Replay+by+Ken+Grimwood

=__REPLAY__= //By Ken Grimwood Lina Azofeifa Jordan Pollack J.T. Ferrara Matt Pearson//


 * WEEK ONE.**

LINA: food JORDAN: summary JT: questions MATT: group leader/discussion

__Main Character: Jeff Winston__

Ken Grimwood has written Jeff to be a character you can relate to or an "average Joe". The fact that you could meet him going to your local supermarket makes the book very interesting by putting such an average character into such extraordinary circumstances. His background is also fairly average. He went to college, got married, had kids, and found a good job. The only notable oddity in his life was his early death at his office. However, Jeff woke up still in college. The reason for Jeff's being so normal, is that it draws you to him because his reactions are essentially how everyone would react.

__Summary of Group Meeting__

Our first meeting went surprisingly well. The discussion began when class started and continued up until a few minutes before the bell rang. At no point was the discussion dry or awkward. J.T. began the meeting by asking one of the questions that he prepared previously. He had a few questions about the "time travel" issue in the book. J.T. was the contrarian in the group, mostly arguing that Jeff's fate will follow him throughout the book, no matter how many times he goes back in time, stays in the present, or whatever else explanation Jeff thinks of in the book. Most of the period was spent discussing the applications of fate in the book. Our opinions are explained in parts of the answers of the questions below. Food and drinks contributed to the reading group experience in a positive way. Although slightly distracting, no one could say that they wished Lina had not brought brownies and Hawaiian punch. The snacks even found their way into pieces of our conversation. All members of the group contributed equally to the analysis of the book. Clearly everyone read a fifth of the book and enjoyed it. When the bell rang it was almost sad to leave the group, knowing we would have to wait another week to talk about the book again.

__Discussion Questions__

1. Do you think Jeff died and went back in time to 1963 with his 1988 mind, or do you think he never left 1963 and everything that happened after that was a fiction that had become part of his brain overnight? In addition, do you think a paradox is possible?

We have all agreed that it makes more sense that he died and went back in time to 1963 with his 1988 mind. Even though this is a fantasy book, the other scenario still seems too illogical to all of us. No one believes that a paradox is possible, because he is living as himself, not watching himself relive his life.

2. Do you think his actions that differ from the ones he originally made, no matter how unimportant, will eventually change his future, or do you think it will all turn out generally the same?

The group generally agreed that Jeff can change his own future and will change his own future. However, J.T. believes that fate will find its way and his life will end up unfolding like it previously was.

3. Do you think Jeff’s actions that differ from the ones he originally made, no matter how unimportant, will affect others around him, and eventually change their future and how so?

We agree that people's future around him will change, and depending on what it is he does, will decide how dramatic the change ends up being.

4. How do you think Jeff’s actions will change society around him, and do you think the change will greatly or minimally affect the future?

We agree the he will change society, but it will be in a small scale. However, we also believe that even though his changes may be minimal, it will create a chain effect that may change society in a larger scale and affect the future.

5. Do you think Jeff can even change the future, or like in the JFK assassination, fate will still find its way? Apply this to questions 2, 3, and 4 also.

Everyone agrees that Jeff can change the future, but J.T. thinks fate will still find its way.


 * WEEK TWO.**

LINA: summary JORDAN: group leader/discussion JT: food MATT: questions

__Summary of Group Meeting__

At first, we were all a little confused, since Matt did not post the questions that he was suppose to post, since he was not going to be there. Despite that little problem, we caught up really quickly, and engaged in a long conversation about the book. We all had many questions about the book, and about why the main character (Jeff Winston) did the things he was doing. We were all wondering whether he cared about his life or did not. J.T said that he was like the guy from the chair carrier, since he did not like the way he was living, but now he could not imagine himself living any other way. We all agreed on the thought that Jeff would end up killing himself. Jordan revealed many new things to J.T and Lina since he read ahead of them. The food J.T brought was amazing, and helped a lot to set the mood for the conversation. It helped us to relax and give our honest opinions about the book, and the direction is going in. We all like the book so far, but we do think that it will get boring soon.

__Language In the Book__

The language in the book is not abstract, yet it is not so clear cut. Grimwood likes to tell the story with words that Jeff Winston would be thinking in his mind as the events that occur in the book unfold. The vocabulary in the book is fairly simple. However, there is the occasional word that the reader does not know, but the meaning can usually be uncovered by way of context clues. The writing flows smoothly. Grimwood uses vulgar language while writing about Jeff's more than occasional sexual experiences throughout the book. Also, Grimwood explains many concepts that "blow your mind," but he has a special talent in making these concepts easy to understand and interpret. This book can be on an eighth to eleventh grade reading level, maybe even seventh for those well read, and mature, students. This is because of the lack of complex language and the ease and flow of reading the book. However, the explicit content of the book makes it clear that the book was not written for those who could be considered immature. Society names those people as being in seventh grade or below.

