11.22.63

Al believes that time resets every time someone steps through the rabbit-hole. What does this mean? How does this justify the things that Al does, and the things he wants Jake to do? What proof does Jake point out that seems to suggest Al’s theory is incorrect? How might more information at this point have changed Jake’s decision to follow through with Al’s plan?

Al focuses on saving President Kennedy from assassination because he believes saving him could have prevented race riots, assassinations, and the escalation of the Vietnam War. What evidence in history supports Al’s assertions? What evidence in history speaks against Al’s assertions? What other events in history might Al have focused on that could have changed the course of history?

Jake decides to save the Dunning family to prove changing the past will not alter the future. Why does Jake believe this test is important, and why does he focus on the Dunning family? Is this a personal mission or an altruistic one?

Jake comments on many differences he notices between the world in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as compared to the time period he grew up in. What are some of the things he notes? Why do these things stick out to Jake? What accounts for the differences? Why do you think these things changed over time? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Jake kills Frank Dunning in cold blood the second time he stops the Dunning family massacre. Later, Sadie draws a distinction between cold blooded murder and murder with good intention. What is this distinction? Is murder ever acceptable? If so, when is murder acceptable? Were there other ways Jake could have stopped Frank Dunning? Jake considered killing Lee Harvey Oswald in the same manner in which he killed Frank Dunning. Would this murder have been justified? Why or why not?

The past often threw up obstacles to keep Al and Jake from changing it. What were some of these obstacles? Were these really caused by some sort of force within time or were they coincidences? If the past really resisted change, why did Jake feel better when he arrived at his destination in most cases? Why was he able to find the spare key for the Ford Sunliner? Was there more than one force at work? Were these forces both benevolent, or was one of these forces evil? Which was which?

There are multiple conspiracy theories that suggest Lee Harvey Oswald was not the only shooter on 11/22/63. In this novel, King chooses to present Lee Harvey as a lone shooter. Why do you think he chose to make Lee Harvey a lone gunman? Do you think there might have been another shooter? And how might the story have been different if King had chosen to embrace one of the many conspiracy theories?

Shortly before 11/22/63 Jake sees President Kennedy on television and comments that seeing him interact with an accordion player reminded him that President Kennedy was just a person like anyone else. He also remembers tender moments between Lee Harvey Oswald and his family, remarking that he is a real person with real problems. Why is it important for Jake to remember that these people are human and not just historical figures? Does President Kennedy’s humanity make his life more precious than anyone else’s? Does Lee Harvey Oswald’s malicious intent make him less sympathetic than someone like President Kennedy? Why or why not?