Mum's Monday: 11.22.63 by Stephen King

WARNING SPOILERS

This book is set to the John F. Kennedy (JFK) assassination, which is brilliant because before I even started to read this book, it made me question ‘Yes what would have happened had JFK lived?’ Hopefully this example will give a good little insight into answering my initial question.

At the very start of this book before chapter one contains a shock revelation. A lesson for a teacher, not the other way round, where a teacher teaches their class. What’s starts off as an innocent brief for a paper/written essay, results in finding out about some murders that have taken place. Teachers should be careful what they ask for from their students.

Part One:

The intrigue in Chapter one keeps you reading. In such a long book as in over seven hundred pages, I just hope I remember what was mentioned about Gloria, if she is referred to again. If she isn’t there has been enough mentioned to see that Jake should have gone and seen her before he left the school. As I was reading this chapter I had the sense that it was like a BBC sitcom called ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ with Nicholas Lyndhurst. However, this story is still unique in its own way.

In chapter two the in-depth description of the past is really well done, even to include how a kid was standing outside a shop. I love how it is written that Al has to pass on a secret before ‘The cancer shuts his lips forever’ this is a very clever way of describing a secret shared from a person’s death bed before they pass.

In chapter three it shows that this story has been extensively researched to the point of making me wanting to look up some information on what Lee Harvey Oswald attempted to do before he shot JFK. The chapter also mentions the conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. It seems nothing has been overlooked, plus more. We do find out more information further on in this chapter. The timing is written perfectly, it is not rushed just explained in a clear and concise way, that to me as the reader I can fully understand what is being asked of Jake.

It is mentioned throughout the first three chapters that after time travelling back to the past, however, long you are there for you have only been gone two minutes from the future. It has also been mentioned that Jake could stay in the past forever. This makes me question ‘What happens to the future, does it carry on and if Jake does or doesn’t come back, snaps back to two minutes after he left?’ As fascinating as time travel is and as simple as you can make it, it still seems, it can never be truly uncomplicated.

In chapter four I can see that the idea Jake has had is a brilliant one.to test the theory out potentially save lives is a lovely thought.

Part Two:

In chapter five the descriptive nature of this book is so in-depth that I can picture in my mind what the scenes look like. The research has been done really well, as to what it was like and how things were back in 1958 America. this chapter also high-lights mistakes you can make in the past, like mobile phones don’t belong and coins dated after 1958. It is a relief to see Jake get away with putting it in a pay phone, as luckily ‘It didn’t get stuck’. It is good to see that many aspects of time travel have been covered in this book. The pitfalls as well as the benefits/good parts.

In chapter six the lead up continues to the actual title of this book. It is extremely long, but very interesting as well. There is a cross over with another of Stephen King book (Now a film) IT. This is cleverly done and enhances this story.

In chapter seven we are reminded that what Jake also now known as ‘Mr George Amberson’ is up to, a fact finding mission making this book extremely thorough in what the aim of this story is about. In such a long book this story has to keep you reading and this has the right amount of intrigue to do just that. At the end of chapter seven, I am surprised that Jake/George doesn’t go and see exactly whose graves the flowers are being put on. It is good to see a question mark after ‘Parents’ in Jake/George notes. This chapter also leaves me wanting to know more in the way that, what information had Jake/George wanted and had now acquired?

In chapter eight it looks like the past doesn’t want to be changed. Although the likes of this has been mentioned before in this book, things looked to be going well for Jake/George, only for illness to strike. The reason I am mentioning it this time is because this part high-lights another issue of time travel, in that if you need a remedy and you go and ask for it, you have to be hopeful that it has been invented in the year you need it. This part is also described in a way I wish it wasn’t, as it isn’t pleasant to read. As chapter eight continues I wander how it is all going to turn out. This book is one where if you have to put it down, I am reluctant to, as I want to find out what happens next. An intriguing and amusing part is what Jake/George leaves at the crime scene. It does make you think what the police would make of it, when they find a bag with a diarrhoea remedy and adult diapers in it? Not your usual evidence found by the police when a crime has been committed. This is amusing to read.

Part Three

In chapter nine, there is a big shock, sadly, if you change the past however, well intentioned the grass isn’t always greener in the future after the change. This chapter leads me to think that the past shouldn’t have been messed with. That would mean that there would still have been a tragedy but what was meant to be was meant to be and it is better than giving a young child a false sense of security, in the long run. Although the flip side the two professions that two of the Dunning family went into are marginally better, than a school janitor’s job, but looking at the bigger picture Jake knew Harry. This book makes it difficult to weigh up the pros and cons in changing the past.

