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barb4ry1 's review for:
Boy's Life
by Robert R. McCammon
"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."
This quote contains the essence of McCammon's Boy's Life. If it speaks to you, you will love the book. You'll love it if you are a dreamer or simply miss the innocence of childhood, carefree adventure, and the magic of everyday discovery. It's about everlasting summer days, hidden places, and the magic that's in all of us.
It's also about a murder mystery, except that the murder is not central to the plot, not in an obvious way. The structure is not linear and dominated by vignettes that revolve around the protagonist's everyday life, his family and friends.
Boy's Life takes place in the quiet town of Zephyr, somewhere in Alabama, in the 1960s. From the outside, the town looks idyllic, but dig deeper and cracks start to show. The most obvious? Segregation, a good reminder that the "good ole days" weren't good for everyone. But there's also a hidden evil in the city, and it takes more than one form.
Twelve-year-old Cory Mackenson and his father, Tom, witness a car plunge into Lake Saxon. Tom dives to the rescue but finds only a naked and strangled corpse handcuffed to the steering wheel of the sinking car. Cory sees a menacing figure watching from the edge of the woods, but discovers only a strange green feather at the site. The mystery of the murder gets in and out of focus throughout the novel. It's central to Cory's coming-of-age arc, but ultimately it's the novel about the coming- of age involving murder mystery and not the other way around.
Cory has to deal with bullies at school. His beloved bike breaks down and is accidentally taken to the junkyard. His father is having trouble at work and he can't come to terms with the fact that he couldn't save the man from the car. When Cory gets a new bike from the Lady (who may or may not use VooDoo) and names it "Rocket," you can not help but feel his excitement as he races through the streets. Also, the bike seems to have a mind of its own, a glowing eye, and a soft spot for Cory and his well-being.
McCammon nailed the nostalgic tone here, creating dozens and dozens of quotable lines. He has also wrapped up the murder mystery with style and ingenuity. Some readers may be bothered by the non-linear structure and lack of focus on the murder case. Others will love slice-of-life vignettes from Cory's life. I am definitely in the second group.
Boy's Life is a wonderful and genuinely magical coming-of-age story. Highly recommended.
This quote contains the essence of McCammon's Boy's Life. If it speaks to you, you will love the book. You'll love it if you are a dreamer or simply miss the innocence of childhood, carefree adventure, and the magic of everyday discovery. It's about everlasting summer days, hidden places, and the magic that's in all of us.
It's also about a murder mystery, except that the murder is not central to the plot, not in an obvious way. The structure is not linear and dominated by vignettes that revolve around the protagonist's everyday life, his family and friends.
Boy's Life takes place in the quiet town of Zephyr, somewhere in Alabama, in the 1960s. From the outside, the town looks idyllic, but dig deeper and cracks start to show. The most obvious? Segregation, a good reminder that the "good ole days" weren't good for everyone. But there's also a hidden evil in the city, and it takes more than one form.
Twelve-year-old Cory Mackenson and his father, Tom, witness a car plunge into Lake Saxon. Tom dives to the rescue but finds only a naked and strangled corpse handcuffed to the steering wheel of the sinking car. Cory sees a menacing figure watching from the edge of the woods, but discovers only a strange green feather at the site. The mystery of the murder gets in and out of focus throughout the novel. It's central to Cory's coming-of-age arc, but ultimately it's the novel about the coming- of age involving murder mystery and not the other way around.
Cory has to deal with bullies at school. His beloved bike breaks down and is accidentally taken to the junkyard. His father is having trouble at work and he can't come to terms with the fact that he couldn't save the man from the car. When Cory gets a new bike from the Lady (who may or may not use VooDoo) and names it "Rocket," you can not help but feel his excitement as he races through the streets. Also, the bike seems to have a mind of its own, a glowing eye, and a soft spot for Cory and his well-being.
McCammon nailed the nostalgic tone here, creating dozens and dozens of quotable lines. He has also wrapped up the murder mystery with style and ingenuity. Some readers may be bothered by the non-linear structure and lack of focus on the murder case. Others will love slice-of-life vignettes from Cory's life. I am definitely in the second group.
Boy's Life is a wonderful and genuinely magical coming-of-age story. Highly recommended.