Cover Image: The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley

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Member Reviews

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Random House and netgalley for this ARC.

Sacrifice, toughness, and clever ways to kill are skills a little girl learns from her father but this book is not what it may seem at first. Pulls you in and doesn't let go til the end.

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This is an interesting book and quite honestly, I’m kind of at a loss on how best to write this review without giving too much away yet at the same time trying to do justice to the book. There are so many things to talk about with this book, so many angles to explore, so many points to discuss, it’s actually a bit overwhelming.

From the get go, when we as readers are introduced to the main character Samuel Hawley, we already know that he is a tough guy with a dark past – a past that possibly involved some amount of violence given the number of guns and ammunition he owned. Not long into the story, we find out that Hawley didn’t just have a violent past, he actually had a criminal one that involved robbery, assault, and even murder. Basically, he was a “bad guy,” a seemingly hardened criminal constantly on the run from his checkered past – and he had the scars to prove it: the twelve bullet wounds all over his body. After his beloved wife dies in a tragic drowning accident, leaving behind an infant daughter, Hawley finally decides to step away from his previous life of crime to raise his daughter Loo and make it his life’s mission to protect her at all costs. Eventually, Hawley’s past catches up with him and his daughter in their present lives and together, they must face an uncertain future amidst a past that threatens to destroy them.

This is the kind of book that cannot be placed “nicely” into any one genre or category because there is so much going on in the book all at the same time. There were times when this book felt like a mystery thriller, where I found myself right alongside Loo growing curious about her mother’s mysterious death and trying to put the pieces together with each clue that is dropped as the story progresses. Other times, it felt like a coming-of-age story centered around Loo as she grows into her teenage years and struggles to come to terms with her father’s past and the ominous influence it has on her present life. The chapters that detailed Hawley’s past exploits and the significance of the various bullet wounds on his body read like a suspense novel, with the intensity building up as each detail of Hawley’s situation is revealed. The gun battles and brawls and constant references to alcohol and bars as well as the idea of a menacing tough guy who is inherently good doing battle with those who are truly evil all remind me of those cowboy westerns I used to watch as a kid, except this one was in a modern setting. There was also the family drama element with the various relationship lines interwoven throughout the book: father-daughter (Hawley and Loo), husband-wife (Hawley and his wife Lily prior to her death), mother-daughter (Lily with her mother Mabel Ridge and also briefly with her own daughter Loo), grandmother-granddaughter (Loo’s tensed relationship with her grandmother Mabel Ridge), etc. And of course, there was the romance element in Loo’s relationship with her classmate Marshall.

In terms of structure, this is where the book is unique in that it essentially uses the scars on Hawley’s body as a “blueprint” for the entire story. As the narrative cuts back and forth between past and present, we are taken from Loo’s current life back to her father’s past, with every other chapter telling the “history” of each of the twelve bullets that had once gone through Hawley’s body. There was also quite a bit of symbolism interspersed throughout the story, especially in the chapters dealing with Hawley’s past, as well as metaphors about love, death, the significance of time, etc. I also picked up on a few subtle parallels with Hawley’s story to Greek and Roman mythology, which I felt was very clever of the author to weave into the story in such an unassuming way. As for the writing, I appreciated how descriptive the author was and the compelling way that the story was told. With that said though, the prose did feel a bit clunky at times and some sentences I had to read twice because the flow seemed a little off, but since this was an ARC and I understood I was reading an uncorrected proof that would probably undergo some more editing prior to publication, this was not too big of a deal for me.

As I said earlier, it is hard for me to do justice to this story through a short review. I would recommend reading the book and experiencing it for yourself. The only caution I would give is that there is quite a bit of violence in the book as well as some gritty depictions of criminal acts that some readers may find offensive. Personally, I struggled with some parts and actually disagreed with some of the characters’ actions, attitudes, and handling of certain situations, but overall, the story was good and I found myself still being drawn to the characters, despite their many flaws.

Received advance reader copy from Random House via NetGalley.
(Expected publication date: March 28th, 2017)

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4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of Samuel Hawley and his daughter Loo. Samuel Hawley is not a good man. He's a thief and a killer and he's led a dangerous and deadly life. When he meets Lily after a job goes bad, he finds something he never thought he'd have - love. He tries to go straight but when Lily gets pregnant he needs to go back to his old ways to support his new family. When Lily dies he is lost in his misery and leaves his daughter Loo with Lily's mother.

