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

My favorite King novel

I kinda feel that way about all of the books that I’ve read of his. Engaging, smart etc. Love the narration.

Absolutely PHENOMENAL

I Am not a Stephen King fan--at least I wasn't before listening to this audio book. He comletely knocked it out of the park. Be sure to listen to "It" first! It's not nearly as good as 11/22/63, but you'll appreciate many parts of this story if you listen to that first.

Intriguing Story

It’s asks the question “If I could change the past, would I?” Suspenseful. Fun listen.

Gripping until the end

The narrator would get more than 5 stars in my opinion. Expertly acted, obviously incredibly well written because Steve’s the man.
I shed some tears at the end, it was so emotional. The perfect ending to what was a wild roller coaster of a ride.

Fun and exciting!

I enjoyed every minute of this novel. Every part of the storyline was entertaining and satisfying. I read my first S. King book as a teenager in the 1970’s. I thought he was a great writer then and this books confirms that he is a master storyteller.

Worth every minute

This audible version is worth every dollar and every minute. I couldn’t put it down! Lovely romantic, intriguing action, and time jumping conflict combine to make one great historical fiction. Enjoy-

A must have

Absolutely incredible. Fantastic story with 10/10 narration. 30+ hours of awesome. Really…just get this and experience it for yourself, you won’t regret it

King at his best-

I don’t think Oswald acted alone, and would have LOVED if he explored that theory, BUT, his storytelling is always on point, even at this length.

An absolute work of art.

An absolute work of art. His best book in my opinion. I thought I had only one favorite book in my life, now I have two, with this easily at number one! Roller coaster of a story. Always kept me guessing and entertained/ engaged. Despite being biased at this point, One of his best endings. Will legit hit you in the ol’ heart strings. 10/10 recommend on every aspect. 10/10 for the narrator. This will be my new first recommendation for anyone.

One of King's all-timers

This is easily one of my top Stephen King novels, and I was surprised at first because the science fiction premise feels like somewhat of an outlier from much of his fare. But it turns out to be a very clever way to fit in with his strengths - there's plenty of material here related to paradoxes and ramifications of time travel, but at heart it allows him to set up a story that mostly revolves around one of his strengths, character-centric work set in a bygone era. So you get both sides, the neat sci-fi musings and big ideas, as well as the heartfelt character work in a more grounded setting. It all works so well, even the slow pace and ending go down well for me, things he sometimes has trouble with as an author. Just an all around great recommend.