Boy's Life by Robert McCammon Book Review & Reaction | Coming Of Age In Ways Only Stephen King Could

[@civoreb]

I only have 9 books in my favorites of all time that really made an impression on me and this is one of them. One of my favorite quotes comes from this book. “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.”

[@mikesbookreviews]

Great quote.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Cool, I've been reading Tropic of Cancer except I like to pretend the character Van Norden is like a Bailey Jay, mite write my own book think I'll call it "Beyond the Valley of Penises"

[@stevehoran6011]

I love that quote too

[@samdemastrie]

I never leave KZbin comments but I feel compelled to now. I finished this book a few days ago on your recommendation. I have to thank you. I'm close with my dad and he's in poor health-we're not sure how much time he's got left. The end of this book-a single page in particular, you know the one-broke me. I don't cry much. I get teary all the time, but big, dam-bursting sobs are incredibly rare for me. This one got me, and it felt good. And sad. And good. Thank you.

[@brockautry8680]

Best wishes you and your dad's way. May GOD'S GRACE be with you

[@michaelsimmons5505]

"You'll always be my boy Corey!" 😢😢

[@samdemastrie]

Dad passed away back in November, so this book is now more special than ever.

[@GlucoseFilms]

I just finished this book last night. From start to finish, I couldn't put it down. It really captures that magic feeling of childhood. I as a 35-year-old man bawled my eyes out and it made me smile at the same time. It helped me rediscover a little bit of that "magic". Can't recommend it enough.

[@daveedmunds1109]

One thing I will say about McCammon is that his first ever attempt to write a book...Baal...got published. So he effectively began learning to write in the public eye. The man himself feels strongly that his first four books are not a fair reflection of his work. Worth a read, but should not be a priority and you could easily miss the first three out. If you compare them to what he's writing now, with the Matthew Corbett series, the difference is staggering. Stephen King is my favourite author too, but McCammon is as good a writer as him. Boys Life is the best coming of age I've read. Books I think you should have a look at are: Gone South I Travel by Night & Last Train to Perdition Speaks the Night bird and of course Swan Song (my favourite book)

[@stevegeorge6880]

@@Fakespy reading it, you get the impression that he was still very much teaching himself to write just buy feel like a musician with a guitar or piano who just tries to play back what's on the radio and then improvise without formal instruction on how to write music. To me, it feels like Salem's Lot meets The Stand written by Stephen King in high school. It still has some great characters and a fantastic Central story idea - vampires take over Los Angeles en route to taking over the world and are able to do so largely because the city is so overwhelming in scope and Corruption that nobody really notices until it's too late. For the longest time after I discovered him, I was looking for this book in thrift stores after passing it up once and not realizing it was out of print. When I did finally find a couple of copies, it was only a few months before he finally did put it back in print and made it available as an e-book.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Cool, I've been reading Tropic of Cancer except I like to pretend the character Van Norden is like a Bailey Jay, mite write my own book think I'll call it "Beyond the Valley of Penises"

[@devinmichael905]

Baal was the first he wrote, but the third published. He mentions this in the introduction.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Excellent review, Mike! Any book that you would compare to King’s books in a positive light must have impressed you. In regard to fatherhood, I think that just wanting to be a good father is a vital step in the right direction, and after that we muddle our way through the best we can.

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Glad u finally read it. Now on to Swan Song.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I already got it! It’ll happen this year. Thanks for the rec, my man!

[@benja6902]

McCammon has been a favorite author of mine for decades. I'm glad you have finally read him. I hope you continue on with his books; including the Matthew Corbett historical adventures and his take on The Fall of the House of Usher.

[@dinocollins720]

I think it's so important to read books like this or Huck Finn that deal with racism and prejudice that help show us how far we've come and gain gratitude for the great time we live in.

[@mikesbookreviews]

💯

[@katieamarsh]

This review was great, this sounds like it will ring all my bells. I am stunned that people don’t like the slice of life part of 11-22-63, I loved that part so much. I am 43. Our bikes were, indeed, our steeds. They were our freedom.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Just a golden era of life. So good.

