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.

This book brought out so many feeling 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 deal with bullies, prejudices, the fear of those who can't deal with those who are different, while having a mom who knows he will be 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 hurt for Sam and others who are treated cruelly, I was also so aware of how much Sam had 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 book.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

From the synopsis and the title of this book, I was looking forward to a tale of an extraordinary man doing extraordinary things. Robert Dugoni writes well, but the story never reached beyond the ordinary. The plot gimmick of ocular albinism which gave Sam his red eyes soon lost its capacity to astonish. Frankly when I researched further out of curiosity, I learned an individual with the lack of pigment required for ocular albinism would probably also have other physical characteristics that would set him apart. However that didn't seem to be the case in this story. Think average kid with red, rather than blue or brown irises.
There were several powerful forces driving the action in this story -- the judgmental townspeople, especially those associated with the Roman Catholic church and the vicious bully who dogs Sam's every step. Aligned against them is Sam's mother whose religious faith borders on fervor.
Sam drifts through life in somewhat of a fugue state, the perfect student, loving son and pitiful outlier to life. Rarely does his sense of injustice rise beyond lukewarm. I kept hoping the worm would turn and that his mother's axiom that it was all God's will would play out in a dramatic fashion. Unfortunately the resolution was so long in coming, I had really lost interest in Sam and his red eyes. The author's message was obviously well-intentioned and driven by his own religious convictions, but I could not share the faith that directed him on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and the hope of a miracle.

I enjoyed several previous books written by Robert Dugoni, so I was excited to see he had written a new book. I wasn’t sure I would like it since it is very different from his typical mystery/thriller type books I have read. I kept casting this book aside, I stead reading my typical psychological thriller. I decided I wanted a change of pace and finally picked up Sam Hell. I was shocked how quickly I was sucked into the book, engaged in every word. Sam was born with a form of albinism that only effects his eyes making the red. As a kid, he is tormented by his classmates and physically assaulted by one child, David, in particular on multiple occasions. His mom Maddy insists on her son attending catholic schools, even though his classmate call him “Devil Boy”. Throughout the book, his mom reiterates that everything is “God’s will” and happens for a reason. The book juxtaposes Sam’s childhood and life as an adult where he is still friends with his childhood friends Mickey and Ernie and working as an optometrist. Overall, an engaging and interesting read.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

In his latest standalone novel, Robert Dugoni shows just how versatile he can be with his writing. His dazzling prose and wonderful ability to convey a story will warm the heart of many readers throughout this powerful novel. Sam Hill was born just outside the Bay Area to two loving parents. As he tells in the early part of the story, the love his parents showed him was unlike anything else in the world. However, Sam was born with a unique feature—red irises, called ocular albinism—which would come to haunt him in the years to come. Though it did not affect his ability to see, Sam was scorned by other young children and faced a significant issue trying to get into the local Catholic school. However, his persistent mother never lost the faith and Sam was soon enrolled alongside the other pupils. His eyes did cause many an issue, helping him develop the moniker, Sam Hell. This did not deter him, though kept the other children from playing alongside him. Friends with Ernie Cantwell, a young black boy—the only in the school—Sam discovered that some children take things to extremes and was severely bullied. As hew grew, Sam and Ernie remained the best of friends, soon adding Michaela ‘Mickie’ Kennedy to their brood. As the story progresses, the reader learns of Sam’s older years and how things developed for him, allowing life lessons and personal epiphanies to shape his way of life. With each part of the book flashing forward to 1989, the reader is able to discover a ‘modern’ narrative and how Sam has used all those lessons to shape what came to be his greatest moments, influenced deeply by his mother. Those fans of Dugoni’s work will marvel at this personal story that has all the ingredients his police procedurals as well. Those seeking a touching story that does not get too sappy will also love this and may develop a love of Robert Dugoni’s writing in general.

I have long loved the writing that Dugoni puts out and find myself completely captivated by his current series set in Seattle. However, it is wonderful to see an author step away from his/her comfort zone and develop an ability to write with an entirely new set of characters and plots. Dugoni does this so effortlessly and pulls the reader in the middle of an emotional story that holds the reader’s attention until the very last phrase. Sam Hill is a wonderful character whose maturation is a fundamental part of the story. His backstory and ongoing character development provides the reader with a rich understanding of the issues that he faces as a child with a physical trait that distinguishes him from others. Secondary characters, such as Ernie and Mickie provide a wonderful flavour for the story and are offset by the more grounded Mr. and Mrs. Hill, who have their own quirks. The vignettes that occur within each part of the larger story provide a wonderful collage of moments that, when sewn together, provided a powerful set of characters that convey a powerful message. I almost could not tell that this was Dugoni, so used to his mystery and police stories, though I am blessed to have seen how detailed he made the entire experience. Dugoni offers up some wonderful themes throughout the piece and arcs them together effectively, touching the reader at just the right moments. The short chapters help push things along and the spiritual nature of the narrative does not create a Christian inculcation, but surely serves as an effective theme in Sam’s life and the reader’s experience with this novel.

