Finally, a book with a wonderful story about people who could actually exist. I’m so tired of books whose protagonist is a superhero that can defeat ten armed assassins with his hands tied behind his back while making love to two women, all while texting his mother Happy Birthday.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell Review is different, and it spoke to me.
Sam Hill (the character's real name) was born with red eyes, a condition known as “Ocular Albinism”. That characteristic caused him to be ostracized as a child. Often referred to as “Sam Hell”, he was also called by many, including the members of his church, “The Devil Boy”.
Despite Sam’s challenges, he goes on to live an extraordinary life. He does become a real-life hero, but in a more subtle fashion than your typical fictional hero.
This book is well written in the first person, with believable characters, both good guys and bad guys. Having attended a Catholic parochial school, I can identify with many of Sam’s experiences in the early part of the book. But even when you remove the religious inferences, you can sympathize with Sam, as every religion has their unique teachings and superstitions.
The author, Robert Dugoni, attacks many of society’s ills. Subjects like poverty, racism, and physical abuse are addressed. Not in your face viewpoints, but in a subtle fashion.
The book did drag at times as the author emphasized the details of some of Sam’s life events a little more than necessary, but not enough to dissuade you from staying engaged.
I smiled a lot when I read this book. Go ahead and read The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell; there is a good chance you will smile, too.
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