[@alynam82]

There's a little bit of a "McCammon multiverse" so subtle, but you'll see Easter eggs here referenced in later novellas I Travel By Night and Last Train From Perdition. Also, a character crossover in The Listener. Just a little something to share, in case you continue reading McCammon 😀

[@brockautry8680]

And how could you not😁 McCammon is 👑

[@thebrothersgwynne]

I had not heard of this before you mentioned it on the channel, but I am definitely intrigued! *Adds to TBR...* Will

[@jenniferwood144]

I’ve read this book at least 10 plus times. Picked it up in 91 for a road trip me and hubby were doing. I was so dazzled that I read the book out loud while he drove. We both have a passion for audible books in our cars. Robert Mccammon Corbett’s books are also wonderful….great mysteries and histories

[@helenasf1782]

Aw thanks for sharing the touching story about Justin. It just shows a good book has the capacity to reach us emotionally. Would be so cool if Justin finds this video one day!

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

Thanks for sharing that touching story from your childhood, Mike. Actually brought tears to my eyes

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, it cut me to talk about. Wild.

[@stevehoran6011]

I had read this years ago when I was college age and picked it up again when I saw your review. It spoke to me in a different way 30 years later and once again I enjoyed it so much. Great review.

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

I just got a copy of this book, literally two days ago. After watching this review, it will definetly be the next thing I'll be reading after my current read. I also had the Wolf's Hour by McCammon.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Cool, I've been reading Tropic of Cancer except I like to pretend the character Van Norden is like a Bailey Jay, mite write my own book think I'll call it "Beyond the Valley of Penises"

[@dinocollins720]

I loved the story about your little best friend when you were 4. My best buddy from elementary moved away too. It was hard, but I have great memories!

[@apebblemaster4570]

Wow, that story you shared where your friend woke up at 5 am just to wave goodbye to you is really touching!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, I should have thought that one out before I talked about it on camera ha ha

[@apebblemaster4570]

@@mikesbookreviews No, seriously, it reminded me of when my family had to move and how that first morning all you think about are the people you are leaving behind. It would have been really sweet if our friends woke up just to wave to us goodbye! (I'm not complaining, since we had ample warning we were moving, and you and your friend didn't.) Man, now I'm getting emotional thinking about all of this!

[@hardwing]

I really respect the passion you show when reviewing this!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha I barely held it together

[@sq082]

Glad you liked this one. Summer of night by Dan Simmons is another one you should have a look at

[@jctmanu]

YES Summer of Night is nearly on par with IT for me. Mike would love it so much.

[@Jonpat]

I read the last chapter with a lump in my throat the entire time. Even thinking about it the next morning. Great read and packs an emotional whallop.

[@charlenechen3818]

Such a touching story about your close friend many years ago! This book must be so good to read. I do have McCammon’s Swan Song in my kindle, haven’t got the chance to read that yet. Thinking to read Boy’s Life first.

[@matthewbeaty4344]

Another quality review that we come to expect from you Mike! Thanks my friend!

[@chrisconnors7418]

Glad you liked Boy’s Life. I don’t remember much about it now but I do remember how it pulled me into the book, how it made me feel, and I recommended it to friends. I want to reread it; I picked up a copy late last year along with some of his other books that I haven’t read yet. And yes, bikes were our trusty steeds. We went everywhere with them. You’d know which house the kids went to because there’d be a pile of bikes on the lawn or against the house. You’d have to get to school early or there wouldn’t be any room on the bike rack. Now it’s different. I’d visit my sister and family and be distressed when I found her kids didn’t have bikes, or had a bike but it wasn’t used. Bikes were such an integral part of my life it’s hard to fathom how someone would feel complete if they don’t have a bike. And 5 decades later, my bike is still my trustworthy steed (it’s nearly 35 yrs old and was the first brand new bike I ever bought, and was the only bike I had as an adult till this past Feb when I bought my second bike just for winter biking).

[@HeXen1900]

I love coming of age "horror" and this is one of my favorites. McCammon is one of my favorite authors, he is up there with King in my opinion.

[@MrTurtleMob]

Magical. Simply magical. Thanks Mike! I would not have read this if it weren't for you.

[@scottferris2686]

I have been thinking of reading this author for decades but have never pulled the trigger, until now. It’s on my tbr list now, great review.

[@MrRutty1984]

This has shot up my TBR can't wait to get to this, great review Mike.

[@LeortisBooks]

I’ve listened to a few of his Matthew Corbett novels and loved them. Been meaning to read Boy’s Life.

[@calista3371]

Since hearing Brian Lee Durfey talking about this book, I've wanted to read it. I simply need to find a copy. So glad you enjoyed it. I'm ready to read it.