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for such a powerful book. I can only hope to read more standalone novels of this calibre in the years to come.

This is an extraordinary story! The author takes us on a journey, a journey with Sam Hill through his life from birth to middle age, and the challenges of being a “little different”. I cannot say enough good things about this book. The writing is excellent, the story never lags and it just gets better the farther you get into it. It is told in first person by Sam, I laughed out loud with him, I cried and I felt his pain and sadness when the school kids were so mean to him.
After I finished the last paragraph, I closed my eyes and thought of all this book touched, it touches the life of a child that is belittled and bullied because he has red eyes. It touches the love of a mother who loves her child unconditionally and knows he can overcome the hurdles he will encounter, her support, wisdom and faith gave Sam wings. But most importantly it touches the love in a marriage between Max and Maddie, the love they possess will be life changing not only for Sam but for his two best friends. Last but not least, it touches the value of friendship, the three “outcast” friends in this story support and hold each other up through their entire lives.
This book has it all, love, laughter, sadness, discrimination, wisdom, abuse, and determination. I absolutely loved it. One of those hard to put down and couldn’t wait to get back to it books.
I thank Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Highly, highly recommend!!!

I absolutely loved this book! I am a huge fan of Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series, so I was excited to get an advanced copy of this. Not knowing what to expect, I was immediately drawn into the story and the complexity of the characters. So different from his other books but so worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance reader copy, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by awesome author, Robert Dugoni in exchange for an honest review. From the first page, the voice of Sam captured me and held me spellbound as he looks back on his life. Most significant was being born into a loving, Catholic family with an eye condition, resulting in red eyes (ocular albinism). From kindergarten through age forty, I could not stop turning the pages as Sam tries valiantly to figure out his purpose in life. His mother always told him he was going to lead an extraordinary life but Sam struggles with himself, relationships, faith and religion, bullies, prejudice, and insecurity. I loved the depth of Dugoni’s characters from best friends Ernie and Mickie, his religious mother and introspective, wise father, to a thoroughly evil bully. Life is not always easy for Sam and his journey is dramatic, honest, and insightful. Such a very special book about an extraordinary guy and his supportive family and superb friends! Don’t miss Dugoni’s Author Acknowledgments at the end, they always mean so much to me; I get great, warm feelings from such a wonderful author, thanks for another great, inspirational book! Highly recommended!!!

Robert Dugoni has over the last few years emerged as one of my absolutely favorite authors. This book takes a solid step away from the mysteries I have enjoyed in the past, telling us a tall of the boy with red eyes, Sam Hill, also called Sam Hell, his life, his friendships, his enemies, his family and the consequences of certain actions. While this wasn't at all the story I expected it to be, but I really liked it. It's a heart-warming story that tells us that the contents of one's character is far more important than what you appear to be on the surface, such as when you have red eyes.

Loved the story! Sam Hill is born with ocular albinism - he has red eyes. Now I've never heard of anyone with red eyes so I had to look it up and I couldn't find anything that said someone with this problem would have red eyes, so I guess it is just inventive or maybe I didn't do enough research. Anyway, having red eyes caused Sam to be bullied and teased all the time. Other kids at his Catholic elementary school in Burlingame, California, called him the "devil boy" and "Sam Hell" and played mean pranks on him. Sam only made one friend, Ernie Cantwell, who was also ostracized at school because he was the only black child in the school. Rober Dugoni is the worst bully in the school and Sam is afraid of him. Sam's very religious mother always told him that he was extraordinary and special to explain his red eyes. This is the story of Sam's life and how he comes to terms with his unusual condition. The characterization and the plot are very good and the story moved at a good pace. At times it's a very emotional book and I felt empathy for Sam and what he was enduring.

Thanks to Robert Dugoni and Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.

4.5 Extraordinary Stars

I absolutely adored this book. What a beautifully simple, yet extraordinary man Sam Hill was. And he lead a small, but extraordinary life. The writing was breathtaking and heartfelt. Sam Hill was mocked and bullied for being different, but through amazing friends and the support of a loving and accepting family who allowed him to accept who he was and who we could be, he rose above to become a truly extraordinary version of himself.

You can never go wrong with Dugoni, and this book just proves it. A masterful tale, superbly crafted and sure to evoke a plethora of emotion.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

#TheExtraordinaryLifeOfSamHell #NetGalley

5 Stars for this beautifully written story about the life of Sam Hill, aka "Sam Hell", the kid born with ocular albinoism or "red eyes". You follow his life, from his early years at Catholic school where he is bullied and called devil boy- to meeting Ernie & Mickie, his 2 closest friends who show him what true friendship really is. And even though Sam deals with some horrible people along the way, he also has some wonderful people who have his back.
I loved everything about this book- especially the characters and relationships. It shows love & respect and overcoming life's obstacles, all while still being a good person! And although it made me tear up a few times, I found it to be a feel good book that left me smiling at the end! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, loved it!

