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    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel
    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel
    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel

    Written by Robert Dugoni

    Narrated by Robert Dugoni

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.

    Winner of Suspense Magazine’s Crimson Scribe Award.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateApr 24, 2018
    ISBN9781543661613
    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel
    Author

    Robert Dugoni

    Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, which has sold more than four million books worldwide. He is also the author of the bestselling David Sloane series; the Charles Jenkins series including The Eighth Sister, the stand-alone novels The 7th Canon, Damage Control, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, for which he won an AudioFile Earphones Award for the narration; and the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post best book of the year. He is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award. His books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com.

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    Reviews for The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

    4.5/5

    1,688 ratings128 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Please don’t leave this earth without reading this incredible book!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book made me laugh and cry and was such a beautiful story about resilience and the unending love parents have for their children.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book so much. I made me laugh & cry. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
    • 5/5
      Everything made this a great book. It is the best story I’ve read in a long while. It is a bit out of my usual genre and I was glad I took the plunge. Well written and narrated. It is about life, love, and becoming human.
    • 5/5
      I read this book on my Kindle back in 2020 and loved it then, but what a treat to listen to it this time around! I was even inspired to do some housework just so I could keep listening!
    • 5/5
      Dugoni’s writing pulled me deep into the life story of Sam Hill born with a rare eye condition of red eyes. His feisty, faith-filled, mother’s relationship with him is courageous and inspiring. He faces so many challenges and hardships, each written about in a way that causes a lot of tension but every single challenge either has quick redemption or a resolution to it long term due to strength of character and yes, faith! Raw and real keeps it from being a trite story of belief but it is rather a gritty one of a hard won perspective of the triumph of love, forgiveness, and the mystery of faith. I will miss Sam, his mom, and Mickey!
    • 5/5
      Truly, an extraordinary book! Every Mom, especially boy-Moms, needs to read this book. Its resonating message has now become a part of my take-aways of life, motherhood, and Faith. Thank you, Robert Dugoni!
    • 5/5
      This book is well written , the storyline is wonderful and it is beautifully read by the narrator.
    • 5/5
      Top 10 book I've read. It wasn't as impactful to me as The Kite Runner, but it is close and belongs in the same conversation. I also enjoyed the author's performance. This is a fantastic book.
    • 5/5
      This is an exceptional novel, combining the best of so many aspects of life. Remarkably honest and engaging throughout.
    • 5/5
      I thought about this incredible book often between each read. It was unpredictable, heartwarming, uplifting, and thought provoking! Thank you!!!
    • 5/5
      Part slice of life, part thriller, part romance. I could really identify with the main characters struggles, both in life and faith. The last part feels a little contrived and out of character, but other than that I loved it. This has got to be one of my favorite books on Everand.
    • 5/5
      Loved this story of Sam Hill! What an extraordinary life to share and learn from?!
    • 5/5
      Wow! What a fun, heartwarming journey with complex characters facing tough social pressures. Loved this book! Definitely need to read with tissues at hand.
    • 4/5
      This book has been around for a while, but I just recently found it. It has been well-reviewed by many readers. I found it quite enjoyable, though toward the end it got a little more predictable and heavy-handed than I would have liked. I can definitely recommend it, especially for those who like a feel-good story with a touch of spirituality.
    • 4/5
      Excellent story, both a coming-of-age tale and a study of faith, morality, tolerance, and love. I very much enjoyed reading it.
    • 5/5
      I loved every bit of it! All of the Characters too!
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful story! A Heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, deep novel to see life through a misfit boy’s eyes as he turns into a man. Love love loved this book!
    • 5/5
      Real,profound and deeply moving - both to laughter and tears!
    • 5/5
      It was a nice, pleasant journey and different from some of Robert's other books. Unlike the other series, this book needs no sequel. You will feel complete and satisfied when you finish this story.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful story about families and faith, characters you care for and forgiveness.
    • 5/5
      tremendous book, just could not stop listening once i started, highly recommend
    • 5/5
      Awesome story! Absolutely loved the characters and flow of the book!!
    • 5/5
      This book is incredible. I loved every minute of it. The reader is able to relate to so many parts of it. I relived the last hours of my mother’s life when Sam’s mother died. A great read.
    • 5/5
      Intriguing and thought-provoking! Would highly recommend to anyone who wants to believe!
    • 5/5
      May last book for 2023 and i loved it. I miss my mom and my dad. they were devotees of mama mary too. So many life lessons from this book.
    • 4/5
      Deeply moving story of one man's growing into understanding of what's really important in life.
    • 4/5
      A work of fiction you'd only wish to be real. Heartfelt and inspirational, with characters that you'd although love or love to hate. Structuring could have been better and same goes for the title, but otherwise I'd highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      The story threads that span a lifetime, the unconditional and consistent love of a mom, the power of the rosary!
    • 5/5
      This book was not what I was expecting. It was so different from the author’s other books which I love. This book will touch your heart and encourage you to live your life in an extraordinary way.
      Thank you Robert Dugoni for a beautiful novel.