James Mustich's 1000 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

For further info, please have a look at my last post here.

Okay...well, a partial answer to my question from the last section--Jake handles the Dunning situation in an entirely different manner, one that would have to reduce the trauma by orders of magnitude.

On the other hand, I think the question still remains--by any stretch of the imagination, Harry's life should be better now. But Harry won't know that--the Harry of this timeline will only know the results of Jake's (more) humane actions. I kept thinking of the Harry Bosch series, where a good part of Bosch's makeup is grounded in the fact that his mother was a victim of violent crime when he was a boy, and that her murder was never solved.

As an outside observer, knowing both sides, I can convince myself that I know best what should happen here, but can anyone know that? Harry, not knowing that his father would have gone completely insane, would only suffer in wondering who removed his father from his life and why. Granted that that suffering would be miniscule in comparison to what 'really' happened, it could still shape him in ways we couldn't even begin to realize.

As a side note, I see that Jake holes up with a bunch of paperbacks with their covers ripped off, which reflects back to the comics that King described in the fruit store. Interesting that King would insert this detail twice.

What would a close reading make of this point, I wonder? I've heard the phrase, 'ripping the cover off of reality,' or some sort of variation before--I wonder if King is (intentionally or no) alluding to something like that.

I am really enjoying reading this book. Jake is such an excellent character. I love what he does. He tries to write a novel and it is good, but he realizes that he wants to teach even more. He really gave Mike the confidence to do his part in the school play and then at the play everyone was in tears by the end. Even the jocks who were teasing him really got into the play because of how Mike did his part.
I never thought that I would ever find so much to say about a Steven King novel. He has outdone himself with this one.j Thank you James Mustich for showing us King does more than horror

Jane wrote: "I am really enjoying reading this book. Jake is such an excellent character. I love what he does. He tries to write a novel and it is good, but he realizes that he wants to teach even more. He real..."

I'm really glad you like this one Jane! I've been a King fan for about 30 years and I think you'll find with a lot of his work that it's more about the characters and their relationships than it is about the horror. For us fans, the horror is a bonus 😊

If I may make a recommendation for you... try reading Different Seasons

Marlise wrote: "Jane wrote: "I am really enjoying reading this book. Jake is such an excellent character. I love what he does. He tries to write a novel and it is good, but he realizes that he wants to teach even ..."

I won't read any horror. I tried reading some King about 30 years ago and I put it down. The horror was too much for me.

Jane. Different Seasons isn't really horror. It contains the novellas that the movies The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me are based off of.

If you do decide to check it out, skip the novella called The Breathing Method. that's a little morbid.

Marlise wrote: "Jane. Different Seasons isn't really horror. It contains the novellas that the movies The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me are based off of."

JM didn't recommend that one. But thanks anyways. I have a lot to get thru to finish JM's list.

No worries, Jane. Sorry if I sounded pushy, lol. Just a huge King fan!