When Loo is a young girl Samuel goes back for her and they lead a nomadic life, never staying anywhere too long and always looking over their shoulder. Samuel teaches Loo how to handle a gun and defend herself. The two eventually settle in a small town in MA where Lily grew up. The two find out quickly, however, that they are not welcome. Loo is an outcast in school and Samuel has a hard time finding work.

The book is told in alternating chapters between the past and the present. The past chapters explain how Samuel got each of his 12 gunshot wounds and the present chapters chronicle Loo's relationship with her father and her struggle through adolescence. Samuel will do anything to protect his family and as his past catches up to them both, he and Loo find out just what they will do for each other.

The book is well written and holds your attention. It is both a thrilling ride and a heartbreaking coming of age story. I recommend you read this book.

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As someone who grew up the next town over from Salem (Peabody), I am always very interested when novels featuring The North Shore are written. I am always a little critical because the author, usually not from the area, only focuses on Salem or Gloucester and what they are most known for: Halloween (Salem) and fishing (Gloucester). It always irks me to read those books because the stereotypes scream from the books. The girl whose ancestors come from Salem and she finds out she has powers (Salem) or the fisherman who battles nature to get the big haul (Gloucester). Usually, I can’t get through the book, I have to DNF it because I want to gag. Happily, though, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley doesn’t have any of those stereotypes and that itself is refreshing. Also, the author herself is from Salem, so she knows the areas from Rockport to Lynn probably as well I do and that added just that extra touch of authenticity to her book.

I actually had to go google Olympus and Dogtown. Just to make sure that Olympus isn’t there. Massachusetts is famous for having small towns that you can drive through and miss. Take Hathrone. It is a tiny town between Danvers and Middleton. When I say small, it is teeny. I think that it is actually considered part of Danvers but it has its own zip code and post office. I didn’t know it existed until about 15 years ago….when the guy I was dating actually told me about it….lol. So, googling Olympus to check it out became my main goal. Dogtown, I goggled too even though I knew it was real.

I kinda felt bad for Loo in the beginning of the book. She moved around a ton and had a father that kept major secrets from her. Saying that the moving around didn’t affect her would be lying. When they settled down in Olympus, things got really bad for her. I am glad that the author had Loo react the way she did to bullying. It was real. Nothing was hunky dory after the rock in the sock incident but the kids left her alone. And her anger issues after that. Oh Lordy, she needed anger management classes, therapy or both. Even with her kinda boyfriend, Marshall Titus, she was mean. Put it this way, Loo wasn’t a nice person by the end of the book, even though she tried to be one.

While Loo’s story wasn’t easy to read, Hawley’s story was even worse. The author chose to tell his story by each bullet wound that he got (12 in all). Hawley was not a good man….far from it. But he did try to turn himself around when he married Lily (Loo’s mother) and then they had Loo. But his past criminal life kept sucking him in and it eventually cost him everything. I could see why he was hiding it from Loo. He was protecting her but still. He should have left well enough alone (read the book if you want to know what I meant by that).

Hawley’s story and Loo’s story was seamlessly brought together towards the end of the book. The events that happened at the end of the book did leave it up in the air. You don’t know if there will be a HEA or what. That was pretty refreshing. I can see people complaining about it though, saying that all books need clear-cut endings. But with this book, nothing was clear-cut so why should the end be?

How many stars will I give The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley: 4

Why: An engrossing book that kept me turning the pages until well after my bedtime. The characters were very complex and their relationships with each other and other characters were complex too. This is not an easy read, so be warned. I liked it because it was different from what I usually read and like I said above, the characters were complex.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence, language and some sexual situations.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

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A tough guy, a man of few words, a dude with twelve bullet holes in his body, Samuel Hawley is no stranger to violence. But, he's got a heart of gold, deeeeeeeeep down, much like Clint Eastwood in any of his spaghetti westerns. We are meant to see that and sympathise with him, despite his criminal past, because of his love for the now-dead Lily, and his devotion to Loo, their teenage daughter.

Loo (can't stand the spelling of her name) is just as tough, breaking fingers and swinging rock-filled socks like a pro. She's spent most of her life on the run with her dad, until he decides to settle in the same town as Loo's maternal grandmother. This naturally brings up questions for Loo about her mother, her mother's death, and Hawley's involvement in it.

The format of the book alternates each chapter between the present story, and the past, itemizing the story of each bullet to hit Hawley. The "bullet" chapters are quite suspenseful and high action.