[@BeauBerry13]

I read this in high school, shortly after this was released, and loved it!

[@reamus9102]

Oh my!!! I love that you finally picked this up! Almost as much as I love this book. One of the most influential books in my life, truly loved your review and hope you end up reading Swan Song too 😉

[@tuttifuknfruity]

Thanks for making me add another book to my TBR Mike. Great review dude!

[@christopherwurtz650]

Ray Bradbuty's Dandelion Wine and Farewell Summer, books 1 and 3 in the Greentown Trilogy, are great coming of age stories. I know you read book 2, Something Wicked This Way Comes.

[@danieljacot3083]

Something wicked this way comes. Man that brings back memories. I’ve only watched the movie but I’m sure the book is better from what I’ve heard. My grandma who recently passed had this movie. I’d watch it as a kid when I came to see her. Was a magical and scary movie to me

[@Johanna_reads]

Excellent review! I definitely want to read this, and I'm sure the nostalgia will be there for me when I do. 🚲That story with your friend was so touching and fitting for describing the sentiment of the this book!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha, yeah I almost lost it there

[@Yesica1993]

@@mikesbookreviews It's amazing how moments like that pop up decades later and you feel just how you did when it happened as a child.

[@jimave]

I just finished listening to this book and I loved it for all of the same reasons that you discussed. There were a few times that I teared up. Thanks for recommending this book!

[@briteskin]

Boys Life and Swan Song were my initial reads and set him in a position of a new favorite author. Then read his first two books that didn't work for me. Gone South was my fifth, his most recent at the time, and won me back over but he went on hiatus. My momentum was killed and unfortunately have done myself a disservice by choosing to play it safe and reread multiple times the three books I mentioned over the last 25 plus years. Not sure why I never did an internet sleuth all these years to find what in his bibliography would likely work for me. Thanks to the comments here and the KZbin algorithm pushing some of Mr. Durfee's vids in to my suggested feed I might finally break out of the McCammon bubble I had built for myself.

[@stevegeorge6880]

I don't know if you are aware, but there is a Facebook group dedicated to McCammon that is run by his friend and superfan Hunter Goatley on which this review has been shared. So you'll probably get a few new subscribers now.

[@Yesica1993]

You know, I kinda need some childhood nostalgia these days. I think I'll give this one a try.

[@TheBookCure]

Great review, Mike! I’m really glad you enjoyed this one. It certainly pulled a tear or two from me. 😅

[@noreviewplaythrough4051]

I read many of Robert's book back in the '90s along with King. I've been going back and re-reading some of the classic King stuff and I just finished the Stand, and Swan Song was recommended to me on Kindle Unlimited, and I remember reading it a long time ago, and remember loving it. It's still just as good today as it was then. I remember Boy's Life being a favorite back then as well.

[@dylanprice4956]

Great review. Yes it got me also.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Difficult not to.

[@christopherjoynt2446]

Man… I’m excited to see what your book of the month will be! Great as always Mike!

[@grimreads]

To me, Boy's Life captures the whimsy of Bradburry (the flying is probably a reference to Ray Bradburry Stories) in a similar way to Stephen King also also the small town mystery and surrealism of Twin Peaks.

[@unlimitedreads]

Great review, Mike! Glad you enjoyed it 😀👍

[@PnutButtaJllyMan]

May be a dumb question. Are there any books in this style, but in the 2000's or late 90's? All these books always take place in the 80s or earlier. At least the ones I'm aware of.

[@anniecoughlin7142]

This is one of my favorite books- I admit that I bawled my eyes at while reading it (but in a good way- lol)

[@xcBlackDiamond]

Just finished it. I agree with everything you've said.

[@kyrilson71]

This is is one of my all time favorite books. I’m glad you finally read it and liked it.

[@brentasmith]

Loved this book. I think it's in my all time top 10

[@mmurphy3608]

This sounds great and has been on my radar for a while now. Just need to figure out where to fit it in.

[@April_Davis]

Thanks for this. Sounds like something I'd really like. I just found both Boy's Life and Swan Song in the free cart at my library. So excited to get to them.

[@moisheplatinumberg6016]

I just finished this book. I read it on the recommendation of Brian Lee Durfee and boy I'm glad I did. I couldn't put it down. I'm definitely going to read Swan Song this year.

