Boy's Life is truly one of those remarkable books that you simply do not want to come to an end. It presents a beautiful coming-of-age story set in the charming town of Zephyr, Alabama, during the early 1960s.

Back then, men worked as milkmen, and women spent a significant amount of time baking. However, this idyllic setting had its dark sides. Racial prejudices and segregation were still very real and pressing issues.

The protagonist, a 12-year-old boy named Cory Mackenson, lives a life without the distractions of TV and video games. But he has no trouble living life to the fullest. After all, he has the simple joys of bikes, dogs, baseball, the theater, school, and friends.

And then there is the element of magic. The magic of childhood that Cory still possesses, something that most adults have long since lost. There is a mysterious monster in the river, an elderly black lady who is more enigmatic than she appears, and Mr. Vernon Thaxter, a man with strange personal conduct.

Boy's Life is an extremely bittersweet novel. It doesn't matter if we were born in the 60s or later, in Alabama or elsewhere. It reminds us of the wonders of youth, the poetic beauty in not understanding everything, and in missing a piece of the full meaning of things. There is great beauty not only in wisdom but also in this blissful, dazed ignorance. In this world, summers seem endless, bikes can take you anywhere, and there are always parents and home to return to.

Although Boy's Life might have its flaws, they do not detract from the warm and fuzzy feeling that accompanies the reading. In fact, when we do notice them, it's quite sad. McCammon's novel serves as a reminder that we all lose a part of this dramatic ignorance that made us children. What would you do to take science fiction movies seriously again? To believe that the monster in the river might snatch you if you're not careful? To know that your bike might take you anywhere if you trust it?

Just read the book. It's a great and gorgeous story. McCammon invites you on a journey that is both worthwhile and rewarding. And always remember: the garden is infinitely more beautiful if there are fairies at the bottom of it.

Boy's Life is a truly great and enjoyable book that manages to touch on numerous different emotional levels with remarkable skill. It's a literary masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression. I especially appreciate the author's acknowledgement section at the end. The various cultural references in it transport me back to moments from my youth, evoking a flood of attendant memories. And it's all so timely, just a week before my high school reunion. It's the perfect moment to read such a memory-laden book.

As for the work itself, there is an abundance of depth and substance here. I had a wide range of responses to it, all expertly elicited by McCammon's beautiful prose. From moments of laughter to shivers down my spine and even the verge of tears. I truly fell in love with Cory's family and his astute observations of his parents. The pictures of Zephyr描绘出了1964年美国小镇的景象，尽管它位于南方，有着一些独特的特点，当然，还有那贯穿整个故事、与科里一起骑自行车的“另一个世界”的点缀。这里似乎存在着神奇的影响，即使不是真正的魔法。同时，也有邪恶，即使不是恶魔本身。

There is also some really wonderful writing. One of my favorite sections describes the local movie theater, the Lyric. Cody had to look up the word in his dictionary, and the description that follows is both profound and enchanting. It shows how the word "lyric" can lead to a whole world of imagination and connection to the power of storytelling. It makes me realize that at an early age, I too understood the importance of storytelling as a means of human communication. Whether it's through TV, movies, or books, the need to tell a story and the desire to hear stories are fundamental aspects of our nature.

Above all, Boy's Life is a book of stories by a fictional boy who dreams of being a storyteller. And I dare say that most, if not all of us, share that same desire. We all want to hear these stories, join in them, and become a part of them for a while. It's a book that speaks to the universal human experience and reminds us of the magic that lies within the power of storytelling.

I highly recommend this book to all those who appreciate well-written stories. It's the real deal, a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Do you know the feeling of eating some fresh-fresh-from-the-oven cornbread drizzled with some honey butter?

That's precisely what this entire novel is like.

A 12-year-old boy in 60's Alabama experiences the joys of getting out of school and enjoying summer, only to return to school. It sounds simple, doesn't it? However, this novel is charming not just in a nostalgic way like Stephen King's IT. Instead, it is filled with love, consideration, adventure, magical realism, murder, mystery, courage, and some of the finest Coming-Of-Age writing I have ever encountered.