Maybe it's because I'm fresh from reading Lincoln in the Bardo (tough act to follow) but I'm just sort of "meh" about this book. I'm not sure who is the intended audience. It has a YA feel, is primarily plot-driven, and left me a little empty. I get that this is a story about a lonely guy who obviously went down the wrong road more than once. I get that this is a story about a father who loves his daughter, in the flawed yet full-on way that he does. But, I felt the story was a not particularly original. And, I felt a bit led by the author to like Hawley and Loo, and all the other unpolished diamonds in the book, which in the end, didn't sit well with me.

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A bleak, but hopeful, story of the complicated relationship between a father and daughter.

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I throughly enjoyed this book. Ms. Tinti weaves a story of hardship, heartbreak, and love, as well as all the complexity that entwines these areas of life for Sam Hawley and his daughter, Loo. I found myself seeing this book like a movie as the script played out due to the authors through chapter development. I found my feelings very mixed all through this book. At times I was furious with Sam and felt he was a villain and then the author suddenly turned him into a hero, then back to a villain, and another circumstance came along and here comes the good guy again. Needless to say, the pages kept turning wondering what would happen next.
I was given an advanced copy of this book to read by the publisher. I am under no obligation to provide a positive review on this book. My review is my honest opinion of this author and her book, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley. Thank you to Ms. Tanti and The Dial Press for this wonderful reading experience.

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I this is one of those stories that will stay with you for all of your days. A beautiful book that envcokes so many different emotions. A story of love, loss, secrets & the depths we will go to keep them safe.

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This is the story of Samuel Hawley and his daughter Loo and all that Hawley does to protect here from his shady past, and the past is indeed shady. To me this was good for it's fluidity of time but may have tried too hard...

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Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

I loved this book and was so drawn into these characters. Such an interesting way of telling this story too - it enables you to feel the reasons why the characters behave the way they do and turn your feelings on end about what is right and wrong.

The story is told in two voices and times - Samuel Hawley and his daughter, Loo. Samuel's story is spun out in alternating chapters, each focusing on how he got a bullet would in his body, so the narrative is from his early past into the future. In the present day chapters, Samuel and Loo have finally stopped their lifetime of running from place to place and have settled in Olympus, Massachusetts. Samuel has a job as a fisherman and Loo tries to fit in at school, mostly unsuccessfully. Loo is haunted by the death of her mother when she was just a child and is obsessed with learning more about her. Samuel is also obsessed by Lily, Loo's mother, and keeps a shrine in the bathroom wherever they go.

Because we learn about Samuel's criminal past slowly through his bullet wounds while we see in the present day how much of a good father he is, it really does color your perception about doing bad things for good reasons.

An amazing book - highly recommended!

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I absolutely loved this coming=-of-age novel about Loo and her father, Samuel. As they travel across the country--running from Samuel's past, we see the challenges this small family faces as Loo must navigate all the typical hardships of childhood along with the difficulty of being raised by a single, very unconventional father. The story weaves back and forth between the present and the past as we see Samuel's "twelve lives"--marked by bullet scars from his often criminal escapades. Both touching and poignant, the mystery behind Loo's mother's early death is explored as we empathize with this small family who will go to extreme lengths to protect each other!

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Scars, both physical and emotional, and the history of each. (Should I hate the dad?) A "bad" guy trying to do right by his daughter. (Should I love the dad for this?) This is their story, their relationship. Violence, the love of a father, and Loo's desire to know what really happened to her mother, all bind together to make this a spellbinding, thought-provoking novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC to review.

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Here is a review by Jennifer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1935805892

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The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, by Hannah Tinti, takes us on a journey through the lives of a father, his daughter, and the people who were important to their lives. Through the mysterious stories of his twelve lives, we watch Samuel grow as a man, as well as a father, who has discovered his purpose in life. This book is heart-warming, as well as mysterious. I couldn't put it down.

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I liked the characters, and found it to be a page turner! I loved this book. A must read!

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The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley is a strange and beautiful novel that defies classification. It’s rich in symbolism and mythology, situated as it is in Olympus. Olympus, Massachusetts, that is. But if you ignore all the embellishments, the watches, the whales, the obvious mythological references, it is essentially a story of a father and daughter and how their love is tried, tested, and true.

