Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

What a wonderful heart-warming read The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell was. Born with ocular albinism which gave his eyes a reddish tinge Sam attracted more than his fair share of unwanted attention and bullying over the years. But this was balanced by the love and support of his mother, father and a couple of close friends. His quiet coming of age story reminded me in some ways of A Prayer for Owen Meany, although the religious faith motif did not grate on me the way it did in that book. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded with adult Sam looking back on his life to date. I loved the book’s key theme - what truly makes an extraordinary life - embodied in the quote below. It’s a message I think we need to hear more often.

“…while we tend to remember the dramatic incidents that change history…we live for the quiet, intimate moments that mark not our calendars but our hearts: The day we marry. The days our children are born….And when our children grow, we remember those moments with a touch of melancholy:the day they get their driver’s license,…the day they marry, and the day they have their children….We realize it is in those quiet moments that each of us has the ability to make our lives extraordinary.”

Content Warnings

ava_mussell's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

thebookwormkatie's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

chronicallyplotting's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

<strong>Breath Taking</strong>

I have never cried so much during a book. Both happy and sad tears. This book was incredible. I am at a loss for words to describe the magnitude of this book. The lessons within. The pain, the horrible moments that become us. The path to forgiveness and understanding towards others. Empathy.
I found myself peaking ahead often to make sure Sam was ok, I worried about him when I wasn’t reading and the last 6 chapters I sobbed in my bed at 3:00 am happy and sad tears. This has become one of my top books.

Content Warnings

sorcha's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

andriayesia's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

More...