter her from falling in love? Will Loo learn how her dad received each bullet and what each one represents? And lastly if Loo discovers the truth, can she handle it?
This was a really good read, although my only criticism is that some of Hawley's back stories began to feel a bit repetitive. I think nine bullets may have been enough to tell the story that needed to be told.

Thank You to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of Hannah Tinti's novel, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Samuel Hawley is an outlaw, who has spent many years moving across the United States with his daughter, Loo. Now that Loo is a teenager, Samuel feels that he can make an honest living as a fisherman, and he settles in the same New England town as Loo's maternal grandmother, Mabel. Loo's mother, Lily, died in a lake accident when Loo was an infant, and Mabel believes that Samuel had hand in her daughter's death. Was Samuel responsible? Can a man who has committed so many crimes, really be safe from his past coming back to haunt him?

LIKE- Tinti is the co-founder of One Story, one of my favorite monthly magazines ( check it out, it's awesome), and I had the pleasure of taking an online writing class with her last month. It was fabulous!

Tinti has an interesting way of framing The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley. She has given Samuel a body riddled with scars from bullets wounds, and she alternates chapters between the present and the past, using the past chapters to explain the ways in which Samuel has been shot. In the past, we learn about Samuel's life of crime, his associates, and how he met Lily. As the story unfolds, we learn the truth about Lily's death, and how it impacts the trajectory of the story. In the present, we see Loo growing into a teenager and trying to figure out details about her mother, through both her grandmother and living in her mother's hometown. This structure created a solid framework for pacing the mysteries of the novel and keeping the suspense.

In addition to a strong structure, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, has memorable characters. I was most intrigued by Lily and her relationship with Samuel. The chapter in which they meet, was the most intense, gripping chapter of the novel. It was cinematic. Speaking of cinematic, Tinti writes in a grand way, with beautiful imagery and sweeping landscapes. For example, there is a dramatic scene on a glacier in Alaska. Having recently visited a glacier in Alaska, I can tell you, that Tinti captured that amazing environment, including the details of the sounds a glacier makes, which is what was most memorable for me.

DISLIKE- There were a few places where I felt my suspension of disbelief was tested; for example, there are two separate scenes with a whale that didn't work for me. It seemed too outrageous for the tone of the story.

 Although I love idea of this outlaw who can survive whatever comes his way, it became a little much to have so many bullet wounds that were patched up. In one chapter he shoots his own foot by accident, which leads to a memorable experience taking a young Loo trick-or-treating, but otherwise, doesn't seem to advance the story. 

RECOMMEND- Yes. Tinti is an imaginative writer that takes readers to unexpected places.  I was able to empathize and connect with all of her main characters. If you can let a few things slide, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley is worthy read. It's suspenseful and engaging.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishers and The Dial Press in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Samuel Hawley is a man with a past. Before becoming a single father he was a robber, a taker, a fighter, a shooter…. And he has the bullet wounds to show for it. Twelve scars, twelve stories. Now that he’s bringing up Loo he has to settle down, protect her from the legacy of his past, and make sure to keep the truth of her mother’s death from her.
All Loo wants is to understand. They moved constantly. Dad has a ton of guns. There is a shrine in the bathroom to her mother, but she doesn’t know much about her. Now they live in the same town as her maternal grandmother, and she can get answers, but they don’t match how she feels. Mabel swears her father killed her mother… is that just anger? Now that they’ve put down roots, there’s family to manage, school, a job and a relationship.
My Thoughts:
Each chapter is either from Loo’s POV or a flashback of Hawley’s, but it is easily identified and the transfers move seamlessly through the story. I loved the characters, and the story line was great. I could not put this book down! My only problem was that some characters, Mabel and the Principal especially, seemed a bit one note. Over all I loved this book and highly recommend it. Five Stars!
On the adult content scale, there is language, violence, sexual content and drinking. I would still let my 13 year old niece read it, but it’s worth mentioning. I give it a five.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Hannah Tinti, and Random House Publishing Group - Dial Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

Crime does not pay. We all know this, have all heard this from an early ago. It is certainly true in the life of Samuel Hawley. He is a hard man, a rough individual with a hair trigger and who all too easily looses control of his temper. You have to like him, anyway.

Part of his saving grace is the great love he has for his deceased wife, Lily, and the loving care he expends on his daughter Loo - he always tries to do the right thing where Loo is concerned. He always tries to be a good father.

And while it is very true that crime doesn't pay, in this instance it can be very entertaining. This is a swashbuckling tale that is a fast read and the characters grab your attention and hold it throughout. The setting wanders to special places, usually near large bodies of water, and all are beautifully described. Hannah Tinti is an author to watch.

Breaking news..A man leading a deplorable life has a daughter and molts into a loving and protective father. Can he shield her from his exploits of the past? Brilliantly constructed, the author heads each section by the sequential number of bullets scarring his body. These chapters alternate with the present day relationship between father, daughter and others. At first when Samuel Hawley has a child he is not able to face the responsibilities. However, when a tragic incident happens to his wife, his feelings change and he is now compelled to eliminate any threats of his past that may affect his daughter's life. Despite the roughness of both characters, I became entranced with them.Their complicated bond wound like a tight ligature, but not the stifling tight form but one of deep love and affection. Samuel's rough and tumble ways become a significant factor in Loo's development as they travel over the country trying to avoid his previous "contractors". The book is written in simple language until you come to a passage which strikes in your face with its luminosity. My only peeve is that this novel is being marketed as a mystery /thriller. For those who do not like this genre, I feel it will make them shy away from reading this. I read alot of mysteries and thrillers and would be hard pressed to place this in this category. Making this literary fiction would bring it to a wider audience..Here's to opening this heartwarming but gritty novel into your lives.

href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556459-the-twelve-lives-of-samuel-hawley" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1483453811m/30556459.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30556459-the-twelve-lives-of-samuel-hawley">The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71644.Hannah_Tinti">Hannah Tinti</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1906919966">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Hmmm...probably more like a 3.5, and normally I round up but for some reason I don't feel inclined to do so with this book, I think because it ultimately disappointed me a little. It's certainly engaging and entertaining, but I don't know if all of the interesting vignettes really come together as more than the sum of their parts. It just didn't fully jell for me, and felt a little gratuitous and pointless. But I did have a good time reading it.

I loved the format of this book. The chapters alternate between the current life of a (retired) career-criminal single father and his coming-of-age daughter moving around the U.S., and the past life of the father as he suffers twelve gunshot wounds in multiple situations. Definitely read the interview with the author at the end; she shares some good insights into the symbolism she used throughout the story (some of which I missed altogether!).

Finally! A book that uses alternate chapters correctly!

Sam is a single father to his daughter Loo, the mother died while Loo was still a baby. The life of the Hawley's is one of mystery, from their frequent moving to the 12 bullet wound scars covering Sam's body. This is a nicely paced page turner that will leave you feeling emotionally spent by the last page. The writing is engaging, the characters are fully developed and the plot is complex.