Every reader once in a while uncovers an absolute gem of a book that sends them over the moon. I’ve just finished one of those books. It is Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon. This book swept me away into another place and time where I hung out with the characters for just shy of 600 pages. It is part coming-of-age story, part fantasy, part mystery, part suspense novel all rolled into one tidy package. The writing is impeccable. The plotting is strong and engaging. The characters are a wonderful combination of good people and bad people.
Cory Mackenson is a 12 year old boy in Zephyr, Alabama, and he still carries with him the charmed life of childhood where everything is an adventure and there is magic in the air. But he is at the age where real life starts to intrude. He is learning that there are bad people who do bad things to other people. He is learning that there are circumstances beyond anyone’s control that have dire effects on some people. He is encountering bigotry and corruption. Through it all, he and his friends work at maintaining their carefree childhood reality, finding magic in unlikely places.
McCammon gives us a narrative that feels personal, almost autobiographical in nature. Set in the early 1960’s, there is a nostalgic aire to the novel that floats the story’s many plot lines and shares the childhood sense of wonder even when events take a troubling turn. The novel flows smoothly from event to event and ties it all up in a neat literary package that reads like a gift from the author.
I have read many books by Robert McCammon and I have enjoyed them all but this novel is the jewel in his crown. It is unlike any of his books that came before. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It reads like a breathtaking ride on a magic bicycle.
So, it happened one day in late July 2025. Several large green plastic envelopes arrived in the mail. I was very excited and filled with great anticipation even though I knew what was in them; my most recent book haul from Thriftbooks.com, my favorite purveyor of used books. I tore open the packages and spread out the contents on my bed. There were about 10 books, all of which were books I had long desired to read but as yet had not gotten around to. I picked up each book, fluttered the pages under my thumb, read the synopsis on the back of each one, and generally began my acquaintance with these, my newest friends. I looked at my bookshelves knowing already that there was no room there. I then looked at the row of books lining the shelf over my work table. They were packed tight from end to end. Although there were some books on my entertainment center all the space there was jammed up with them as well as my collection of favorite movies leaving no room for my new book pals. I already had several stacks on the floor of my bedroom/man cave and already had to watch where I stepped. I was aware of the several boxes of books in my closet that were still looking for a home. I sat on the bed and studied my situation. One thing that came to mind was the fact that with all of these beautiful books taking up every inch of spare space the truth was I hadn’t read but a small percentage of them. You see, I was in the habit of book buying, accumulating books at a rate faster then I read. I would by three books and read one, buy five and read three, buy ten and read five. It doesn’t take a mathematician to work out the end result of such behavior. I had a plethora of books that needed to be read. For a brief moment I actually felt foolish. But only for a brief moment. I try not to dwell on negative thoughts and feelings. However, I was aware that I needed to do something about it.
It was then that I remembered an exercise that some Booktubers (YouTube content providers who specialize in book dicussions) had done who found themselves in a similar situation. They set themselves a challenge to read a certain number of books they already owned before allowing themselves to buy any more boooks. This was it. This was the solution. I would take a break from book buying while I read 100 books I already owned. I certainly had enough books. I had several hundred physical books scattered and hidden around my man cave. I also had several hundred titles on my Kindle Fire that I hadn’t read. Let’s not forget the approximately 50 audio books I had acquired through Audible and Kobo. I basically had enough books to last me at least to the next decade.
The rules would be simple:
Read 100 books I already own before buying any other books.
I would allow myself to count books I DNFed (Did Not Finish) because they were disappointing, offensive or otherwise lacking. But I would allow myself only 10 of these and only if I had read at least 25% of the book. Life is too short to read books you don’t like and by 25% you can usually tell if a book isn’t sinking the hook.
Audiobooks count as a book read.
That’s it. Those are the rules.
The experience so far has been positive. I pulled 50 books and put them together on the shelf over my work table where I could see them every day. They may not necessarily be the 50 I end up reading but is does take some of the pressure off seeing them everyday because 50 books doesn’t look nearly as intimidating as I thought it would. I also created a folder on my kindle and put 50 titles there. Since embracing the project I’ve felt good that these books that I’ve been staring at for (in some cases) years are finally getting the attention they deserve. There was an underlying sense of frustration from looking at these books and wondering when I would get around to reading them. That frustration has lifted. I only miss buying books once in a while when FOMO kicks in. In those cases I look to see if the book is in the library. If it is then I add it to my library wish list and rest assured that it will be available when I’m ready for it. If it is not in the library then I add it to my Books To Buy list for the end of the project.
Since the end of July (July 20, to be exact) I have read 10 books, only three of which have been disappointing. Not a bad track record so far. So far I have read:
Trust by Hernan Diaz (excellent)
The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyl and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (entertaining)
The Deep Blue Goodbye by John D. MacDonald (very good)
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem (excellent)
The Six Days of the Condor by James Grady (disappointing)
Noble House by James Clavell (riveting)
Runway Zero Eight by Arthur Hailey & John Castle (entertaining)
The Collector by John Fowles (very good)
Great English Poets: William Blake (not to my taste)
Little Heaven by Nick Cutter (disappointing)
Currently I am reading two books:
Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon
The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci et.al. (yes, I read cookbooks, but only certain ones)
Are you interested in doing a challenge like this? If so, declare it in the comments and keep us updated on your progress. Also, have you read any of the books listed above? What did you think of them?
