11.22.63

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Craig Wasson

Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

What if you could go back in time and change the course of history? What if the watershed moment you could change was the JFK assassination? 11.22.63, the date that Kennedy was shot - unless....

King takes his protagonist Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, 2011, on a fascinating journey back to 1958 - from a world of mobile phones and iPods to a new world of Elvis and JFK, of Plymouth Fury cars and Lindy Hopping, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake's life - a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

With extraordinary imaginative power, King weaves the social, political and popular culture of his baby-boom American generation into a devastating exercise in escalating suspense.

©2011 Stephen King (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

“This new epic from Stephen King rates among the best he’s written – no small praise for the man who wrote Carrie, It, The Stand and Under the Dome.” ( Trucking News)

This book is well read but too long.

Where does 11.22.63 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Above average for reader. Below average for length.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Its a good story but way too long. Stephen King is such a good story teller but throws in so much detail that does not contribute.

Any additional comments?

The reader is brilliant.

Enjoyable

The story, narration and production of this audiobook are all done well. A worthy King read/listen. 5*****

Fantastic!!

Hands down my favourite Stephen King book to date!
Craig Wasson is an excellent narrator

You can 'smell & taste' the past!

A great yarn indeed and worth every dime, penny or drachma. My first foray into Stephen King’s world and loved it. It must have been very hard to write to keep the thread working for he has so many balls in play, making it believable would not have been easy but he does. Great fun for any baby boomer who wants a totally different slant on what did, didn’t or might have taken place in Dallas all those years ago. Great read too which makes it a bonus.

Enthralling Narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definately recommend this book. It has kept me interested from the start. I walk with my audio books and find I am walking further and further just to keep listending.

What does Craig Wasson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The Narrator's voice reminds me of Nicolas Cage's voice, smooth and soothing. He brings words to life and I think I may have put a hard copy of this book down sooner if I was just reading it.

Any additional comments?

Use Craig Wasson for other narrations! He was excellent and brought Mr King's story to life. He made me feel like I was watching a movie.

Enjoyable book

Not a great King fan but like the premise of time travel so thought I would give it a try. Thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when it finished. Have recommended it to friends.

loved it

it took me a while to get through this marvellous tale as I could only listen in short bursts but despite the stop start nature of my usage, i found each time i picked it up i was able to "fall" back into it with ease. I love this story. I so enjoyed the crazy, wonderful idea; it's one I'm sure MANY have entertained in their private thoughts "What if he missed and the President survived...? ; What if...?" over the years. Everything Stephen King does has value but it's his quirky imagination and his ability to find an idea that somehow resounds, connects with humans in a very real way and the way he puts that existential horror surrealist slant on it that I just love! He writes the books I would love to say I'd written myself. Thanks boss, love your work!

I enjoyed it very much!

Any additional comments?

This was well worth a credit. The characters were great, the premise interesting and the narrator did a fabulous job. It did lag a bit in the middle, but picked up again. I definitely recommend this book.

Enjoyable and interesting story

Enjoyed the evocation of the era and the details surrounding the lead up to the assassination. It was just good and enjoyable storytelling, and even better, a good ending, which isn't always the case with Steven King novels - I note in his afterword, he credits his son with providing the ending and maybe that is why!

This converted me to audiobooks

Where does 11.22.63 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This performance is the very reason you want to listen to audiobooks. Craig Wasson's performance takes one of Kings better tales to a new height that I would not have enjoyed without his performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 11.22.63?

The "watershed moment" when our hero is face to face with Oswald fully delivers on the investment you have made in the book.

What does Craig Wasson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Craig Wasson reads one of the more harrowing scenes in the book almost as if he is on the verge of tears, you'll be right there with him.
The way in which Wasson has developed the characters voices in this reading is pitch perfect.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several high points in this book that would be unfair to those who have ont read it to detail in this review. This book may not be a horror story but it is King on top form.