[@jctmanu]

One of the best books by one of my favorite authors! Please read Gone South and The Listener next. Southern gothic horror and so so so great.

[@jctmanu]

Also please read Summer of Night someday. It would be exactly what you love of coming of age nostalgic horror. It’s nearly perfect.

[@ILOVEYEWIsaac]

Hey Mike. Love the review. I’m sure you’ve had it recommended but please don’t miss out on Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. It’s in the unofficial trilogy of Boy’s Life, It, and Summer of Night.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Loved this book!!

[@igaelvahgelt9890]

I just finished this amazing book. Loved everything about it. Def will be going back to this very soon 😊

[@virx227]

Why are you making me cry? 🥺

[@dorkwithstyle73]

What a great review Mike. I had to read this my freshman year of high school 19cough97. It’s the only book assigned to me that I had to actually enjoyed. I have read at least five times. Currently reading Swan Song, so far it’s really good too

[@muppet1011]

What a great review Mike. Definitely going to give this book a go.

[@leowise206]

Definitely worth it. I love Stephen King, and while I feel Dean Koontz is not bad, but feels sometimes repetitive and a bit phony, Boy's life really has the magic. True it is not King, but it is very close to it in a way that no other author has achieved imho.

[@thegenericgeek]

I’m a little more than 1/2 way through this book right now, and your review is spot on! I’ve thought about things long forgotten. It has made me laugh out loud and grin from ear to ear more times than I can count so far. Really loving this suggestion! If it ends as well as it has started it’s a 9.5 from me!

[@mikebruce3933]

I know you have a fondness for scary vampires so maybe try They Thirst next. A gloriously over the top take on the genre chock-full of genuinely scary moments with a blockbuster action packed finale.

[@mikebruce3933]

@Angus Johnson very much so.

[@daveedmunds1109]

Oh and Wolf's Hour. That's amazing. Best Werewolf story ever written. Cycle of the Werewolf doesn't come close.

[@daviddandrea6491]

Loved Boy's Life!

[@bookmeridian]

Also.. the train scene was very cool. I was like woah this took a turn

[@winterwolf7423]

Comparing a kid's bike to a "trusty steed" is one of the best comparisons I've heard.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ride like the wind, Bullseye!

[@nicolebegovic1483]

I just read this one! Freakin loved it

[@mikesbookreviews]

Excellent!

[@formulaeternal]

Sounds good. I’m going to try it

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

This was my second McCammon book. I read it 8 years ago, and from what I remember, I liked it, but didn't love it. I'm in the Swan Song camp, which I consider to be an amazing book. I'm planning on a reread when you get to it.

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

I have every R McCammon book (not easy to do) and Boy’s Life, Swan Song, Mine, The Five, are great! Currently reading Gone South and enjoying it.

[@angelaroberts7417]

I have had this book for years and now it’s at the top of my TBR. I really liked Swan Song and am interested in hearing your review of it.

[@svartling]

Mystery Walk is another really good Robert McCammon book. Also about boys growing up

[@sjkrum320]

I just finished Four Seasons and this seems like a good follow up.

[@mikeptheoldbookworm.4751]

A great review for a great book.:)

[@mikeprince6685]

Hello Mike! Could you please tell me where you got that edition of Boys Life? I can’t find that paperback cover edition anywhere

[@jeffhaubrich6121]

Man, I had a copy of this book that my aunt had given me years ago. I unfortunately past it forward without reading it. 😩 I will most definitely pick it up. I also read Swan Song years ago and it was quite good from what I remember.

[@loudoesreviews]

McCammon is fantastic. Might as well start working on rejigging your schedule. :D His Matthew Corbett series is great too. Swan Song makes a great bookend to The Stand.

[@SamPegg90]

If you are interested in a slice of life coming of age set in the UK, then I recommend ‘Black Swan Green’ by David Mitchell. I read it not long ago and it sounds like you’d love it. It made me laugh and cry many times.

[@brianmelendy1194]

You will like Swan Song as you will like any of McCammon's books. He is very good and very under rated.

[@thecofe]

Its on kindle unlimited, so I’m definitely going to jump in and read it after LOTR.

[@bookmeridian]

After finishing the 3 that people said was the holy trinity. Id definitely say IT has no rival. Boy's Life was way more of a magical coming of age story. Summer of Night is the only thing to come close to IT in themes and feel and the crew.

