What will you learn about history?
You might be surprised to see a history teacher recommending a book by an author that usually writes supernatural horror stories. When I choose this book to read I did it because King is one of my favorite authors. I did not expect to learn about history even though this is a tale about a time traveler who sets out to stop the Kennedy assassination. What King does with his fictional tale is bring to life actual characters found in your history book. He questions their motives and whether or not the conspiracies have any validity. It is fiction. King chooses to dismiss conspiracy theories and focus on Oswald as a lone assassin. He has done enough research to justify his choice. But there is also an inspiration to readers to decide if they agree with King's choice. This would inspire students to do their own research and reach their own conclusions. But of course the main reason that I would recommend this book to students of history is because King allows us to see the past through the eyes of someone from the twenty-first century. The author brings the late 50s and 60s to life including all of the cultural norms and expectations of society. The details about what the main character encounters provide more insight into this era than any history book can.
Why should you read it?
Like many of Stephen King's novels, this is a long one. The paperback has 880 pages. It is a commitment for any reader. But King quickly presents his plot and readers become invested in Jake Epping's mission. Ironically the theme does not focus on assassinations or the paradoxes of time travel. The author creates a story that provokes the reader to question the impact that one person can have on the world and the value of an ordinary life.
No comments:
Post a Comment