11-22-63

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Craig Wasson

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND MODERN CLASSIC FROM MASTER STORYTELLER STEPHEN KING

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR

WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King—who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer—takes readers on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

It begins with Jake Epping, a thirty-five-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, whose life is upended when his friend Al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. And the dying Al enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination.

So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson, in the world of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere and to the small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love. Every turn leads eventually to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and to Dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful, and where history might not be history anymore. Time-travel has never been so believable. Or so terrifying.

Time Travel, History & Stephen King: Wow!!

This is a great book with a fantastic narrator. A compelling story that keeps you mesmerized from the first word and won't let you go. I love time travel and I love history. While I am not always a Stephen King fan, he is a great author and knows how to tell a story. And he really tells this one very very well ... and Craig Wasson, the narrator, is as good as they get.

Time travel is not King's usual genre, but he has the skill to do a brilliant job in a form that is extremely demanding. Not only is the form demanding, but readers are demanding: science fiction aficionados are knowledgeable readers. We are a nit-picky audience. To my delight, I was thrilled with this book. King did his homework, both in the history and for the genre.

If you are a fan of time travel fiction where the history is the focus and not the technology (a la Connie Willis), you will love this, If you are looking for a more typical Stephen King horror story, well, you do get a taste of Derry, Maine and there is a creep factor, but this is much more science fiction/ time travel/ history than classic King. If you're looking for horror, this isn't it.

Above all, this is a brilliantly well written, carefully crafted, and well researched novel with excellent narration. Top grades all around.

Murder, the Past, Romance, Friendship, Time Travel

Mr. King does it again, another long book that holds the reader's interest throughout. The narrator did a fine job with this delightful story. The likable main character and his group of "besties" all live in the past and engage either knowingly or not in a plot to change the world as we now know it.
Jake/George, is a lovable all around good guy. The reader is taken in as we follow him and his special friend Sadie, who is as clumsy as she is beautiful.
The times seem quaint to us now, yet I remember this vibe having grown up in the 60's myself.
So enjoy and be prepared to either reminisce or be intrigued with the setting and the story.
I feel as though this author never disappoints.

Don't miss this trip down the Rabbit Hole.

Last night at 2:30 AM I was crying, at 6:30 AM I laughed out loud and woke up the dog. No, I wasn't having a break down, at least not yet- I was listening to Stephen King's new book 11-22-63. Get the awards ready- to save time -just give them all to King. Out of 605 books I've downloaded from Audible since April 2005, this book is the best book, and Craig Wasson is the best narrator. I've never been a King fan, I love Literary Fiction, but the 'Time Travel' got me and I'm so glad it did. Considering the subject matter, this is not the right word -but wow-this a FUN book!

What perfect timing to be reading this book in Dallas 2011, traveling back in time with a school teacher to change history. "Come on George -only 2 more days to save JFK." On the day John F. Kennedy was shot, the 16 year old Stephen King was sitting in the back of a hearse- How Stephen King is that! I was 19, on the golf course at UNT. I've lived in Dallas all my life with all the ghosts -the School Book Depository, Dealey Plaza, President Kennedy's motorcade route, the Grassy Knoll, the Sixth Floor Museum. "Oh you're from Dallas where Kennedy was killed."

Who hasn't thought about a World where Kennedy lived? This book is that, and so much more. A love story, murder and the Maine town of Derry for the King devotees. I asked my husband if he wanted to listen to 11-22-63, he said, No, he didn't read Stephen King. That's what I thought. I was wrong. Don't miss this trip down the Rabbit Hole.

Memorable and Satisfying

I've waited some time before writing this review. When I finished the audiobook, I was satisfied, but I wasn't sure it would last. After all, I had enjoyed every minute of the book. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next or how it would turn out. Maybe these were just superficial pleasures that would fade with time. I can confess that a month or so later, I can still recall much of what I heard. I wonder about what happened to the characters after they left me. I'm left thinking about my own place in the denouement of history. I think these are signs that 11-22-63: A Novel deserves a high rating.

Now, I ought to point out that I'm not a fan of Stephen King. I don't mean to say I dislike him personally or his writing. I just mean to say I'm not going to give it such a high rating because of who the author is. But he's done a great job with this book.

11-22-63: A Novel is a long listen, but I think it's all there for a reason. By the end, everything falls into place at least enough to understand what I needed to to be happy with the unraveling.

Wasson is masterful with the narration.

All in all, I have no reason to withhold the highest rating I can give. I recommend whole-heartedly that you take a look at this book and see if it appeals to you.

Exceptional Stephen King!

What made the experience of listening to 11-22-63 the most enjoyable?

The narrator was exceptionally talentedt! The story was one of Stephen King's all-time best, in my opinion.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jake Epping, the protagonist. He is one of those great multi-dimensional characters that is so hard to portray in any story.

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

Voice characterizations were superb. I was caught up in the narration and story from the get-go and was enthralled until the very end.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely, but I didn't want it to end! That's how you tell a good story from a great one.

Any additional comments?

After many years of swearing off Stephen King (I'm not always happy with his story endings), I couldn't resist the many rave reviews about the novel and its ending. Consequently, I found out in the afterward that Joe Hill, Stephen King's son and author in his own right, helped with the ending.