Welcome to Litsy!

Finally getting into this one after a nudge from a book club friend. I love his Tracey Crosswhite series…this is a little different.

#bookspinbingo

Chilling at desk, reading with my book dragon, Lilly!! 🥰❤️

Life is good!!
BookmatesbyRhonda.etsy.com

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A pretty good read in the beginning. Strong character development and easy, flowing writing. However the second half brought my star rating down as it turned into a hallmark, sappy story which I cannot abide.

Book club selection for this month. Loved it. Not something I would have picked out for myself, but that is the magic of book club….you sometimes get wonderful surprises like this gem of a book.

This was a hard book to put down and I hated to leave the characters behind once the book ended. The author‘s acknowledgment opened with an explanation of the story‘s origin so I‘m glad to have read that as well.

What an extraordinary book!! I enjoyed this entire book and can‘t wait to read more by Dugoni. I loved the connected thread throughout the story, faith and that everything really does have a purpose. The friendship of Sam, Micky, and Ernie is breathtaking. I couldn‘t put it down!!! Book #48 in 2021

Like the title says, a very extraordinary book!! Highly recommend.

Well, I barely met my goals. I liked this book, but became exasperated with it in the end. Forgive me if I offend, but it became too Catholic for me, more Hallmark than I like. I opened it not knowing what to expect. HAPPY SOLSTICE! Today is my last day of school with the kids. I'll have more time to accomplish these #Readathon goals. Thanks @Andrew65 for hosting

This #Readathon coincides with my last full week of work with students. Our last day is June 21st. Possibly the longest year. My goals will be:
🌥to finish the tagged book
⛅find the next read to share with my son
🌤and preview a dozen new picture books
☀️start a Follett order for the fall
#JoysofJune @Andrew65

I‘m sticking with my first impression. This was a good story, but there were no amazing sentences that demanded I stop and reread and savor them. And the ending, well that went off the rails. When characters behave in ways that go against character just to have things neatly tied up, it weakens the whole story for me. So it‘s a low pick. (I had to google ocular albinism - internet photo.) I‘m curious to see what my book club thinks about it.

My irl book club read for June. I‘m 11 chapters in (short chapters) and so far an interesting story, but no great sentences that made me stop and reread and ponder.

This book read more like a memoir to me than it did a novel. I‘m not much for memoirs, because they usually don‘t hold my interest. Maybe I am reading the wrong memoirs? I really did like this story though. By the end of the book, I felt I knew the characters personally. I am kind of sad that I‘ve finished it, because I have to tell Sam Hell goodbye. This book was definitely different then any book I‘ve ever read.

Loved it.

Finally got the chance to read this book and it doesn‘t disappoint me. A warm and beautiful story. Enjoy this book! 4.5 stars out of 5.

A fast paced read which is my #bookspin choice. It‘s a sad but inspiring story of a boy who has red eyes from birth because of medical reasons. Story is crafted beautifully with the touch of emotions, family, friendship, love, loss, & faith. I specially appreciated Sam‘s frnds & family. It‘s all about breaking down and standing stronger as the days pass by. 4🌟

#bookspinbingo

@aperfectmjk @candority #Cupidbookswap There's a whole pack of these chocolates but just one in the picture. Thanks so much!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a wonderful story!! This book follows a boy named Sam Hell who is born with red eyes. We whiteness his birth, his school years,
Including a bully, and all through his adult life. His mother is a strong Catholic believer. She continuously encourages Sam to have faith.

Great book! It follows the life of Sam Hill, a boy born with ocular albinism, meaning he has red eyes. Short chapters makes it go by quickly, and I really enjoyed the characters.
⭐️: 4.5/5

With rave reviews, I think my expectations for this book were a little too high.
While I enjoyed it, I‘m not sure why I didn‘t absolutely love it. I think maybe the ending was tied up just a little too neatly for me.
However, the characters were written beautifully. I adored Mickie and Ernie. Sam‘s parents were also wonderfully written.
Faith, unconditional love and firm friendship in the face of discrimination and a journey of self acceptance

Book 145
A book about a boy born with red eyes, whose mom taught him he was destined for an extraordinary life. He found the opposite to be true at Catholic school, but found camaraderie with other kids that didn't fit in. The book oscillates between his childhood and his adult life. The story is not rich, but the characters are well-written and complex.bI expected to love it more after reading others' reviews, but it was good.

If you liked A Prayer for Owen Meany, you might want to pick this book up. I thought it had a similar feel to it and was overall a very good story.🍁

This is in my #TBR list.

Any thoughts?

Day 16 : #Wordsofoctober #extraordinary

My sister-in-law told me I needed to move this one up my TBR list and I'm so glad I did!

A boy with a physical disadvantage and the mother who was convinced he would lead an extraordinary life.

This story was heartbreaking, uplifting and all together wonderful. A real gem 🙂

July WRAPUP! Most of these are audio books but I had a lot of great books this month!

