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A review by underthejunipertree
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked this up on the whim as soon as I saw that Ruth Ozeki recommended it.
The tale is about Samuel Hawley, a rugged father, and his daughter, Loo (Louise), who live a nomadic motel-to-motel life because of Hawley's criminal past. The story is divided two ways: the present from the perspective of Loo who has little idea of her father's life before her, and the past from Hawley's, detailing the story behind each bullet scar he carries. Eventually, the past catches up to the present, a structural set-up that parallels the plot's progression and culminates into its thriller-like conclusion.
As such, the plot progresses mainly in service of Hawley's past. Little by little, Loo discovers the reasons why they're on the run, the true story behind her mother's death, and why Hawley carries a dizzying stockpile of guns. On the other hand, I hesitate to say that there was significant present character development. Loo's anger issues never get substantially addressed, Hawley does as he's always done to take care of shady business, and Loo's grandmother never gets the closure the poor woman deserves. The narrative is decidedly sympathetic towards Hawley, whose gruff, handsome archetype seems designed for compassion despite being clearly troubled, but I think the story could have benefited from a deeper engagement in the reflections of the characters who suffered from his destructive choices. Loo loves her father so, but the blind spots seem to remain to the very end.
The tale is about Samuel Hawley, a rugged father, and his daughter, Loo (Louise), who live a nomadic motel-to-motel life because of Hawley's criminal past. The story is divided two ways: the present from the perspective of Loo who has little idea of her father's life before her, and the past from Hawley's, detailing the story behind each bullet scar he carries. Eventually, the past catches up to the present, a structural set-up that parallels the plot's progression and culminates into its thriller-like conclusion.
As such, the plot progresses mainly in service of Hawley's past. Little by little, Loo discovers the reasons why they're on the run, the true story behind her mother's death, and why Hawley carries a dizzying stockpile of guns. On the other hand, I hesitate to say that there was significant present character development. Loo's anger issues never get substantially addressed, Hawley does as he's always done to take care of shady business, and Loo's grandmother never gets the closure the poor woman deserves. The narrative is decidedly sympathetic towards Hawley, whose gruff, handsome archetype seems designed for compassion despite being clearly troubled, but I think the story could have benefited from a deeper engagement in the reflections of the characters who suffered from his destructive choices. Loo loves her father so, but the blind spots seem to remain to the very end.