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

A Terrific Story and Pretty Good Narration.

I purchased the book and was surprised to see the audio version being released concurrently. While waiting for my credit day, I read the first quarter and alternated reading at home and listening during my commute.

While the story is five stars with an exclamation point or two, the narration gets a 4. The minor character voices were imitations of people like John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart and while, probably not intentional, was very distracting. While I appreciate the effort to act out characters, when they are exaggerated it becomes almost cartoonish. I found myself missing Frank Muller's narration.

Nonetheless, if you'd rather listen than read, don't miss this one.

Enjoyable in all aspects

The way I can best describe my experience in listening to this story is "completely enthralled." I feel like a child listening to a fascinating story told by a master storyteller, and I'm so anxious to hear what's next. I can imagine each detail, I can feel the emotions, and I'm hanging on the edge of my seat! A great narrator and a great author keep you enthralled until the very end. And nothing is lacking here. It's going to be a very short 30 hours! :-) Wow!

An Instant Classic!

You don't need to have read Stephen King or be a big fan to enjoy this book, which is a guaranteed classic. Even if you've never read any of his books, this is the perfect place to start. So if you expect a horror story here, you're way off. King brings back to life the period of the late fifties and early sixties in a way that educates as much as it entertains. It's a story of life, both the past and the present- bridged by time travel. It's a story of love, loss and friendships. And while the story is about the Kennedy/Oswald tension of the period and all of its related intrique and suspense, the parts of the story completely unrelated in the small Texas town of Jodie were just as fun and interesting. King himself provides comments after the story and relates that he actually started writing this book in the early seventies, but was glad he waited. He admits that this book in no way attempts to fill in the gaps regarding what happened and who shot JFK, it's clearly evident the amount of work and research that King and team put into this novel. King cites several of the Kennedy/Oswald books he read that served as inspiration. So be prepared to laugh and also to cry as King takes you through one of the most tulmultuous periods in American history.

For those who say they aren't in to stephen king

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

The narrator did a fantastic job reading and Stephen King is a superior storyteller.

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

I love how the book really takes you back in time and helps you to remember what life was like back then.

Any additional comments?

I have recommended this book to 5 friends and their first responses were all...'I don't read Stephen King'. I go on to tell them what its about and what it is like and they all have agreed they probably would like it. Most agreed to try it. Please give it a try!

First Stephen King book I've ever finished.

Have you listened to any of Craig Wasson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, first time to hear him. Fabulous performance.

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

The dance will move you. Very special.

Any additional comments?

Fell in love with the concept of changing history through time travel. What if??Just imagine the possibilities. I have recommended this audio book to anyone and everyone I meet. In my top five favorite books ever.
Stephen King books usually scare me or creep me out so much I can't finish. This is neither scary nor creepy. Hated to hear it end. Remarkable story.

Five Stars In Every Sense

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

I would recommend this as Audible's ultimate adult summer listen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jacob ... er, Jake ...well, George!

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

Every single character -- and there are a good many of 'em - was spot on!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I'm still listening to it! So far, there have been very Stephen King moments detailing exceptionally graphic moments of violence ... and tenderness .... and nature ... and shock ....and an extraordinary sense of the protagonist's immediacy, commitment, presence and personal conflict with

Any additional comments?

Stephen King pulls no punches, historically, politically, emotionally, physically, psychologically. I like that! A master craftsman and teller of tales, King's 11-22-1963 novel deserves WINNER status on every level.

Great story, awesome narration!

I was sucked in to this book pretty quickly and I was sad when it was over. The story was very engaging and the characters were well developed. The narrator made me forget I was listening to an audio book...I felt like he was telling me his own story. I plan on listening to this book again.

Best King Book in a Long Time

I have to say I was a bit leery starting this one having just listened to Under the Dome, which was very disappointing. As I noted in my review of that book, it did not live up to some of King???s past efforts contrary to one reviewer who compared it to The Stand ??? my all-time favorite King novel. The Stand sets a pretty high bar in my opinion, however, this book gives Stand a run for the money.

From start to finish, yes even the finish, this book is a wonderful adventure. There are many short side stories, which one reviewer considered to be negative, but this is a novel after-all so one should expect that. King does an excellent job in weaving it all together and making all the details important. He creates a slew of interesting characters and provides just the right amount of detail for each one.

As noted by the author himself a lot of research went into this book and it shows. The cities, towns and people described reminded me of my own childhood which was around the same time period. Of course one can take liberties with time travel and the paradoxes we assume to be true, but I found it to be ???correct??? in that it did not violate the obvious rules.

The narrator also did an excellent job. I rank him up there with the best and have added him to my watch list of narrators. I will definitely be looking for other books he has worked on.

Just a wonderfully enjoyable book that kept me waiting for my ride to and from work. If you enjoy books about time travel you???ll like this one. If you???ve been waiting for another King classic on par with the Stand, I don???t think you???ll be disappointed. Yes I can honestly say that and highly recommend this novel.

Also, if you liked this book or books about time travel, check out Lightning by Dean Koontz. Another excellent book based on time travel.

a return to the king with heart

after dreamcatcher, i thought i would never read another novel by stephen king. this is the work of a lifetime, full of heat and soul and narrated brilliantly...settle in for a long, long ride but you will be enriched for it at the end

Amazing story!

Stephen King outdid himself! The interweaving of the story with what I recall of that time was wonderfully done.