Completely captivating. Found myself unable to put this book down. The writing flowed in a natural way which made this book an easily digestible read. What a wild ride of a plot too. Bildungsroman at its best.

Sam's story is at once uplifting, sad, and heartbreaking. I'm not a religious person but I was raised in a church environment and this book brought back a lot of memories.

This book was captivating and I didn’t want to put it down. The time jumps frustrated me a bit, as I would get really into a time jump and then it would leave for a few chapters, but otherwise I loved reading about Sam and all that he went to. The love interest felt predictable and I wanted him to figure it out already but otherwise I gasped a few times at some developments.

I truly liked this book. It was well written and a really good story. I felt like these families could have been neighbors. I think we all know of a bully like Freemon. I rate this book at 3.8

I gave this book several tries and realized it was not for me.

Robert Dugoni never fails to captivate the reader. Totally engrossing storyline with unforgettable characters.
He is a master storyteller. Couldn't put the book down!

The life of Sam Hill is not easy... born with ocular albinism he has a very rare genetic disorder resulting in red colored eyes. Robert Dugoni presents us with a close look at a boy bullied for being different who continues to live a life on the edges, never accepting himself and always looking for the easy path to love. His mother and two close friends are a great support network for Sam while he searches for the real purpose of his life. A gripping tale of bullying and self acceptance, with a beautiful perspective on the live of family and friends, this book is fast paced and the characters are so intriguing.

Namaste.
My soul honors your soul. I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides.
I honor the light, love, truth, beauty, and peace within you, because it is also within me.
In sharing these things we are united; we are the same; we are one. – Legral onion Aug 2014

What the Sam Hell? This kid has red eyes! Sam Hill is the only son of an only son. He was born with a rare condition, ocular albinism, which gave him red pupils. His mother Madeline “Maddie” Hill, a devout Catholic, deemed it, “God’s will.” She loves her son with unconditional love and is determined that others will too. His father Maxwell, a pharmacist, loves him steadfastly as well, but it is his mother who is his champion.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni is the first book in a long time to make me cry. As the author describes in his Acknowledgements, the story of Sam Hill has very personal roots. For me as a reader, it opened up memories and triggered thoughts and feelings that had me reflecting on my own life. Unlike Sam, I am not an only child. I am a fraternal twin, and six siblings arrived in the following years. My brother and I were born six weeks prematurely, and on each subsequent birthday, my mother would describe her worry over our first days and weeks as she and Dad prayed for our survival. Like Sam’s mother, she was a woman of deep faith. Like Sam, we attended parochial school, where, unlike Sam, “the devil boy,” we fit in.

There was so much about this story that felt familiar and touched my heart. When Sam starts school, he is ignored because he is different. He is mercilessly bullied by David Freemon. He has no friends until he meets a “misfit” named Ernie and another, a girl named Mickie. It is because of his own yearning to belong and be accepted that he is able to accept these others whom others perceive as different. I love Ernie and Mickie because they love Sam unconditionally too. They love him even when he doesn’t seem to love himself.

He struggles with his faith. Who wouldn’t? Even one of the nuns is unkind to him just because of his appearance. She doesn’t acknowledge his intelligence, his humor, or his gentleness. She doesn’t go out of her way to promote Christian kindness and acceptance from his peers. He prays to be “normal,” but he feels that his prayers fall on deaf ears.

Dugoni’s story shuttles between Sam’s childhood and his adult life. The book starts a bit slowly, and I found the childhood scenes to be quite painful. As an adult, Sam functions well. He is an ophthalmologist. He has a girlfriend. Grammar school pals Ernie and Mickie are still a big part of his life, as are his parents. God – God is not. Being told that everything happens for a reason and it is God’s will is hard to accept. Bullying. Suffering of any kind. Even being told that you are “extraordinary”. It places a burden on a kid. What if I’m not? What if I fail? I identified with that. How could God have great plans for me? Sam doesn’t just struggle with discrimination and with his faith. He struggles to believe in himself, to find himself worthy.

Anyone who has felt discrimination of any kind - gender, racial, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, etc., will be touched by this story. Anyone who has struggled to believe in a higher power, especially via an organized religion but perhaps not exclusively so, can see parts of themselves in this book. Through Sam, his parents, Ernie, and Mickie, I found myself not looking forward, as Max put it, but looking back. Or, maybe looking inward. By the end of this book, I too, had red eyes.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Robert Dugoni for the opportunity to read this ARC version of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

Namaste.

5 stars