It’s easy to get entangled in the clever motifs that repeat themselves. The whale sighting near the beginning of the book as Hawley and Jove (Yes! Jove!) are escaping after being Jove is burned and Hawley is shot, the whale’s heart at the museum, the Whale’s Jaw in the center of Dogtown’s woods, and the whale that breeches near the end when Hawley is shot yet again and Loo is steering the boat toward hoped-for rescue. There are the clocks that are all over the place, the burglary where they realize that if the clocks are chiming, someone is winding them. The clepsydra, an ancient water clock, the wristwatch they he and Jove take from Talbot early in the book that Loo forces King to toss into the ocean near the end of the book. Tempus fugit! Whales are fraught with symbolism, life, death, and obsession. And clocks, the symbolism is obvious.

There are two story threads, the contemporary life of Loo and her father Samuel Hawley in Olympus, the town where her mother grew up. They are misfits in the town, both quick to resort to violence. Loo’s grandmother is still alive but does not welcome either of them. The other narrative tells of the twelve bullets (The Twelve Labors!) that Samuel Hawley has taken, often out on a job. He’s a criminal, one who is often the middleman in some antiquities and collectibles illegal trade and importation, delivering the payment to pick up the item for example. Like the Hercules of myth, he’s not the brightest bulb on the string, but he’s strong and has grit.

I liked The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley more than I probably should. I think the careful insertion of whales, watches and mythological references is heavy-handed. I think Tinti even got tired of the Twelve Labors motif, knocking out bullets 7, 8, and 9 in one chapter. I think that contrast between the brutal and obtuse Hawley of the bullets and the loving, mostly wise father of the contemporary narrative is a bridge too far to cross. He shot himself in the foot, for Pete’s sake. These inconsistencies are a weakness. We also have to suspend a couple Aegean stables full of disbelief to believe he has never been caught considering all the times he has been shot and the mayhem left behind. So, yes, the book has its problems, but I still loved so much about it.

Mostly I love Loo. She is smart, curious, and loving. She is capable and hard-working. She is a fascinating character whose uncertainty is hidden by bravado. She loves her father and even when Mabel tries to convince her that her father killed her mother, even when she learns the truth about her father, about his criminal past, she still loves him. She knows him.

Early in the book, Hawley meets a woman who loves a man unworthy of her. She says, “Love isn’t about keeping promises. It’s about knowing someone better than anyone else. I’m the only one who knows him. I’m the only one who will.” Love is the center of this story. Hawley’s love for Loo and for Lily his wife. Loo’s love for Marshall, her first boyfriend. The Lily’s maternal love for Loo and even Mabel’s love for her daughter and granddaughter, crabbed though it might be by loss and resentment. There is a lot of love in this book, underneath all the gunfire.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley will be released March 28th. I was provided an advance e-galley by the publisher through NetGalley.

★★★★

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You don't work for anyone. You don't have a real job."

Hawley picked up the stinking apron off of the table and threw it at her.

"You," he said. "You're my job."


What an achingly brilliant novel.

Sam Hawley is a (possibly) reformed criminal trying to give his daughter, Loo, a chance at a semi-normal life. His wife, Loo's mother Lily, drowned when Loo was one, leaving Sam to try and navigate the waters of single parenthood while trying to hide the details of his ugly past from his daughter. He had a rough childhood himself, so doesn't really know how to be a parent beyond keeping his daughter safe and fed.

The chapters switch between the present and the past. The chapters about the past detail how Hawley got each of his twelve bullet wounds. Usually in books that alternate like this, I gravitate towards one storyline and rush through the alternate chapter to find out what happens next, but with this one I loved both!!! I couldn't wait to find out what really happened to Lily, and loved hearing about their relationship, but alternately, I really loved hearing about Loo and how she was just trying to find her own place in the world and learn about her mother.

I loved how there was a romantic connection in the book, but that wasn't what was driving the plot. I'm so glad that it didn't eclipse the love story between a parent and child, and it definitely didn't take away from Loo's discovery of herself and her past.

A few other reviewers complained about the violence, but I didn't find that it was gratuitous or over the top. I have definitely read worse and it didn't bother me. I thought that it demonstrated how even girls can be aggressive and have violent tendencies. I know that my friends and I sure did, and my daughter definitely does too sometimes.

I loved this book. It will definitely stick with me for a long time. I loved every single character and wish I knew more about them, I loved the action, I loved it all. I will be purchasing copies for both myself and for the library and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for her other books.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of The Twelve Lives Of Samuel Hawley. In exchange I am providing my honest review and opinion.