__Discussion Questions__

1. His replays seem to be coming at shorter intervals every time... do you think they will become predictable?

Yes, they become so predictable that Jeff can pinpoint the exact date of his next death.

2. Jeff seems to have many questions about these peculiar circumstances, which do you foresee being answered?

His questions about this being permanent and if anyone else "replays" as he does.

3. Jeff has met another being who goes through these same replays! What do you think they can gain by knowing each other?

I think they can benefit from each others experiences, she might know things about replaying Jeff doesn't.

4. What shocked you the most about Jeff's... eventful time in Paris?

The amount of drugs he used and how vividly their affects were described.

5. When Jeff learns that the woman he had told about his replays leaked the conversation and had been laughing behind his back, did this make you think about what would happen if told more people? is what way?

Yes, it made us wonder what would happen if he went public... their reactions would be very interesting to see.


 * WEEK THREE.**

LINA: group leader/discussion JORDAN: question JT: summary MATT: food

__Summary of Group Meeting__

Our group discussion on Friday went very smoothly. First, we talked about the topic presented, the mood of the book. We had a short discussion on how there was a hopeless mood to the book, but in certain places there were slight hopes. This discussion did not last very long, and then we began answering the questions. We jumped around between the questions, picking ones that matched our discussion. This helped stimulate more discussion, and many group members posed new questions, and new answers, and we began speaking of many new topics. We began proposing answers to some of the more confusing questions in the book, and we each had our own input. In the end, we were able to come up with group answers that we all agreed on, each one containing input from each of our own answers. We kept jumping around between Jordan’s questions, and each one was its own discussion. Then, J.T. posed a new question that he was confused about, and with the group members’ help, J.T.’s question was cleared, as well as some other questions. From here, we went back to Jordan’s questions, and discussed paradoxes, and related them to a different book that we all read that speaks about paradoxes. By doing this, we were able to support a conclusion that we had all made about the book and about paradoxes, as well as bring new insight. Finally, we had a discussion about a relation between a previous part of the book, and a newer one. The previous and new parts were both once discussion questions, and we were able to relate them, as well as use new information to answer them. This helped clear up many other small questions we had, and it served to our advantage. Overall, this group meeting, was one of the smoothest ones yet.

__Tone/mood of the book__

The book has a very sexual tone, the author manages to make everything seem sexual even simple things such as a flower. There is also a tone of loss, and hopelessness but at the same time hope.

__Discussion Questions__

1. How would you explain what happened between Jeff and Pamela in your own words?

Jeff and Pamela met in a replay and grew onto each other because they are the only ones who can understand what the other is going through.

2. Do you think that Jeff's theory that each replay is a new branching paradox makes sense?

Our group theorizes that Jeff and Pamela's minds are actually jumping between paradoxes when they die. There bodies remain in the previous replay while their minds transfer to a new body in a different paradox.

3. Does each paradox continue after the death of Jeff and/or Pamela?

After Jeff or Pamela dies, each paradox continues on. The paradoxes do not end when the lives of Pamela or Jeff ends.

4. Why did Pamela not remember Jeff when Jeff began another replay?

Jordan and J.T. think that Jeff did something in his past life to affect Pamela. The thing that Jeff did caused Pamela to not replay. Lina thinks that, like Jeff, Pamela will replay later on in her life than she has previously.

5. Do you think that Pamela will remember Jeff sometime in the future?

J.T. thinks that Pamela will not remember Jeff because he waited a long period of time for her to remember and she did not. Jordan, along with Lina, thinks that Pamela will eventually remember Jeff and his involvement in her past life.


 * WEEK FOUR.**

JORDAN: food LINA: questions MATT: summary J.T.: group leader/discussion

__Summary of Meeting__

JT started us off by talking about what he believe the theme to be. There was some disagreement and we ended up with hopelessness, the unknown, and inquisition as the main themes. Then, we realized Jordan had brought food and dove into an array of fattening goodies such as cupcakes and cookies. We also thought the main imagery used in the book were that all circles and swils remined him of doing acid and of his replays. Lina then started to read the questions, which JT took ofense to resulting in an argument over what we should be discussing... which Lina lost. After discussing more imagery Jordan reminded us of the questions, adding to Lina's frustration. Lina then started the- no JT interupted her again. I ate some more, very amused. Once we finally started the questions the discussion went very smoothly after that (I also drew an elephant).

