Review: 2359 Hours by Jack B.S. North

Immersing readers in the mind of a conflicted soldier desperately seeking inner peace, 2359 Hours by Jack B.S. North is a timely reflection on war, trauma, and the myriad roads to redemption.

Archie has attempted to overcome his devastating experiences in Afghanistan by moving to Canada, near his wartime comrades, but has found that all the ghosts of his past came along for the journey. Embarking in a new direction after being forged in a crucible of war is never easy, as this gritty and relentless story shows. The twist of this narrative, however, is that the novel takes place within a single day – Remembrance Day in Canada – making the amount of depth, backstory, and impact even more impressive.

Early on in the novel/day, Archie expresses that “healing is a long, winding road with no end in sight,” but this carefully penned story reveals that there is a path forward, although not an objective finish line. Even if you aren’t a veteran or a militarily-minded reader, healing and self-care are universal ideas, and the flashes of profound guidance embedded in the prose are relevant for anyone who has struggled to overcome deep-seated pain.

More specifically, the author explores paternal and familial dynamics, the variability of brotherhood, ideas of loyalty and honor, shame, the murky concept of legacy, and stigmas against mental illness. The author’s depictions of intense anxiety and symptoms of PTSD are also visceral and impactful, plunging readers into the turmoil of a tortured soul, even as that individual is attempting to heal.

The narrative style is fractured, bouncing between Archie’s memories before, during, and after his experiences in Afghanistan, often through flashbacks, therapy session recollections, daydreams, or stream-of-consciousness narration. This not only keeps the prose engaging and dynamic, demanding readers’ attention, but also mimics the cyclical, seemingly endless struggle of mental affliction. Difficult subjects such as self-harm and suicide are unavoidable in such a story, and while they may be triggering for some readers, the writing is also filled with strategies, alternatives, and calming techniques when the panic rises. Whether it is breathing techniques, physical exertion, calling a friend, or talking yourself through a challenging moment, this book has the potential to tangibly help its readers.

This tale is not unraveled in the procedural style one might expect from a military novel; instead, the present-tense storytelling is revealing, immediate, and vulnerable, accented with stark and poetic lines that can stop readers in their tracks. North details the symptoms of trauma thoroughly, placing readers in the chaotic driver’s seat of a semi-stable but unsteady mind. Even in Archie’s manic or adrenaline-fueled moments, or in his most horrific slices of memory, the prose never cheapens the emotional experience or relies on a stereotypical description. The author clearly did ample research in order to authentically depict so many challenging subjects.

There are few editing errors and almost no wasted words, except in some of the longer dialogic exchanges, but generally the writing is tight throughout. All told, 2359 Hours may not always be a pleasant read, but every chapter is stunning and powerful with a lasting impact.