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brittonmc1221's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Murder, Animal death, Car accident, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Kidnapping
cpeters2384's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The most essential part of this chunky book, to me, was pages 470-488. I also enjoyed the dad’s character development over all more than the main character. Quite a bit of this was not really fun to read.
Yeah it was neat to read about a kid growing up during quite a difficult turning point for a multitude of reasons, beginning with the cracking of his town’s existence from the man who ended up in the lake. Everything just unwound from there with social justices, old traditions fading, old ways dissolving in general and the faster paced life abruptly affecting so many lives. Quite a bit of it was rough and I understand why. Half of it felt so bizarre and out of place, it just made my personal journey through it mostly distracted and frustrated. A boy’s mind can be fantastical, but things like the car chase and such were just not my thing.
Yeah it was neat to read about a kid growing up during quite a difficult turning point for a multitude of reasons, beginning with the cracking of his town’s existence from the man who ended up in the lake. Everything just unwound from there with social justices, old traditions fading, old ways dissolving in general and the faster paced life abruptly affecting so many lives. Quite a bit of it was rough and I understand why. Half of it felt so bizarre and out of place, it just made my personal journey through it mostly distracted and frustrated. A boy’s mind can be fantastical, but things like the car chase and such were just not my thing.
cpeters2384's review against another edition
3.0
The most essential part of this chunky book, to me, was pages 470-488. I also enjoyed the dad’s character development over all more than the main character. Quite a bit of this was not really fun to read.
Yeah it was neat to read about a kid growing up during quite a difficult turning point for a multitude of reasons, beginning with the cracking of his town’s existence from the man who ended up in the lake. Everything just unwound from there with social justices, old traditions fading, old ways dissolving in general and the faster paced life abruptly affecting so many lives. Quite a bit of it was rough and I understand why. Half of it felt so bizarre and out of place, it just made my personal journey through it mostly distracted and frustrated. A boy’s mind can be fantastical, but things like the car chase and such were just not my thing.
Yeah it was neat to read about a kid growing up during quite a difficult turning point for a multitude of reasons, beginning with the cracking of his town’s existence from the man who ended up in the lake. Everything just unwound from there with social justices, old traditions fading, old ways dissolving in general and the faster paced life abruptly affecting so many lives. Quite a bit of it was rough and I understand why. Half of it felt so bizarre and out of place, it just made my personal journey through it mostly distracted and frustrated. A boy’s mind can be fantastical, but things like the car chase and such were just not my thing.
missus_e's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
badseedgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Added to TBR: 05/2022, but purchased 10/2021
1991 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement
1992 World Fantasy Award Winner
I've never been a 12 year old boy. I've never grown up in the rural south. In 1964, I wasn't even a twinkle in my Mom's eye being as she was 8 years old herself; but somehow Robert McCammon was able to transport me back to that time and place.
I would call this a series of interconnected short stories brought together by a consistent cast of characters in the same town, all tied together in the end by an overarching mystery. There are several instances of magical realism and fantasy sprinkled throughout to book and the stories. There is also a liberal amount of dark humor sprinkled in. The best way for me to describe Boy's Life, is if [b:Our Town|205476|Our Town|Thornton Wilder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442891231l/205476._SY75_.jpg|3119231] and [b:Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier|34802642|Twin Peaks The Final Dossier|Mark Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494627878l/34802642._SX50_.jpg|56014415] had a love child, asked [b:The Adventures of Tom Sawyer|24583|The Adventures of Tom Sawyer|Mark Twain|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404811979l/24583._SY75_.jpg|41326609] to be the child's Godfather, and chose to raise it in Castle Rock, Maine.
I am giving this book All the Stars!!
1991 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement
1992 World Fantasy Award Winner
I've never been a 12 year old boy. I've never grown up in the rural south. In 1964, I wasn't even a twinkle in my Mom's eye being as she was 8 years old herself; but somehow Robert McCammon was able to transport me back to that time and place.
I would call this a series of interconnected short stories brought together by a consistent cast of characters in the same town, all tied together in the end by an overarching mystery. There are several instances of magical realism and fantasy sprinkled throughout to book and the stories. There is also a liberal amount of dark humor sprinkled in. The best way for me to describe Boy's Life, is if [b:Our Town|205476|Our Town|Thornton Wilder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442891231l/205476._SY75_.jpg|3119231] and [b:Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier|34802642|Twin Peaks The Final Dossier|Mark Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494627878l/34802642._SX50_.jpg|56014415] had a love child, asked [b:The Adventures of Tom Sawyer|24583|The Adventures of Tom Sawyer|Mark Twain|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404811979l/24583._SY75_.jpg|41326609] to be the child's Godfather, and chose to raise it in Castle Rock, Maine.
I am giving this book All the Stars!!
_marjolaine_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nat12's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mrsbear's review against another edition
3.0
Started out great and lost steam about halfway through. Not my favorite but still enjoyable.
bcqrose182's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0