[@thewaterarchitect1]

Very excited to see this comment. I love It and boys life, and feel the same as you said about them. Funny enough I was looking for something like both of these novels yesterday and stumbled across summer of night. Started reading SON yesterday and I’m really enjoying it so far

[@bookmeridian]

@@thewaterarchitect1 I read it back in February and was blown away!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Is that Dan Simmons?

[@thewaterarchitect1]

@@mikesbookreviews yes, Dan Simmons… By the way, Mike I’ve been watching your channel for a few years and seem to have very similar taste in books. Have you ever read any Peter Clines? I think you’d like him, Sci-fi w/ good action and humor. 14, Broken Room, and Paradox Bound are all good

[@bookmeridian]

@@mikesbookreviews Yes sir! I think I spoiled Simmons and McCammon by reading Summer of Night and Boy's Life first for those two gentlemen

[@Steve_Stowers]

I loved this book. It defnitely reminded me of Stephen King ("The Body"), Ray Bradbury ("Something Wicked..."), and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Then I read "Swan Song" and was disappointed. For some reason, that one never really worked for me. I wasn't able to fully suspend disbelief; it always felt like the author was making stuff up instead of telling about events and characters that really existed. The other McCammon book I've read is "Speaks the Nightbird," which I liked a lot more than "Swan Song."

[@alynam82]

Swan Song is just a beautiful novel. I truly feel you're going to love it, on par with Boy's Life. Especially the character Roland. I promise you, he's going to stick with you

[@deelak2329]

Yo you read my mind. I was deciding last night if I should read this next and checked to see if you did a review. I wake up and bang! Hahah. Destiny. Doing it next for sure

[@chevalierdulys]

now go to the sequel of boys life :) Gone south

[@solomon_doors]

Now you gotta read swan song. Its better than the stand. Also recommend speaks the nightbird, the listener, gone south, mystery walk, blue world, and I travel by night. Hot take, I won't say mccammon is at king level in sheer volume of iconic stories, but I absolutely think his writing is better/tighter

[@thecaffeinatedbookwyrm3051]

Oh my goodness. In high school, I went to the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour and they were stopping in San Antonio for the first time since Ozzy had been exiled for peeing on the Alamo. But I knew how my parents felt about Ozzy and Black Sabbath, so I told them I was going to see Pantera (they were there also). LoL Of COURSE it would be on the news, right? Apparently I was a dumb teenager. I was grounded for a while after that.

[@Joe-o9j1z]

I'd like to read more McCammon, but all his books seem to be out of print

[@WilAdams]

IF you plan to read They Thirst I urge you to wait until you can get the English (from Great Britain) version instead of the American version. The only difference it that the English version is longer and fills in some of the plot holes in the American release.

[@ProtoType99468]

the Stinger adaptation Teacup is barely watchable

[@atom0191]

🤩🤩

[@wjamimah7772]

TW for more than just a little animal abuse and animal death too. I’m an animal softy so there was enough that I really started to notice it.

[@danielcorey2156]

Swan Song is the perfect next choice. It’s superb. I read it at the start of the pandemic, and loved it so much that I ended up ripping through his entire catalogue. It’s basically the only good thing that happened to me in the COVID era.

[@thebookishgnome4062]

We are just a bunch of big dummies lol. Guess I have another book that I need to put on my list.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Highest of recommends.

[@rigobertosolorzano8568]

BERSERK millennium falcon arc!!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Doing this on every video isn’t going to make me do it faster.

[@rigobertosolorzano8568]

@@mikesbookreviews Just a friendly reminder haha 😆

[@justinthyme2666]

What?!?! That was you???....naw, I'm just kidding. I started off with boy's life also and loved it, one of my faves. I've not loved any of his others, though. liked some, couldn't get into swan song

[@StElna]

If you wanted to read a book that is a cross between It and Boy's Life it would be, Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. It has a bunch of 12 year old kids in a small town, and something evil is lurking. There are a few companion books that have some of the same characters all grown up.

[@wavaleebranch]

LOVE SUMMER OF NIGHT!!!!A must read!

[@rebeccaw9656]

Wolf’s Hour. James Bond-like werewolf spy in a world war setting against the Nazi’s.

[@inhumanbookworm]

These people complaining about racism should grow up.

[@danielmarlett1421]

Now I'm sad thinking about you having to move