It is more than just a horror or a YA or an in-depth real piece of homegrown Southern American Literature. It is genuine. It honestly addresses racism, jerks, and the Normal Rockwell way of life without ever coming across as preachy or overwritten. Moreover, it deals with much more, including large swamp creatures, mythical stags in the forest, bootleggers, organized crime, and even the KKK and the new neo-nazi movement. But at no point does this deviate far from the Boy's Life. :)

Trust me. If you love writing that is as delicious as fresh cornbread, this novel will feel like coming home.

After all these years, I have just discovered a new favorite. I wasn't even close to being born when these events took place, but damn, I feel like I was there. :) It is easily one of the very best novels of its kind.

Did I just read my favorite book of the year with 11 more months to go?! Absolutely. This book has truly left an indelible mark on me.

I’m going to have a book hangover after this one. It was that captivating. As I delved into the pages of Boy's Life, I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed out loud at the humorous moments, and I shed tears during the touching scenes. I felt all the emotions while getting lost in Corey Mackenson's world.

On this journey with Corey, I felt the magic, the whimsy, and the adventure. The author's ability to create such a vivid and enchanting setting is truly remarkable. The pacing of the book was perfect, keeping me engaged from start to finish. The writing was excellent, with beautiful descriptions and a flowing narrative. And the characters! They were so well-developed and endearing that I will love them forever.

Just one of the best books out there!! It's a must-read for anyone who loves a good story filled with heart, adventure, and a touch of magic. I can't wait to recommend it to all my friends.

EDIT: I firmly believe that sufficient time has elapsed to assert with confidence that this is the finest book I have ever perused in my entire life - my top choice if I were to be stranded alone on an island with only a single book.

I am at a loss for words and lack the talent to aptly describe the profound impact this book had on me. It should most definitely be on your bucket list, regardless of who you are.

On the surface, this book presents as a murder mystery. However, one should disregard the minimal supernatural elements, as they play a far smaller role than one might initially assume.
It is a captivating coming-of-age story centered around a twelve-year-old boy named Cory Mackenson, who is growing up in a town called Zephyr during the early sixties. The narrative commences with him and his father witnessing the aftermath of a murder and the killer's desperate attempt to conceal it.
And, suddenly, you find yourself transported into a different world.

It requires an exceptionally gifted writer to narrate this story within 600 pages without causing boredom to the reader. This book is truly a literary masterpiece - simply by virtue of the intense feelings it elicits in the reader.

So, what precisely transpires in this story?
Everything! Absolutely everything!

Let me elucidate.
When I was 17 years old, I read IT by Stephen King - a rather daunting task considering the book consists of more than a thousand pages. King managed to transport me back a few years, enabling me to connect with a younger, more carefree, and naïve version of myself. Those memories were still vivid in my mind, and I had no difficulty embarking on the journey with the story. Not only could I relate to those characters, but I could also establish a personal connection with them.

Twenty-five years later, I read BOY'S LIFE, and, to my astonishment, I couldn't believe I had forgotten so much about those feelings I had as a young man. However, during these past two weeks, I have experienced emotions that I didn't even know still resided within me. For the past two weeks, I have once again felt that magic - I'm certain it is to a much lesser extent than in my youth, but this is the closest I have come to it in my adult life.

This story encompasses all the crucial aspects:
The dichotomy between ignorance and tolerance
The contrast between love and hate
The struggle between anger and fear
The opposition between hope and pessimism
The conflict between grief and acceptance
The choice between holding grudges and forgiveness
The dynamic between bullies and victims
The balance between loss and grace

There were numerous situations in this book that reverted me back to my youth. Times have changed, as they inevitably do...I have changed as well, as every adult does.

It also brings a tinge of sadness to me when I look at my son (almost 4) and contemplate the things he will never know in his life. He is growing up in a different world than I did, especially considering the age gap. Will he be able to relate to this book when he is older?

I am a bit emotional as I pen this review, and I might modify it in the future. For now, this is undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read and will surely rank among my top 5. I earnestly hope that everyone will afford themselves the opportunity to embark on this remarkable journey.


*****

Think Something Wicked This Way Comes without a tightly focused antagonistic plot line. Instead, envision the works of Alice Hoffman. Picture something slow and winding, with just a hint of the unreal. Recall the stories your southern grandpa told, narrated from the perspective of a master storyteller.

