• 11-22-63

  • A Novel
  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Craig Wasson
  • Length: 30 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (68,245 ratings)

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11-22-63  By  cover art

11-22-63

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Craig Wasson
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Publisher's summary

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 listeners on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

It begins with Jake Epping, a 35-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching GED classes. He asks his students to write about an event that changed their lives, and one essay blows him away: a gruesome, harrowing story about the night more than 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a sledgehammer. Reading the essay is a watershed moment for Jake, his life - like Harry’s, like America’s in 1963 - turning on a dime.

Not much later 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 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 a different world - of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere. From the dank little city of Derry, Maine (where there’s Dunning business to conduct), to the warmhearted small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love, every turn is leading, eventually of course, 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.

©2011 Stephen King. All Rights Reserved. (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc

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Editor's Pick: Best of the Decade

A nostalgic trip
"Stephen King’s 11.22.63 is a technicolor romp to the past where the root beer tastes better, cars have more class, and listeners are warned to beware the yellow card man. I was not alive in 1963, but after spending 30+ hours listening to narrator Craig Wasson bring these fictional (and real) characters brilliantly to life, I feel like while I didn’t live there, I’ve at least visited for a long weekend. Blending time travel, history, a little romance, and political intrigue, this is an oddly feel-good tale—odd because it's about assassination and comes from the king of horror. The thing is that King also just happens to be a masterful storyteller whose best work of the decade will warm your heart more than scare the hell out of you." — Tricia F., Audible Editor

What listeners say about 11-22-63

Average customer ratings
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fabulous

Took you back to a time where things were simple and still bad things happen.

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fantastic, literally

In my opinion one of Stephen King's best if not the best. I was truly bummed when this story ended, pretty cool being a time traveler or is it?

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Do not mess with the space time continuum

Kind of a dark read.. but it's a classic Stephen King and I loved it

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Great book

I love this book because of the time travel and because if the mystery of what could happen because of the smallest change in history

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  • 12-09-11

Awesome!

I haven't read Stephen King in years because I felt even though he is a fantastic writer, his style was just too gory and frightening. I took a chance when I read the summary and I was not disappointed. WOW! What a wonderful premise that is well written, exciting, gripping and unpredictable. The violence that was in the book was within acceptable limits for someone like me who doesn't like books that make me overly uncomfortable. It was all part of the story and very tolerable. The narration was superb and I just couldn't stop listening. Well worth the credit! Great book!

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one of his best

Stephen King is a genius. His ability to create amazing stories, and emotionally resonant characters continues in this one. My sense of awe at how his stories all overlap with each other defies explanation. The dark tower is at the center.

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Wow!!!!

Another great book!!! And the narration was absolutely superb!!! The detail and research into this book was typical Stephen King and amazing.

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Excellent narration

Narration was great! I enjoyed *most* of the story. There were parts that I found really boring, so I fast-forwarded through ... probably at least an hour’s worth ... and I don’t feel as if I missed anything relevant to the story.

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A masterpiece

One of my favorite time travel books. I loved every single part of this novel.

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Time travel meets politics-spoiler alert!

If you could sum up 11-22-63 in three words, what would they be?

Present Past Present

What was one of the most memorable moments of 11-22-63?

There are many moments in the book. The most suspenseful moments for me, involved the first time travel to save Henry Dunning's family, saving President Kennedy, and learning what life would be like had Kennedy lived.

Which character – as performed by Craig Wasson – was your favorite?

Craig Wasson is a talented voice actor. I can see why Stephen King handpicked him to narrate this book. Al Templeton was his best performance, My second favorite was Henry Dunning. I did not like his performance of the main character Jake Epping. Jake is suppose to be 35, and Wasson's performance didn't reflect this, especially in the romantic scenes with Sadie. I felt like I was listening to a couple in their 60s making out. It was very distracting for me. I think if the book had been written in 3rd person than I would have enjoyed his narration better.

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

There were segments of the books that made it hard to put down. Personally I thought the first time travel event was the best part. Had the book not been titled 11-22-1963, it could have ended there and I would have been satisfied with the story. Once Jake moved to Texas, and met Sadie....I was bored! I enjoyed the parts that were historical references to 11-22-63, but I found the side story with Sadie (minus what happened to her by John Clayton, on the historical day, and the last chapter; long winded.

Any additional comments?

Is it my favorite Stephen King book? no! I found it unbelievable that a 35 year old man found it so easy to adapt to 1958. Pros: Likeable characters, accurate historical references (non-fiction), and an ending that brings closure to the story. Cons: Way too long, distracting storylines that to me, just seemed like filler to the main plot-Saving President Kennedy! People who will like this book include: Time travel fans, romantic time travel fans (think "Somewhere in time"), fans of the late 1950s/early 1960s time period, political junkies-especially those who lean left (environmental themes), Kennedy fans, and conspiracy fans.If you are a fan of this book you may also like Stephen King's book, "Joyland."

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