I thought this book was well written and I enjoyed the structure very much. Told in alternating chapters between past and present, we come to learn who Samuel Hawley is and how he obtained twelve bullet wounds. Each bullet is another chapter in his complicated life and another reminder that often we judge others without knowing their full story. To label Samuel as misunderstood is overly simplifying things. Much credit goes to the author, Hannah Tinti for making the reader root for the "bad guy." Beyond the violence and lawlessness lies a man who very much loves his wife and daughter and will go to any length to protect them.
I really enjoyed the present day story arch involving Samuel's teenage daughter, Loo and her budding romance. Will Loo repeat the same mistakes her mother made and can Hawley really shelter her from falling in love? Will Loo learn how her dad received each bullet and what each one represents? And lastly if Loo discovers the truth, can she handle it?
This was a really good read, although my only criticism is that some of Hawley's back stories began to feel a bit repetitive. I think nine bullets may have been enough to tell the story that needed to be told.

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Thank You to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of Hannah Tinti's novel, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Samuel Hawley is an outlaw, who has spent many years moving across the United States with his daughter, Loo. Now that Loo is a teenager, Samuel feels that he can make an honest living as a fisherman, and he settles in the same New England town as Loo's maternal grandmother, Mabel. Loo's mother, Lily, died in a lake accident when Loo was an infant, and Mabel believes that Samuel had hand in her daughter's death. Was Samuel responsible? Can a man who has committed so many crimes, really be safe from his past coming back to haunt him?

LIKE- Tinti is the co-founder of One Story, one of my favorite monthly magazines ( check it out, it's awesome), and I had the pleasure of taking an online writing class with her last month. It was fabulous!

Tinti has an interesting way of framing The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley. She has given Samuel a body riddled with scars from bullets wounds, and she alternates chapters between the present and the past, using the past chapters to explain the ways in which Samuel has been shot. In the past, we learn about Samuel's life of crime, his associates, and how he met Lily. As the story unfolds, we learn the truth about Lily's death, and how it impacts the trajectory of the story. In the present, we see Loo growing into a teenager and trying to figure out details about her mother, through both her grandmother and living in her mother's hometown. This structure created a solid framework for pacing the mysteries of the novel and keeping the suspense.

In addition to a strong structure, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, has memorable characters. I was most intrigued by Lily and her relationship with Samuel. The chapter in which they meet, was the most intense, gripping chapter of the novel. It was cinematic. Speaking of cinematic, Tinti writes in a grand way, with beautiful imagery and sweeping landscapes. For example, there is a dramatic scene on a glacier in Alaska. Having recently visited a glacier in Alaska, I can tell you, that Tinti captured that amazing environment, including the details of the sounds a glacier makes, which is what was most memorable for me.

DISLIKE- There were a few places where I felt my suspension of disbelief was tested; for example, there are two separate scenes with a whale that didn't work for me. It seemed too outrageous for the tone of the story.

 Although I love idea of this outlaw who can survive whatever comes his way, it became a little much to have so many bullet wounds that were patched up. In one chapter he shoots his own foot by accident, which leads to a memorable experience taking a young Loo trick-or-treating, but otherwise, doesn't seem to advance the story. 

RECOMMEND- Yes. Tinti is an imaginative writer that takes readers to unexpected places.  I was able to empathize and connect with all of her main characters. If you can let a few things slide, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley is worthy read. It's suspenseful and engaging.

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I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishers and The Dial Press in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Samuel Hawley is a man with a past. Before becoming a single father he was a robber, a taker, a fighter, a shooter…. And he has the bullet wounds to show for it. Twelve scars, twelve stories. Now that he’s bringing up Loo he has to settle down, protect her from the legacy of his past, and make sure to keep the truth of her mother’s death from her.
All Loo wants is to understand. They moved constantly. Dad has a ton of guns. There is a shrine in the bathroom to her mother, but she doesn’t know much about her. Now they live in the same town as her maternal grandmother, and she can get answers, but they don’t match how she feels. Mabel swears her father killed her mother… is that just anger? Now that they’ve put down roots, there’s family to manage, school, a job and a relationship.
My Thoughts:
Each chapter is either from Loo’s POV or a flashback of Hawley’s, but it is easily identified and the transfers move seamlessly through the story. I loved the characters, and the story line was great. I could not put this book down! My only problem was that some characters, Mabel and the Principal especially, seemed a bit one note. Over all I loved this book and highly recommend it. Five Stars!
On the adult content scale, there is language, violence, sexual content and drinking. I would still let my 13 year old niece read it, but it’s worth mentioning. I give it a five.

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