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  • The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

  • A Novel
  • By: Robert Dugoni
  • Narrated by: Robert Dugoni
  • Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (198 ratings)
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The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell cover art

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

By: Robert Dugoni
Narrated by: Robert Dugoni
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Summary

Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s coming-of-age story is, according to Booklist, “a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.”

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.

©2018 by LaMesa Fiction LLC. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Author Robert Dugoni narrates Sam's life journey in an earnest and steadfast voice. Hearing the story through the author's own voice lends it an intimacy that enhances it wonderfully. Sam's life is filled with love, loss, tragedy, comedy, and everything in between. Sounding mature and dark at times, Dugoni artfully breathes life into every scene of a story about living life on the right terms regardless of its ups and downs." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Well written and narrated. Couldn’t put it down. Touched on difficult subjects - bullies, alcoholism, teenage sexuality

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book about the boy with red eyes

I loved this book. the performance was great and I could really picture every character and understand every relationship they had. it was a great read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story

Brilliant written. Feels real, the author narrates the book and is fantastic. Thoroughly recommend this audio book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Engaging story from start to finish, I shall definitely look out for other books from the same author

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfectly paced, sensitive and movingi

I loved this book from beginning to end, it kept a good steady pace, with characters we were given time to get to know. I have known adults who have grown up with difficult conditions that set them apart, and the impacts they and their families faced, the excruciating anxiety of early school days and so on are reflected carefully. There is a strong storyline throughout which grows and flourishes. This is a beautiful story, well written and well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful story of adversity

This was a fantastic story of little boy called Sam who had a rare eye condition and how society viewed him and mistreated him. With his mother’s incredible devotion and his father’s strength he grew up with so much love and security. Sam’s life was a bumpy one, but he had the best of friends that life could have given him to help him throughout it.
Sam’s mother was convinced her son was very special and was going to be someone incredible and indeed she was right.
This family unit was a solid bond of love and devotion right to the end and beyond.

I was incredibly sad when this story ended, as I wanted to hear further on in Sam’s life. I really wished this story took the reader to the end of Sam’s life. The author decided to end the story on a high note which was lovely.

I decided to listen to the audio version. I was a bit nervous when I found out the author was narrating this book, but he did an excellent job and the book was read with passion.

I really hope you will enjoy this heart warming book of love, hope and adversity to the difficulties faced in life.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Special story

What a delightful book. An easy read with a special story. The comments by author afterwards let it all make sense.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • JC
  • 25-04-23

An extraordinary story - wonderful.

What an inspiring, poignant story. Absolutely loved this with such great characters throughout. Completely different from all the other (also brilliant) books by Robert Dugoni but what a pleasant surprise Sam Hell truly is. The audio book felt all the more special knowing it was barrages by the author himself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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extraordinary

I absolutely loved this book. the characters are excellently drawn and the protagonist is compelling.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An endearing heartwarming story

4.25⭐️

Historical fiction set in the 1960’s and a coming of age. I had the audiobook read by the author. There is some non PC language used as was used in era, it’s made clear that it’s unacceptable. The narrator has an interesting voice.

Sam was born with red pupils which was enough to make him stand out getting called ‘Devil boy’ or ‘Sam Hell’ he has no friends until Ernie arrives at the school, he is also an outcast as he is the only African American kid in the school. I loved the friendship that evolved between them.

It’s a beautifully written slower paced character driven story, one to really open yourself up to, I think being written in the first person makes it easier to engage with Sam.
Sam has the most amazing caring supportive parents, his mom is k*ck a*s battling for him not to be discriminated against, no mean achievement for a woman in that era.

The story moves between time frames in Sam’s life. It’s an easy listen, with many dollops of humour, it will also have you on the edge of tears.
It really caught my interest, it’s lovely, easy listening, poignant and heartwarming.

The main characters in Sam’s life are all wonderful, their characters are beautifully crafted and have such depth. It’s not all sweetness and light, there are some characters to hate, and a lot of adversities to be navigated along the way.

If you enjoyed We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker I think you’ll enjoy this one a lot and vice versa.

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