Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

The first person who posts here should summarize (briefly) what happens. Post here only after you've finished the parts, as Spoilers are allowed (hence the title of the folder)

In the introduction we meet Jake Epping, an English teacher at Lisbon High. Jake introduces himself in a way by telling us about his marriage, his wife's assertion that he is blocked emotionally and how he was moved by a theme written by an adult GED student with the assignment, "The Day That Changed My Life". Part One takes us a couple of years along with Jake still grading theme papers, until the day he gets a call from Al, the diner owner and a strange tale begins to unfold.
We pick up that Jake is a really nice guy, thoughtful and a conscientious teacher, and someone that Al might call on when he has a rather fantastic offer to make.

I was also moved by Harry Dunning's story, the theme that had so much pain and depth of emotion. I could even see the temptation to go back in time and make a change that would save someone's life or save them from pain. The idea that you could go down the steps in Al's pantry and do such a thing was instantly fascinating to me.
The book was hard to put down from the moment Jake stepped his first foot into 1958.

I knew the premise of the book, I just wondered how King was going to lead us, dear readers, to go back in time. I thought the introduction of Dunning really set in motion for Jake to really try to change the future. This first chapter really captured my desire to continue reading.

I love your synopsis, Ann - succinct yet all-inclusive. I'm listening while exercising and so this will either take a very long time or I will become svelte in no time. I love that Stephen King answers my doubts re credibility soon after they pop into my head. I start to thing "but what about ...." or "why would he..." and in the next sentence or paragraph, my questions are addressed. I'm trying to remember details as I go along because I know from his other books that these facts and events might have greater significance later on. I'm loving it.

Thanks, Marcy! I really enjoyed this book on audio, so imagine you will find lots of opportunities to exercise and listen! ;)
Marcy wrote: "I love your synopsis, Ann - succinct yet all-inclusive. I'm listening while exercising and so this will either take a very long time or I will become svelte in no time. "

The usual King stuff appears in the first segment, the little rules like the "resets" and the money coming back. Beyond the angst of going back to a past I actually lived in, but would be a foreigner to now, I feel for the Dunnings, who may be saved in the experiment that is about to happen, but but the 'rules', all that will be undone by another trip to save Kennedy. But do we really know the rules? The carving did stay in the tree, and somehow, the yellow card man does not quite fit.

Barry: agreed, do we understand the rules at this point, and how can there be rules for this sort of thing - isn't it rather an unusual thing to say the least?
It would cause a lot of angst to go back. I am not sure that I would want to go back to a world of party lines and overt racism, sexism and all sorts of ism's even if doing so would save all sorts of lives, hard as that sounds.
Barry wrote: "The usual King stuff appears in the first segment, the little rules like the "resets" and the money coming back. Beyond the angst of going back to a past I actually lived in, but would be a foreigner to now"

Barry wrote: "The usual King stuff appears in the first segment, the little rules like the "resets" and the money coming back. Beyond the angst of going back to a past I actually lived in, but would be a foreig..."

i agree-we don't quite know the rules and how they will play into the whole thing. i wonder what's up with the yellow card man- does he know or suspect something?
i haven't read a king book in years but this one hooked me from page one..

Barry wrote: "The usual King stuff appears in the first segment, the little rules like the "resets" and the money coming back. Beyond the angst of going back to a past I actually lived in, but would be a foreig..."

and if the dunnings are saved, how will that impact everything else? will they stay saved? or revert back ?

I've just finished Part 1, and agree with all above. The setup caught my interest in spite of myself... I am NOT the sort of person who would step back in time under any circumstances. I don't like being a fish out of water. I also don't like the odds on saving Kennedy's life without having negative impact in other places, and who's to say which is better? I wouldn't want that choice on my head. This is the sole reason why I am not a heroine in a SK novel, I'm sure. ;-)

I did think it was intriguing to contemplate that not only would Kennedy be saved, but also Bobby and MLK Jr. Now THERE'S a quest worth embarking on!

I agree that insert the janitor's story into the mix makes this doubly compelling? Will he be able to save the family? Will this be like Pet Cemetery, where a desired act is accomplished with deeply unsavory results?

I'm continuing with some trepidation, because of course Jake will not be able to help but get involved and develop close relationships. This is what King does.. creates a premise for you (Jake) and then proceeds to MESS YOU UP. LOL.

I didn't think of this until I read Lorraine's post, but I wonder if the choice of the name Dunning is a nod to the author of the Bookman series, John Dunning.

Brakedrum wrote: "I knew the premise of the book, I just wondered how King was going to lead us, dear readers, to go back in time. I thought the introduction of Dunning really set in motion for Jake to really try t..."

Agree with Sherry that there have to be rules, but I wonder about the rules that haven't yet been discovered by Al. There have to be some...

There were so many instructions from Al that I was getting a little panicky.. what accent to use, what kind of clothes to by, etc., etc. I do not envy Jake!

Ann wrote: "Barry: agreed, do we understand the rules at this point, and how can there be rules for this sort of thing - isn't it rather an unusual thing to say the least?
It would cause a lot of angst to go ..."

Carol: That would be a nice touch, wouldn't it! I think SK makes a lot of little nods like that throughout his books. Glad you are enjoying it, and like you I would too scared to go back in time, but it would be neat to see the past in real time. I would just have to have ironclad rules I could get back and not the Stephen King sort of rules. ;)

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I didn't think of this until I read Lorraine's post, but I wonder if the choice of the name Dunning is a nod to the author of the Bookman series, John Dunning."

Ann wrote: "Carol: That would be a nice touch, wouldn't it! I think SK makes a lot of little nods like that throughout his books. Glad you are enjoying it, and like you I would too scared to go back in time, b..."

Ann, now I can't stop making connections with the names. The name Jake is given to use is George Amberson, and I looked up the movie The Magnificent Ambersons, and of course there is a character named George Amberson!

Carol: the harmonies are amazing aren't they!
Carol/Bonadie wrote: "now I can't stop making connections with the names. The name Jake is given to use is George Amberson, and I looked up the movie The Magnificent Ambersons, and of course there is a character named George Amberson! "

Finished part 1 last night. The "yellow card" man is a definite "wild card", I think. The book pulled me in right away once I actually sat down with it!

Melodie wrote: "Finished part 1 last night. The "yellow card" man is a definite "wild card", I think. The book pulled me in right away once I actually sat down with it!"

I'm sure he's significant, but can't figure out why or how!