In chapter ten although there is a repeat in the story it is written in such a way that there is enough of a difference to make a new description in the story and you don’t read all the same of what happened before again. This is clever as it could have just as easily been very much the same. this part is written quickly this time which also gets you closer to reading the goal of the book. It is a shame that you don’t find out how the dancers did from before, but that just makes this book somewhat realistic as we sometimes overlook things and don’t know or find out everything. I see why George/Jake bought the same remedy for what he had before, but this story shows that something else can make you unwell. It is clever of George/Jake to put other plans in place. Although it isn’t clear what he said, Randy Baker from the garage was on hand to help. This proves you can plan for somethings but other things can catch you unawares. Although I don’t condone violence what George/Jake did saved lives. It was done as simply as possible. It is insightful of George/Jake to realise not to go near the Dunning house, sadly, however much he wanted to, as in unusual person/activity would have drawn attention to himself. It is heart-warming to see George/Jake leave a note to try and save another life for as long as possible.

Chapter eleven and the start of chapter twelve, life for George/Jake is going well, but first I feel he maybe got over confident placing his bet and second getting the job at the school teaching again was good to read, as he has to keep himself occupied between reading up on his mission and writing his manuscripts. It is worth mentioning that education, degrees and teaching were very different in 1959/1960. The research done for this book seems to be done extremely well. Chapter twelve high-lights that not everyone is cut out for city living. I do wander if the author is playing with the reader, only time will tell if another large bet was a risk or not. This book has some really good parts that keep the reader intrigued, then again with the length of this book it has to somehow keep you reading.

In chapter thirteen, we have what I personally could describe as a diversion to the story. George/Jake is putting on a school play. This bulks out the story and gives more depth to George/Jake keeping himself occupied before November 1963. Continuing on with this chapter it is important to note the lesson that an author could learn. ‘If you want to change a place where your story is set it isn’t just a case of only changing the name throughout the manuscript, there are other things to consider, an example town layout. This chapter also high-lights that what you say and what is witnessed, your story of where you come from can fall apart if you are not careful. It is good and eventful to see George/Jake’s life moving forward. Although he can never lose sight as to the reason he is where he is, it is all written in a clever way to interweave what is happening to Lee Harvey Oswald before November 1963. Although now it is sad to see tragedy strike, it is sadly inevitable. There just weren’t the same treatments back in the 50s and 60s as there is in modern times. The end of chapter thirteen is confusing, it could just be coincidental, but it is very strange and intriguing none the less.

Part Four:

In chapter fourteen things for George/Jake are progressing in more ways than one. sometimes as I read I lost track of how close to the important date the story had progressed. In the meantime, back at the school, there is a dance and as I read the images of the dance scenes from the popular film ‘Grease’ with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John springs to mind, as I can picture some of the dance moves described in this book. George/Jake has come to a decision, but this only makes me think, ‘How does that work for the future?’ with the ‘You are only gone for just two minutes, however long you are in the past’ but never going back could disrupt that. It is ok for the author to come up with that idea, but it does make me wander at the repercussions of the scenario. It is a good job George/Jake knew how to dance to the songs in the past, or else it could have been awkward instead of fun for him and Sadie.

In chapter fifteen it is both nice and sad that George/Jake and Sadie have got together as George/Jake cannot tell Sadie the truth.  As again another tragedy strikes in this chapter George/Jake is concerned he could be to blame. This is interesting because as I read, before I read his concerns I thought pretty much the same, how much of an effect had George/Jake had, if any, causing the tragedy by changing things through his time travelling. Another complication is if you are trying to cover your tracks, having something to hide, it doesn’t help if you talk in your sleep. Somethings are out of a person’s control. As I read to the end of chapter fifteen I suddenly realised that there has been a recurring phrase/name throughout what I have already read ‘Jimla’ why this is, is unclear, but it gives me something else to think about as to what this means/signifies in the story.

Chapter sixteen starts of ok, even heart-warming after a fun pie fight but as with keeping a secret it can mean singing could be a dangerous mistake, even the type of language you use as well. It is very clever to incorporate certain phrases that no one else in the early 1960s used but would come naturally to someone from 2011. It is sad reading the end of this chapter, but George/Jake can now hopefully focus on his reason for being in the past. This book is very good at high-lighting the precarious nature of time travel.

