11-22-63

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Craig Wasson

Length: 30 hrs and 40 mins

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

Fantastic book

This is my first audible book and I am amazed how good and interesting it was/is of course it's Stephen King but I did not think it would be this great

Loved it!

I absolutely loved this audiobook. The narrator was a perfect choice, and I am looking forward to listening to another book told by him.
I enjoyed the what-would-happen-if story.

Great book, weird voice characterization...

Loved the book, although it was bot what I expected entirely.

Craig Wasson's take on the characters was difficult at times. One character in the early part of the story sounds just like Burt Lancaster's Moonlight Graham from Field of Dreams, while another character much later in the story sounds like an old man doing a Jimmy Stewart impression... And pulling it off. Sadie's voice annoyed the piss of of me, too. The rest was serviceable to good, though.

Loved this story, despite the obdurate past.

not terrifying like some King novels but kept my attention the whole time. narrator was excellent.

Thankee, Sai

Loved this. From the reading to the writing, this was stellar. Definitely recommend to anyone.

one of the best books I've read in years.

Possibly one of the best books I've ever read. I strongly recommend it. I don't know how it took me so long to find it.

Craig wasson is an amazing narrator

Loved the narration on this audiobook. Really brought characters to life.
The story was well written and had thoughtful themes, but too much detail making it overlong. I noticed some details that only could matter to someone who lived during this time, such as names of businesses that existed then. It shows the detailed research, but less detail, better for me.

Edge of your seat suspense

Wonderful story. Well researched and detailed as to historical facts. Superbly narrated by Craig Wasson.

Awesome Listen - Three Times!

Any additional comments?

I'm a Stephen King fan, so maybe I was predisposed to like this book. BUT....this was such an unusual story -- and so laced with history and time period "accents" -- that I found myself listening to this book three times. PLUS...Craig Wasson's characterizations were so rich and his read so on the nose, that I got FAR deeper into the story than I do most audiobooks. How many times have YOU wondered what the world might have been like if the JFK assassination was thwarted...? Do you like time travel? Are you intrigued by the idea of "What If...?" Trust me, if you're even remotely curious about those three things, you'll love this book. The characters are fully-realized and the voices well acted (with a few character surprises thrown in). The plot line is woven together with a story rhythm that gave me great pleasure every time I listened. The story is a long one, but for me...well, just that much more to savor. 11-22-63 was (is) a phenomenal audiobook. I urge you to listen. No, wait! Settle into your favorite chair or, like me, listen to this book during a long drive. I promise you won't be disappointed. Thanks, Stephen King and Craig Wasson (my new favorite voice). This was a listening partnership made in heaven. BIG time!

Thrilling

It sometimes it may feel as though the details and not worth listening to however, they bear on the store it is gripping and I would listen to it again.