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For June, I had one extraordinary (Roxane Gay), one close to home (Lilian), one fun political ( Would be president), one that didn‘t stand the test of time ( Savannah blues), and a fake German heiress (Anna). Only one nonfiction (more typical).
Good month, but not spectacular. Lots covered.

Sam is born and he is different from other kids. When his dad first looks at him he makes the the statement, “What the Sam Hell?” His name is Sam Hill and as he journeys through Catholic school with the support of his parents and his mom who knows God‘s will make it all ok, you read the story of Sam‘s journey. Loved this book.

Oh I loved this, what a great story. I'm kind of sad I am finished now :-P Should have paced myself! 🙂 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My book club pick for this month and it was entertaining. Sam Hill was born with ocular albinism giving him red eyes. The kids at school called him Devil Boy. This is the story of Sam and his extraordinary life.
My Catholic grade school experience was rather different than Sam‘s but I was a local pharmacist at a small independent pharmacy so I can attest that was a very accurate portrayal. I enjoyed this much more than I expected. 4⭐️

I got a 'new to me' van and it has the perfect spot for my book...yes I carry a book with me anytime I leave the house😃

I feel this ♥️ ⏰ ♥️

So far this is a really great read! #FriendsWithBooks

Where do I begin-a novel of unconditional love, struggle, friendship, prejudice, bullying, perseverance, survivors guilt, heroism, and God's will. A quick read because you won't put it down. You will gasp-chuckle-cry-and cheer, and it won't matter because your heart will thank you for all the emotions.

Oh, I really enjoyed this. It‘s basically a story of love and friendship overcoming some of life‘s cruelties. There are some heart tugging bits, but there is an underlying theme of hope and happiness.
#hatonthecover #booked2020

I loved this book from the very start. The characters are wonderfully detailed and developed that you instantly fall in love with the heroes and despise the villains. Like great storytellers do, this book leads you into understanding why the characters are the way they are giving a perspective to wider eyes and open mind.

I sometimes listen to audio books while I work or do chores. This is the first time I felt like I really wish I hadn‘t ‘multitasked‘ a book. I loved this story and the characters and the message so much, I wish I had given it it‘s proper full attention and read each word. I will probably read this one again ( which I never do ) so I can enjoy each and every word. If this is on your TBR pile/list. Stop everything and read it.

I'm a sucker for a great coming-of-age story, so I devoured this in less than 24 hours. I loved the characters, their interactions, and development. Although the writing was great and the dialogue well done, it was lacking the profound, beautiful prose that stops you in your tracks & makes you reread lines multiple times. I only highlighted one quote in the book. It was so well written, though, and I totally fell in love with Sam and his friends.

This was such a sad but heartwarming book. I don't normally enjoy books like this but I really connected with Sam as a child and teen. The author does a great job of getting the reader to fall for the characters. Maybe it's because I'm still searching for my own "group of misfits" and was also often made fun of as a teen. Adulthood can soften, but not totally extinguish, some of those feelings!

Starting this one today! I'm still on a (self-imposed) book buying ban, so working on my full TBR shelves! I do miss my weekly deliveries of books 😢

This is a good story of a boy with a unique eye condition and the challenges he faced as he grew, but it's also a touching story of deep and lasting friendship, and fierce support from those friends and his family. There are some descriptions of bullying and violence, and I wish I had known that before picking it up. I'm still glad I read it, but that awareness will be part of any recommendation I make.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. The writing was excellent and I loved the story. It really showed how hard growing up is when you are different and it combined some religious aspects along with strong themes of family and friendship. It tugs at the heart strings while bringing up some really good points about how to be the person you want to be and live your life fully. I would definitely recommend this one!

#AyUpAugust Want #SomethingGood to read???Try this book. It‘s part coming of age, part feel good. Samuel Hill is born with a rare eye condition - red colored pupils, earning him the nickname “Devil Boy” And while many find his plight a curse, his very religious Catholic mother sees it as a gift from God. Her strength & belief gives Sam the courage to embrace his uniqueness. A lovely read but a #BorrowNotBuy 🤓

My friends are raving about this one so I‘m gonna give it a go! Only 50% on Litsy though 😬

I was pulled into the story by the writing and the narration. It was interesting to view the world through the lens of Sam, someone who's different, yet not so different. I highly recommend the audio version.

I‘ve just managed to finish this. This definitely isn‘t my normal type of read, however I fancied something different. I absolutely loved it and I‘m a little bit sad that it‘s now all over! Following the life of Sam Hill, when he started catholic school, through to him being middle aged was lovely. This book is full of joy, sorrow, laughter and grief. Absolutely loved it ❤️

A coming of age journey of Sam Hill, or “Sam Hell” , a boy born with ocular albinism “red eyes”; growing up different and finding inner self-acceptance. The author Robert Dugoni does an excellent job narrating his book. If you have an inner awkward child or been bullied or have felt out of place, this book will speak to you. A must read! 5 stars!