Think slooooow.

Boy’s Life is an incredibly evocative novel, painting an atmospheric picture of Cory Mackenson, a young man growing up in a small Alabama town in the 1960s. One early morning, as he is with his father making milk deliveries, they witness a car speeding into a lake of seemingly endless depth. His father attempts to rescue the driver only to discover that he is already dead, brutally beaten and strangled. This becomes a life-changing moment for his father and perhaps for Cory as well. The subsequent chapters often refer to this event, but not in a way that drives the plot forward. There are various incidents: a sleep-over at a friend’s house, the death of the boy’s bike and a junkman, a church service with wasps, a town flood, an elderly black woman, a bike, the last day of school, a new boy moving into town, a cross burning on a lawn, his first typewriter, and an overnight in the woods. All these are the kinds of things one might look back on in life and say, “I remember when,” moments that encapsulate a feeling, a change, or a pivotal experience. Interwoven through them is a thread of magic, not in the traditional sense of modern literature but rather the magic of life as seen through the eyes of an imaginative child.

While the storytelling is masterful, there is no clear sense of plot beyond the ‘day-in-the-life’ and self-discovery, leaving the conflict-focused reader searching for a connection between the chapters. Since both the book blurb and the first chapter suggest that the lake experience was a harbinger of something strange, this confusion is understandable. There are snippets and moments that contribute to the mystery of the dead man and the impact on the father, but truly significant plot development and resolution are left until the last 80 pages of this over 500-page book. The murder bookends this section of the boy’s life but does not drive his experiences.

The writing is lyrical and beautiful.
“When people get weepy at movies, it’s because in that dark theater the golden pool of magic is touched, just briefly. Then they come out into the hard sun of logic and reason again and it dries up, and they’re left feeling a little heartsad and not knowing why. When a song stirs a memory, when motes of dust turning in a shaft of light takes your attention from the world, when you listen to a train passing on a track at night in the distance and wonder where it might be going, you step beyond who you are and where you are. For the briefest of instants, you have stepped into the magic realm.”

I think if one approaches it expecting more of a Faulkner-esque short story collection, the reading experience is more likely to be successful and satisfying. The writing is lovely, the characters are well-developed, and McCammon even manages to imply the real while the narrator is interpreting the fantastic. I also appreciate the contextualizing and gentle exploration of racism during a transformative time in the South. He also effectively captures the feeling of impending adulthood lurking on the edges of the tales, as well as those moments when one starts to realize that adults are people with their own flaws and may have once been young.
“He lifted his face to me. In the hard, cold light he looked terribly old. I thought I could see his skull beneath the thin flesh, and this sight frightened me. It was like looking at someone you loved very much, slowly dying… I saw all too clearly that my father–not a mythic hero, not a superman, but just a good man–was a solitary traveler in the wilderness of anguish.”

Ultimately, be prepared to take it slow. I often read it before bed as it was usually soothing, not action-driven, and each chapter was self-contained. Normally, I wouldn’t give a book I fell asleep on four stars, but the characterization and overall writing are truly impressive. Highly recommended – for the right mood.
“There is something about nature out of control that touches a primal terror. We are used to believing that we’re the masters of our domain, and that God has given us this earth to rule over. We need this illusion like a good night0light. The truth is more fearsome: we are as frail as young trees in tornadoes, and our beloved homes are one flood away from driftwood. We plant our roots in trembling earth, we live where mountains rose and fell and prehistoric seas burned away in mist. We and the towns we have built are not permanent; the earth itself is a passing train. When you stand in muddy water that is rising toward your waist and you hear people shouting against the darkness and see their figures struggling to hold back the currents that will not be denies, you realize the truth of it: we will not win, but we cannot give up.”

A wonderful novel! It tells the extraordinary childhood of 11-year-old Cory, who loves to write and dreams of having a bicycle. However, right at the beginning of the long-awaited summer with his father, they become witnesses to a mysterious murder. In their small town of Zephyr, a great flood occurs, and mysterious creatures start to appear...

