Several years ago, I listened to the podcast, Books on the Nightstand, religiously. One of the hosts, Michael, raved about how much he loved The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti. I discovered a signed copy of the book…I think we were traveling and exploring an indie bookstore…maybe in Raleigh, North Carolina? Anyway, I have this tendency to purchase books I truly intend to read in the near future, and they wait very patiently on my bookshelf. I didn’t forget about this book. In fact, I have admired its presence in the signed section of my home library ever since I brought it home. 

The wait has ended. I finally stepped into the uniquely dangerous, tragic lives of Samuel Hawley and his daughter, Loo. Hawley is a criminal who has been living a nomadic lifestyle by constantly moving; living in and out of motels with his young daughter. As Loo becomes a teenager, Hawley decides to move to Olympus, Massachusetts where Loo’s mother grew up. He wants to give Loo stability and a real home. Loo has difficulty getting along with her peers at school as she embarks on her own self-exploration.

Hawley’s body has scars he earned from his criminal lifestyle. Twelve scars in fact. Each representing a bullet he took from his dangerous adventures. I loved how a chapter of the book was dedicated to each bullet that entered Hawley’s body. Readers not only learn how and why Hawley was shot each time, we also learn what was going on in Hawley’s life.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley is an amazing story! I completely understand why Michael was so enamored by it and urged podcast listeners to read it. It’s a five-star book for me! Despite Hawley’s flaws, he is one of those characters filled with so much suffering that my heart was constantly breaking for him. Maybe it’s because of his flaws that I felt that way. Even though I felt tremendously sad most of the time while reading this book, I couldn’t wait to see what Loo was going to get herself into next and what shenanigans were going to Hawley shot. There are so many layers to this story: grief, survival, identity, change, friendship, love, and family. It’s deep and wonderful.

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