__Theme/Imagery of the book__

The themes of //Replay// are contrasting. For the majority of the book, hopelessness is a prominent theme. As Jeff and Pamela relive their lives over and over again, they are devastating each time, by losing all that they have created. Jeff lost many relationships/marriages and lost a daughter. Also, any business progress they have made is gone. The sense of hopelessness is established by them not being able to do anything to stop these loses. However, a few times, a there has been a sense of hope. First, when Jeff and Pamela met each other, they had a sense of hope, as they understood each other, and felt together they could make a change. They have also felt chances of hope when, first, they tried to find other replayers to discuss their scenario with, and second, when they went public about their problem, and had leading scientists work on finding a solution to their situation. In these sudden instances of hope, Jeff and Pamela actually feel as if they have a chance to figure out what is happening to them, but each time, their chances are destroyed, and the hopelessness is restored. Another theme is the unknown. The whole entire book, there is a sense of not knowing what is going on, and Jeff and Pamela work through the whole book to stop this feeling on knowing nothing. They have no explanation for what is happening to them, and there always seems to be so many unaswered questions. All of this adds to the overall sense of the unknown in //Replay//. The central imagery in //Replay// refers to the cycle of replaying and reliving their lives over and over again. Images such as circles and swirls provoke this thought, as they symbolize a cycle. Both Jeff and Pamela have experienced these symptoms. When Jeff was on acid, he saw circles and swirls, and it reminded him on his hopeless lives being relived over and over. When Pamela makes //Starsea// she uses many circles and swirls, reffering to the continous cycle. When Jeff sees this movie, he is once again reminded of his cycle of replays.

__Discussion Questions:__

1.Why do you think that the time at which Jeff and Pamela come back changes?

Jordan says that they are going to eventually just die, so once their replay gets closer to the time they died than they will stop replaying.

2.Do you think that Stuart is right and that they have to keep entertaining the extraterrestrials in order for the world not to end, or do you think that stuart is completely crazy?

J.T. thinks he is completely crazy and everyone else agrees.

3.Do you think that Pamela and Jeff are going to be able to stop Stuart from killing more people?

Pamela and Jeff are going to be able to stop Stuart.

4. Do you think that there are other replayers besides Pamela, Jeff and Stuart?

J.T. think that there are other replayers out there but that they are afraid to go public, Matt agrees with J.T.

5. Do you think that the replays are going to eventually come to an end?

J.T. thinks that once the skew catches up to them, the replays will stop, and everyone else agrees.


 * WEEK FIVE.**

JORDAN: summary LINA: food MATT: group leader/discussion J.T.: questions

__Overall Feelings About: Replay__

The book was ever-interesting, never dull, and always kept you guessing and for this very reason I would suggest it as a book independent from school assignments. The essential topic of "replaying" is unique to this book and i have never read a fiction book or novel discussing this... Replay is inappropriate for academic assignments due to the drug use and sexual content.

__Summary of Group Meeting__

The last discussion about the book was almost identical to all othesr, except in this case we could discuss the book's ending and how it affected our view of the story. Lina brought food this week and J.T. could not stop eating it. J.T. asked his previously prepared questions, but not in any specific order. The questions were asked if they could be applied to the topics we were discussing. J.T. enjoyed the ending more than Jordan and Lina did. We both would have liked it better if there was an explanation for the replays. After each question was answered, J.T. recorded the answers. The last question asked was what our overall thoughts on the book were. J.T. had the idea to record each of our answers separately instead of as a whole since we had different opinions on the book. Our discussion was over before the period ended. For the rest of the period we did little work, even though Mr. Morone told us to work on our writing. I am still not sure if he was kidding.

__Discussion Questions:__

1. In the first week you answered that Jeff could not change society on a large scale. After seeing how Jeff’s actions affected the war in the Middle East, do you still Jeff’s actions can’t change society around him and still can’t change the future?

After reading the book, everyone changed there opinions. Everyone now believes Jeff has the power to change society around him and change the future (in that specific replay).

2. How do you think Jeff’s quest to find information for his book reflected his own life, and how do you think this benefited him?

It helped Jeff cope with the loss of replaying and understand more about himself and the process. Studying exile showed him ways others coped, and he was able to use these methods to help himself cope with his for of exile.

3. Do you think Jeff was taking advantage of Pamela by having her cheat on her husband with him while she was unconscious of her other lives, while he knew of them?

Matt thinks he was taking advantage of her. The rest of us do not think he was taking advantage of her. We think that it was still her, even though she was unconscious of her other lifetimes, and that they still loved each other. We also feel that he just wanted to spend the last years of his life with the woman he loved, and he cannot by blamed for that.

4. Do you think Jeff and Pamela ever made things better, or like Pamela said, just made things different?

Jordan believes that they only made things different in each their replays, but throughout their replays, they gained knowledge to make their lives better in the end. Leona and Matt agree with Jordan. J.T. thinks that they made some aspects of society better, but overall, made their lives better, and now can use the lessons they learned in their future life.

5. How do you think Jeff’s value of time has changed throughout the book?

Everyone agrees that he now now the value of time and life, and will cherish every moment, and live his life to the fullest.

6. What were your overall thoughts on the book? Did you like it?

Jordan liked the book and believed it was very insightful to the value of life. He also thought life should not be wasted on pointless things. He would recommend it to people. Matt liked the book very much. He now values time differently. He would recommend it. Lina liked the book. She believes it has a lesson at the end of how time should be valued. J.T. liked the book a lot. He now looks differently at how he spends his time, and now believes life is too short to waste. He would definitely recommend it to friends.