"Boy's Life" is a mixture of an adventure novel, fantasy, and horror, but it also touches on serious social problems. Written by Robert McCammon, it is extremely engaging and immerses readers in the atmosphere of the 1960s in a wonderful way. I highly recommend this book to all those who want to touch again the magic of childhood!

“Lyric” it said: “Melodic. Suitable for singing. A lyric poem. Of the lyre.” That didn't seem to make much sense in regards to a movie theatre, until I continued following "lyre" in my dictionary. "Lyre" took me into the story-poems sung by travelling minstrels back when there were castles and kings. Which took me back to that wonderful word; story. It seemed to me at an early age that all human communication - whether it's TV, movies, or books - begins with somebody wanting to tell a story. That need to tell, to plug in to a universal socket, is probably one of our grandest desires. And the need to hear stories, to live lives other than our own for even the briefest moment, is the key to the magic that was born in our bones.

This is McCammon's song. Meet near twelve-year-old Cory Mackenson, awake before the crack of dawn, helping his Dad deliver milk (in glass bottles) before school. Suddenly, a brown car jumps out of the forest right in front of them, swerves and plunges off the embankment and down into the very deep and dark depths of Saxon's Lake. When Cory's dad dives down hoping to assist the man behind the wheel, what he witnesses is a severely beaten, dead man, with a copper wire knotted deep in his throat, who is handcuffed to the steering wheel. This vision will continue to haunt him and Cory in the days, weeks, and months to come. The car is not recovered from those inky depths, and no information can be secured concerning the identity of the dead man cuffed to the wheel.

And therein lay the bedrock of this story, but there is so much more depth here. It is also a trip back to those wonder years, in the fall of your childhood, when you still believed in magic, when the slate was clean and all that seemed possible was possible: back when the power of belief itself was your daily fuel. It's all here: murder and mystery, monsters and myths, good and evil, joyful abandon, adrenaline-soaked danger, and villainous deceit, bound by the carefree days of summer, fresh baked pie, and that very special relationship between a boy and his bike. And oh my, my, my, the gasp----wasps!

Is this a perfect book? No. I am pretty certain most readers will see the flaws, but in the end, does it really matter? No. Step back to 1964, before superstores and cell phones, when fresh air, home cooking, job security, and yes service (be it your gas pumped, your oil checked, or your groceries bagged) were still abundant and expected. Know it was also a time of deep unrest and profound loss among the people, not only those in the southern states but in the world at large.

Come gather ‘round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept that it soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone

For the times they are a - changin’

I have never been a boy or, for that matter, a rabbit either. Doesn't matter, McCammon took me there, in spades. After all, it's a girl's life too! Go on, pick this one up.

There is no conceivable way that any review could truly do justice to this remarkable book. It is nothing short of utterly fabulous. From the very first page, it reels you in with an irresistible charm and never lets you go.

It has the power to transport you back in time, evoking every single good memory that you cherished while growing up. The sense of freedom you felt when riding your bike, the excitement of exploring wooded areas, and the pure joy of simply being a carefree kid.

One of my all-time favorite quotes happens to come from this very book. It goes as follows:

We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see our destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. We get it churched out, spanked out, washed out, and combed out. We get put on the straight and narrow and told to be responsible. Told to act our age. Told to grow up, for God's sake. And you know why we were told that? Because the people doing the telling were afraid of our wildness and youth, and because the magic we knew made them ashamed and sad of what they'd allowed to wither in themselves.

Do yourself a huge favor. Pick up this book and embark on a journey to get a little of that lost magic back into your life.

5 stars because nothing else will do. 5 stars for the outstanding writing that pulls you in from the very first page. The characters are so vivid and real, you feel as if you know them personally. The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. And the magic! It adds an element of wonder and excitement that makes the story truly unforgettable. It allows you to step inside the mind of a 12-year-old boy, capturing the essence of what it means to be 12 for all of us. The town of Zephyr, Alabama, comes alive with its unique charm and atmosphere. Old Moses, The Lady, Mona, and Little Stevie Cauley are all characters that you'll remember long after you've finished the book. The 600 pages are filled with sheer entertainment and excellent writing.

