Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon l Summary & Study Guide

by BookRags

This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.

Genres: Audiobook

Nook

First published August 9, 2011

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book of my growing up days.Beautifully written from twelve year old Corys perspective in a world of the recent past where magic and Real Life blur together seamlessly amongst a backdrop or tension and murder in a deep south american town.
This will stir memories of racing through the woods hunting dinosaurs and battling monsters, all the while viewing the adults like they are missing something vitally important.
This book encourages me to still retain some childhood innocence and stave off the Growing Up world for as long as i can.Read it if you can find it!

[Lynda Nicoulin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the actual book, not the study guide, but the book itself is not listed on this site.

I have to say I was unable to put this book down. The story follows the life of a very imaginative boy during his twelfth summer. The adventures he has and the insights he gains into life are very entertaining and eye opening.

It is very well written. It is a little long, but only because so much happens to this boy and the people around him.

[Sclopatt.Net · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 3rd reading of this book. I loved the feelings evoked from my memories of the last day of school, of being a that age where there is still wonder in the world and parents are just giving more freedom. Glad to see that others of you feel the same way about it!

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part of this was book the self-referential character, emperor's-new-clothes type (literally), that the author inserts as a sort of stand-in for himself in which he acknowledges that what he truly wanted to write was simply a book about small town life in the American south, from his perspective as a child, in the vein of, say, To Kill a Mockingbird or something by Steinbeck but was instead induced by his publisher to write this pastiche of American movie tropes. Don't get me wrong, the other book is still contained within this one, one scene particularly ringing true, to me, being the fight scene between the protagonist and the local bullies, but the contrast between this and some of the other over-the-top, cinematic chase scenes and non-stop what's-gonna-happen-nexts is sort of hilariously magnified by the stark difference in tone.

Either way, I enjoyed the book and thought his shoehorning in of every imaginable pulp fantasy, western, WWII, horror, action and detective cliche was an amusing way to mock the gate-keepers whilst simultaneously giving them what they apparently insisted on. I imagine I would have preferred his original draft, though. There's a place for these things to be sure but it's also pretty clear that most publishers have no desire to promote any works that accurately portray reality these days, specifically those geared towards children - better to keep their young readers believing in myths until they're old enough to know better is the thinking, it seems. More malleable that way, I suppose.

[Dave Lydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only just rediscovered this book and this author. I loved Swan So g which was part of his hottie canon and then because of the author I bought this book when it came out.

It is an entrancing read that drags you into the world of the 12 year old boy whose life the book is apart.

Part rite of passage, part whodunit, part Deep South lit, it has it all and everyone who reads it (and everyone should) will take away something positive for the experience

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know many people absolutely love this book but for me it was just a meh. If you want to live through a boys life then by all means read this book. It takes you through all of the doubts, wonder, joy and pain of a young boy growing up in a racist southern small town.

Not what I expected or wanted from this author. It's a great book just not for me.

[Richard Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the most enjoyable books i have ever read. Both nostalgic and poetic in the writing. It was a lesson in history and remembering to to remember. To be in the present, but remember your past. Remember everything, as the author says. I was touched in many ways. Thanks for making me remember.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books. My mom read this book to me when I was a kid and it was wonderful. The first book I went back to read again as an adult and still loved it.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book 3-4 times and would read it again. Every time I ride my bike in the summer, I feel 12 yrs old again because of this book. Childhood adventures.

[Istvan Bojtar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story, loved it very much!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as anything I have read in awhile. The development of the characters was superb and I felt as though I was a neighbor in the town of Zephyr. Cory Mackenson is a perfectly normal child growing up in the sixties who just happens to believe in magic. This is his story. Loved every second I spent inside his story. I will be looking to read Mr. McCammon again.

[Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 31% done with Boy's Life by Robert R. M...I'm really enoying this book. The boy in this story is sharing experience during his childhood and some of the things that have happened to this 12 year old boy are amazing...I can't wait to see how it ends. "Must read"

[Linda Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It is a story of a boy his dog, summer, murder moonshiners and magic.. A real gem! Brian just read it and loved it too!

[Ethan L]

I thought it was very interesting but it was confusing at some points.

[Debbie]

Excellent book. Well written, believable, kept you on anxious to read to the end.

[Amanda Brynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is for the actual book. I read this a couple of years ago. Hard to put down. My Mom had read it back when she was in nursing school and I was about 8. She told me how much she loved the book and when I got a chance to read it. It had me hooked from the start. I still remember the characters in the book like it I read it yesterday. many parts of this book still stick with me. Read this!