Boy's Life [B1058]

2008 PB reprint in nice clean condition. A bizarre murder in an idyllic southern town propels a boy and his father into a world of evil in this 1992 World Fantasy Award-winning horror novel. Small town boys see weird sights, and Zephyr has provided Cory Jay Mackenson with his fair share of oddities. He knows the bootleggers who lurk in the dark places outside of town. On moonless nights, he's heard spirits congregate in the churchyard to reminisce about the good old days. He's seen rain that flooded Main Street and left it crawling with snakes. Cory knows magic, and relishes it as only a young boy can. One frosty winter morning, he and his father watch a car jump the curb and sail into the fathomless town lake. His father dives into the icy water to rescue the driver, and finds a naked corpse handcuffed to the wheel. This chilling sight is only the start of the strangest period of Cory's life, when the magic of his town will transform him into a man. "Strongly echoing the childhood-elegies of [Stephen] King and [Ray] Bradbury, and every bit their equal," Boy's Life represents the finest work of one of the most accomplished writers of modern horror. (Kirkus Reviews).

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "It's been a long time that a book made me feel like a kid again. This one did just that. It's a beautifully nostalgic story set in a small town. A murder mystery first pulled me in but I honestly think that the book could've stood on its own even without the mystery. The characters are so well developed and the storytelling so charming that I found myself completely immersed. Wish my 12-year-old self had found this book back then. She would have been in for an adventure."; "Idk how to even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I also don't know how I've never heard of it. It's a coming of age story of a boy in the 1960s. It includes all the nostalgia with a murder mystery, racism, nazis, and even a dinosaur! It's like Sandlot meets Steven Kings 11/22/63. I loved it so much. I don't often give five stars. But if I could give more I would."; "I have read Robert McCammon books before. I do like the horror genre, and his are good. None of those books prepared me for this one though. This was not horror, even though there are a few bits that might meet the definition. This was a straight up coming of age book, and it is a doozy."; "This is a book I have long cherished. The descriptions McCammon includes about life during the 1960's in a small town are right on. This book involved all of my emotions. It made me laugh out loud, cry, and feel good. The struggles of growing up, trying to discover who, and what you are made of, are difficult enough, but when you come face to face with adult troubles (i.e. murder, bigotry, good vs. evil) growing up becomes that much more confusing. Each chapter of McCammon's Boy's Life is rich with what it means to be human. I have always kept two copies of this book; one well worn, dog-eared for myself to read again and again, and another copy to give to friends. I have given at least six copies away!"