I dedicate this review to Mike Sullivan, the moderator of the group ON THE SOUTHERN LITERARY TRAIL. He assigned this book as his October moderator's choice. At first, I sighed and thought to myself: "Well, I'll give it a try, but it is classified as science fiction, so probably not for me." That's the same thought I had when others recommended it over the years and when I saw it on lists of must-read books. I was stubborn and opinionated about genres, and for that, I should be punished. Maybe I should be thrown into the murky depths of Saxon's Lake or, even worse, made to spend a week with Grandaddy Jaybird.

However, in my defense, and for others who may be thinking the same thing, this book is NOT science fiction. Unless the magic that exists in the world around us can be considered as such. It's a story that combines elements of mystery, adventure, and coming-of-age in a way that is both captivating and heartwarming. And let's not forget the acknowledgments page, which has to be the best I have ever read. It adds a personal touch to the book and makes you feel even more connected to the author.

While riding with his father on the milk route, Cory Mackenson witnesses a car plunging into a bottomless lake with a dead man handcuffed to the steering wheel. The mystery of who the man was haunts them. Will they solve this enigma before the memory destroys them?

Yeah, that's not a great teaser for this. Summarizing a couple of years in the life of a young boy is no easy feat. I initially tried hard not to like this book. For the first quarter, it wasn't difficult. "Boy's Life" seemed overwritten, and Robert McCammon was emulating Stephen King so blatantly that it was palpable. I even considered discarding it back onto the to-read pile. But then, something changed. It hooked me, and I devoured it in less than 24 hours.

Although it contains elements of crime and horror, "Boy's Life" is primarily a coming-of-age story. At first, it reminded me of Stephen King's "The Body" (aka "Stand by Me"), but it's much more than that. Cory is eleven when the story commences, growing up in the small Alabama town of Zephyr. While the mysterious dead man in Saxon Lake sets the stage, the real focus is on Cory's maturation and growing awareness of the world in Zephyr. Set in the early 1960s, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and the rise of corporations all lurk in the background.

Cory's adventures with his friends are both fun and terrifying at times. I adored the beast from the lost word and Nemo Curliss. However, for a twelve-year-old, Cory finds himself in the midst of a lot of strange happenings. The part with Rebel even brought a tear to my eye. Was Vernon Thaxter a stand-in for McCammon himself?

I contemplated giving this a five-star rating but couldn't. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I felt that some parts were pieced together from various Stephen King tales, such as "The Body," "Christine," "Pet Sematary," and others. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, it seemed overly wordy at times. All things considered, "Boy's Life" was a great read. I give it four out of five stars.

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

  “Don’t be in a hurry to grow up. Hold on to being a boy as long as you can, because once you lose that magic, you’re always begging to find it again.”

Boy’s Life has been a book I actively shunned since it first caught my attention, mainly due to its astonishing 4.55 rating among my Goodreads friends. (Let's just say they're a tough crowd and leave it at that to avoid any potential throat-slitting.) If you pay attention to shelf names, you'll notice this one now sits prominently on the “Like This Or We Can’t Be Friends” option. Usually, that shelf title is just for fun, but this time, it might be true. I can't imagine anyone not giving this story at least 3 Stars, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be friends with those who didn't.

I'm no wordsmith. I often ramble and meander in my reviews, producing little of real substance. But this time, words fail me completely. There's only one word that keeps coming to mind - MAGIC.

Boy’s Life is a reflection on a boy's life, told by the grown-up Corey Mackenson. Set in 1964, it captures the essence of a time when a new sound, like that of The Beach Boys, was hitting the airwaves and Corey and his friends were eager to grow up.

The writing in this book is simply magical. Whether it's描绘 a young boy's first crush or the mystery and solemnity of death, it's all beautifully done. It's a coming-of-age story like The Body, a lesson in the harsh realities of the civil rights era like To Kill A Mockingbird, and a cast of eccentric characters like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, all rolled into one with a touch of a “whodunit” thrown in for good measure.

If you're a parent with a voracious reader, this book is suitable for middle-grade kids and should not be missed by adults. I highly recommend reading it during the summertime, in a shady spot with the sound of the wind in the trees and a creek flowing in the background, like my backyard. Grab a pitcher of tea, sit in an Adirondack chair, and enjoy the day. You won't be disappointed.

Looky there. No gifs!