Chapter seventeen does as I thought from reading the end of chapter sixteen. It focuses on George/Jake’s mission. This is however, cleverly written to incorporate a trip back to Jodie and ultimately come across some more useful equipment, well something the George/Jake may find useful only time and reading on will tell. This book is as I can see, I hope, so well done that the intrigue continues. And I already feel I will miss the characters when I get to the end of this long story. Just as I think ‘I will never get through this book’ I find that I am over half way through. This is a testament to how easily this book is to read. There is a big build up to the date in November 1963, but none of it seems, at the moment wasted. It all looks relevant and slots in the task to come.

In chapter eighteen there is only so much that George/Jake needs to know about the Oswald family, even though he is spying on them from his new home across the street, I feel he should, as mostly portrayed, respect the Oswald family’s privacy. It did come as a surprise when it seemed he was encroaching but the information he picked up had a link to the meeting up of someone that would lead to Lee Harvey Oswald coming in the presence of JFK. In this chapter it focuses more on the mission George/Jake is there to carry out. It is good to see this happen as it reminds the reader ‘Not to lose sight of what George/Jake is there to possibly change history’.

In chapter nineteen it gets technical as to what happens with Cuba and Russia. This is so well written that me as the reader, I am learning of what went on. A clever way of giving a history lesson.

In chapter twenty George/Jake’s past or future continues to catch up with him. With a school’s red tape, things can be discovered or not as in this case. It is good to see school employment and the welfare of Sadie, who is in a relationship with George/Jake, being thoroughly thought-out.

In chapter twenty-one the suspense of events possibly to come one way or another is ramping up. the story gave me the sense of excitement yet nervous intrigued as to how the future in the past would play out. What I do know so far is, it is getting close to the main event.

In chapter twenty-two George/Jake has another task to carry out. This could be seen, and makes me think of being ‘Thrown a curve ball’. The story has certainly taken off in another direction very quickly, but seeing as the title of this book is the date of the assassination. I have just realised that the story has to include it and take the story to the wire/brink.

Part Five:

In chapter twenty-three George/Jake is concentrating mostly on Sadie. This is a good thing to read. However, it is sad that Sadie doesn’t have the chances she would have had had she lived in 2011 and not in the early 1960s.

In chapter twenty-four, this chapter is an eye-opener for Sadie. Her reactions in the book is to me seems a bit of an anti-climax but no one can judge how a person would react with being told such big news, as there has, to my knowledge, not been any example to judge against. Also if you love someone and you already suspect something is not quite localised the information is less of a surprise I suppose.

In chapter twenty- five it shows that the way of life was very different back in the early 1960s. living in sin was frowned upon, but having a child out of wedlock/ teenage pregnancy was even more frowned upon back then than it is now. There is a life lesson in this chapter, if you have information about a couple that you disapprove of, make sure your past is squeaky clean so there is no come back.

In chapter twenty-six, the last thing you would want when you have travelled back in time to carry out a very important job is to lose your memory. It seems the past doesn’t want to be changed and fighting against it. However, it is good to see it is only temporary. It is clever how George/Jake finds little clues from signs and piecing all these together, he may be able to carry out his task after all.

In chapter twenty-seven luckily George/Jake memories are continuing to coming back. I am glad George/Jake has been reunited with the contents of his safe deposit box. I didn’t like that he had put them in one, so now reading he has got them back I am relieved. As I read this chapter I just want to finish the book and find out what happens. As the event date approaches the suspense in ramping up more and more.

In chapter twenty-eight we read what happens and that is it, we still have to read as to what the exact outcome will be for the president. For Sadie we all know history however, much it doesn’t want to be, it can be changed, I hope.

Part Six:

In chapter twenty-nine, someone is very grateful but is sad for George/Jake’s loss. However, however amusing it was to read it is still a cliché that if the police had of been called the tragedy would have been prevented and we know the police were called.

In chapter thirty it high-lights the consequences of time travel. George/Jake is learning a lot including who ‘Jimla’ is and has to go back to 2011 to see the outcome of changing the past.

In chapter thirty-one when the future has been changed as much as it has there is only one thing to do, go back and change the past again.

This book makes me wonder what really would have happened had this story/book been factual/real. An intriguing read overall.