The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert DugoniMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is a prime example of a novel that is extraordinarily well written, whilst at the same time self-indulgent and chock full of unnecessary angst. I understand fully that those wed to the five star mantle they’ve placed over it will be crying out in protest, but this was in just in no way an enjoyable read.
The story is that of Sam Hill, born afflicted with ocular albinism, though blessed with parents who were completely devoted to him. From the time he opens his eyes as an infant, his mother is committed to making sure Sam understands that he is destined for extraordinary things. This is, however, as much a novel about unconditional love as it is a story of Sam’s struggle with faith. His mother is a devout Catholic who prays the rosary daily, attends mass regularly and is married to the conviction that God’s will is gospel. Although she raises Sam with these ideals at the heart of all they do, it is only though a journey fraught with pain and suffering that Sam comes to face and define his own relationship with God and organized religion.
The book bounces from past to present and back again, weaving threads of Sam’s childhood into a narrative that attempts to explicate his current state of being. In theory, the plot line and structure work—the reader is certainly attuned to the fact that his experiences as a child have made him who he is as an adult. Those experiences, however, are both heartbreaking and painful to read. Turning the pages felt like a betrayal of Sam, as he is laid bare and flogged over and over again. It hurt to read about man’s inhumanity to man when the victim was a young child, then a vulnerable adult.
The themes of family, faith, friendship and acceptance are all here, buried beneath a mountain of tears and suffering, and whilst the writing is superb, it was simply a difficult journey from the title page to the conclusion. I felt like I was walking uphill the entire way, pausing often to catch my breath and curse the hill. The summit just didn’t afford enough of a view to have made the trek there worthwhile.
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