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mdgoodrich's review
3.0
2.5 ⭐️— I liked the characters, I think, but then I didn’t feel emotionally invested in them. I was curious where the book would go, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or desperate for one thing to happen over another. The most interesting part was the scene with Hawley and Maureen. That’s also the only section I’d consider to be a true ‘Thriller’…the rest of the book was not. I also wouldn’t describe this story as a ‘Mystery’ — I’d say this is a family drama with an anti-hero dad who is still finding his way, loves his daughter, and does what he feels is right based on his narrow life experience (i.e. violence is the answer to survive). I thought the writing was a bit pretentious…the note at the end about the font used in the book was extra annoying (and that’s coming from a graphic designer). I would have loved more back story on Lily and her mom with some chapters dedicated to their perspectives to each other, Loo, and especially Hawley.
internationalkris's review
5.0
I just finished The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley over the weekend and I thought it was a terrific read – top quality writing, gritty, lots of nods to the mystery and thriller worlds but overall it was more of a literary fiction piece. The book begins when Samuel Hawley arrives in the seaside town of Olympus, Massachusetts where his wife grew up. She died years earlier just after the birth of her daughter Loo, and Hawley has been moving the small family from place to place ever since. When they get to Olympus the mood is heavy. Loo's grandmother refuses to see her. Bullies quickly descend at middle school. Hawley's hope of becoming a fisherman is rebuffed by the locals. But he persists through these challenges in trying to carve out a home for a his daughter and we see Loo also struggle to create roots. Alternating with chapters about their time in Olympus are flashbacks to Hawley's twelve bullet wounds and his involvement in a life of crime. As the scenes of his dark past draw closer to the present he is creating with Loo, the reader trembles. This is a gorgeously written book, with unique characters and settings (that glacier in Alaska!). Questions resonate even as the narrative draws to a conclusion. I am looking forward to a November book club discussion on this one.
earlyandalone's review
5.0
I didn't think I'd enjoy a book filled with violence and love of guns, but sometimes life can be surprising. Because along with the violence and the guns is tenderness and love and adventure and mystery and longing. It kept me up until 1 last night finishing and I'm not even mad about it.
nataliem22's review against another edition
5.0
This was an absolutely brilliant book! I enjoyed the parallelism, the way it weaved back and forth through time, the scathing look at what it means to come-of-age. This is the kind of book that I wish was taught in creative writing classes, because reading it felt like a masterclass in craft. Highly recommend.
illidia316's review
5.0
The is an amazing book with such real characters. Hawley and Loo are such interestingly unique characters, and the story is very well written and intriguing. I hated putts this book down, and hated seeing it end because I still want more of this universe.
blok_sera_szwajcarskiego's review against another edition
4.0
'Dwanaście żywotów Samuela Hawleya' ma wszystko, czego potrzebuje książka, by mnie oczarować.
Niejednoznacznych bohaterów z niestandardową przeszłością oraz nietuzinkowym charakterem.
Konflikt między bohaterami a mieszkańcami.
Miejsce akcji z prowincjonalnym klimatem.
Drobne elementy, które są moimi ulubionymi w literaturze.
DŻSH ma to wszystko, a mimo to nie usatysfakcjonowała mnie w pełni.
Uważam, że z bohaterów można było wycisnąć trochę więcej - jako że mieli wszystko, by tego dokonać. Podobnie z fabułą. Wystarczyłoby książkę delikatnie dokręcić, co w moim mniemaniu wyszłoby jej na dobre.
Nie przekreśla jednak to faktu, że do złych książek nie należy, i mimo wszystko jej lektura nie była stratą czasu.
Niejednoznacznych bohaterów z niestandardową przeszłością oraz nietuzinkowym charakterem.
Konflikt między bohaterami a mieszkańcami.
Miejsce akcji z prowincjonalnym klimatem.
Drobne elementy, które są moimi ulubionymi w literaturze.
DŻSH ma to wszystko, a mimo to nie usatysfakcjonowała mnie w pełni.
Uważam, że z bohaterów można było wycisnąć trochę więcej - jako że mieli wszystko, by tego dokonać. Podobnie z fabułą. Wystarczyłoby książkę delikatnie dokręcić, co w moim mniemaniu wyszłoby jej na dobre.
Nie przekreśla jednak to faktu, że do złych książek nie należy, i mimo wszystko jej lektura nie była stratą czasu.
jenmat1197's review
4.0
Samuel Hawley is a single father of a girl named Loo (Louise). He has been her sole caregiver since she was less than 1 year old. Loo has no memories of her mother, and her dad rarely talks about her. He keeps pictures of her in the house, but hidden from visitors. Loo and Samuel have spent most of Loo's life on the run. Moving from town to town. Samuel's past is always chasing him, so he ties to keep ahead of it. Now that Loo is a teenager, he wants to give her a more stable life. So he settles in his late wife's hometown and begins steady work. Loo becomes more and more curious about the mother she never knew, and meets her grandmother for what she assumes is the first time. Her grandmother has never approved of Samuel, but she is willing to let him back in her life so she can be a part of Loo's. Loo begins to piece together her father's past by the scars - all 12 from bullets from his criminal past - he has. His past has come back for him, and this time Loo is caught in the middle.
This was a good book. I cannot imagine being shot 12 times and surviving to tell about it. Hawley's past is a big part of this book - almost each chapter a story of how he received a scar. But woven in there is the story of Loo and her grandmother, and Loo's mother before Loo was born. The book did end a bit abruptly - like books sometimes do - but that is never my favorite. I like a nice clean break, but alas, I didn't get it here.
Check it out.
This was a good book. I cannot imagine being shot 12 times and surviving to tell about it. Hawley's past is a big part of this book - almost each chapter a story of how he received a scar. But woven in there is the story of Loo and her grandmother, and Loo's mother before Loo was born. The book did end a bit abruptly - like books sometimes do - but that is never my favorite. I like a nice clean break, but alas, I didn't get it here.
Check it out.
miranda_is_currently_reading's review
5.0
4.5 stars.
This book was piercing. Both beautiful and heartbreaking. It consumed me, and I found myself unwilling to do anything else until I had finished it-even amid the numerous breaks I was forced to take when I came across a particularly shocking revelation-only to find, upon finishing it, that I was upset I wasn't able to read more about Loo and Hawley. Absolutely incredible.
This book was piercing. Both beautiful and heartbreaking. It consumed me, and I found myself unwilling to do anything else until I had finished it-even amid the numerous breaks I was forced to take when I came across a particularly shocking revelation-only to find, upon finishing it, that I was upset I wasn't able to read more about Loo and Hawley. Absolutely incredible.