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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
No
Absolutely spectacular book. Robert McCammon is a genius.
When it’s done right, small town stories could be truly amazing. I’m pleased to say that Robert McCammon writes a story about a small town in Southern Alabama in the 1960s that oozes magic. The town is called Zephyr and there are many memorable characters who live there. This book’s main driving plot point is the presumed murder of an unknown man that is witnessed by the book’s protagonist Cory and his father Tom. Tom works as the town’s milk man and that fated morning he takes Cory along on his daily milk route. Together, they watch a car drive straight into the Saxon’s Lake with a dying man handcuffed to the steering wheel. Tom jumps into the lake and attempts to save the man but, to no avail, he’s unable to do so. In the following pages Tom is haunted by that event and Cory attempts to solve this murder.
There is a lot more to this book than just murder mystery. Like I mentioned earlier, this town is packed with unique and eccentric characters and some of them are not good people. There is an emphasis on the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s and there is extensive commentary on racism in this book. Several of the characters are connected to the Ku Klux Klan and the segregation of the black community is dealt with in great detail. Additionally, there are enigmatic characters like the character of the Lady who is 106 years old, and she deals in supernatural and occult phenomena. In a way, she reminded me of the Log Lady from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. There are plenty of other memorable characters in this story and I think that’s what makes this book stand out. McCammon writes characters that will stay with you for a long time after finishing this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories set in a small-town setting. If you enjoy magical realism, you will probably find something to like about this novel. There are moments of horror here and this book might be perfect to read around Halloween. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. There is adventure, mystery, supernatural and coming of age themes packed densely together and I think this book will please most readers. 4 strong stars.
There is a lot more to this book than just murder mystery. Like I mentioned earlier, this town is packed with unique and eccentric characters and some of them are not good people. There is an emphasis on the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s and there is extensive commentary on racism in this book. Several of the characters are connected to the Ku Klux Klan and the segregation of the black community is dealt with in great detail. Additionally, there are enigmatic characters like the character of the Lady who is 106 years old, and she deals in supernatural and occult phenomena. In a way, she reminded me of the Log Lady from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. There are plenty of other memorable characters in this story and I think that’s what makes this book stand out. McCammon writes characters that will stay with you for a long time after finishing this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories set in a small-town setting. If you enjoy magical realism, you will probably find something to like about this novel. There are moments of horror here and this book might be perfect to read around Halloween. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. There is adventure, mystery, supernatural and coming of age themes packed densely together and I think this book will please most readers. 4 strong stars.
Just finished Boy's Life for the third time, and I just love it more with each read. Robert McCammon perfectly captures the magic of childhood and how it clashes with harsh reality in small town Alabama in 1964, where prejudice and resistance to change are prevalent. Cory and his parents, Davy Ray, the Lady, the Moon Man, Old Moses, Mr. Lightfoot, Saxon's Lake, Midnight Mona, Rebel, Rocket... I love it all. One of my absolute favorites and a perfect summer re-read. Highly recommend!
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A nearly perfect blend of Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, and Harper Lee.
This is my favorite coming of age story I’ve ever read or experienced in any medium. I cannot believe how nostalgic I am for Cory’s life that I lived over the last two weeks of slowly savoring each chapter.
This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. It has just the right amount of the supernatural seeping into everyday life. The mystery is not very, well, mysterious and I figured it out about halfway through the book but McCammon's writing will transport anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s back to hot summer days riding your bicycle when the world was still bright with promise but dark with terrors grownups never seemed to notice.