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 Fabulous Book!

I must confess that this is my first encounter with Stephen King the Writer (as opposed to Stephen King Whose Books Are Movies). The movies scare the crap out of me so I've avoided both them and the books. This book is currently being dramatized on Hulu. I found some of the violence and language (of the show) to be a little bit much for me. But the storyline was so intriguing that I HAD to 'read' the book. If you're watching the Hulu show, I can tell you right now: The Book is (lusciously) Different! King paints a picture of that time in our history without succumbing to the approbations of our more politically correct times--for me, this meant not glossing over the reality of segregation, for instance. The action is at times so heart stopping that I too felt suspended in time. These characters and their lives stayed with me into my working day--I couldn't wait for the weekends so that I could listen for long stretches of uninterrupted time, rather than trying to squish as much in as possible over my too-short lunch hours. All in all, this was a great summer read!

As to the narrator, Wasson is wonderful. I didn't give him 5 stars b/c for me, 5 stars means you're better than Jim Dale (Harry Potter). But Wasson does do a great job of not only clearly differentiating between the characters, but additionally adding that magical bit of voice acting that leads the listener towards empathizing, vilifying, and every space in between, with all of the characters he speaks through. To those of you who pick this title, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and pass it on to a friend.

Excellent

Such a good book. King takes us back 5 decades with ease. You forget that it is a work of fiction.

really good book

This was really good book. Highly sughested. Narrator did a great job. I have listened to it several times.

Another Stephen King masterpiece!!

I started reading Stephen King novels with It and that got me really hooked. This is my second book of his and I absolutely loved everything about this story, well, almost everything.

I really love fantasy and sci-fi books and the fact that this book was about time travel, I had to read/listen to it. The story starts off with an English teacher Jake Epping who then later goes back into the past upon the request of his friend Al and save JFK. This book covers a lot about America and JFK. The narration was decently good. Sometimes it was just amazing but during other times, Craig Wasson didn't really succeed on giving characters their own voices, they didn't feel like different people to me.

But in the core of this story, it was a beautiful love story that was curtained up with the JFK assassination story. Sure, the majority of this book covered about JFK but the love story between Jake/ George and Sadie is something that is way way bigger than just a side story. This love story seriously affected a lot of Jake's actions and pretty much all the things that happened after Jake met her, were centered around her. This gave this story another beautiful layer of amazingness and awesomeness. This is absolutely a great book.

Don’t believe everyone’s review

This is a great book a look into very important historical event with a twist it took me awhile to get this audiobook because of the bad reviews and I’m ashamed for letting someone else’s opinion decide for me. :)

loved it!

Stephen King paints a vivid world, in which a very captivating story occurs. I'll be recommending this book!

History, suspense and humanity all in one

Granted, this is not only a book. It is a commitment! I listened to this story every chance that I had. I listened in the car during all of my daily driving as well as through solo road trips. There is so much to take in. King makes the reader feel as though the characters are a part of the reader. I am always saddened when my book is over and I have to say goodbye. An outstanding story that comes with a commitment.

Phenominal Story and Fantastic Narration

What else is there to say? The novel is assuredly one of King's best, and Wasson's narration wasnearly flawless.

Loved it!!

Story and narration was fantastic. Loved every minute of this Audiobook. One of Kings best!

A must-listen.

What did you love best about 11-22-63?

This is one of the best Audible book I've ever listened to. The story is absolutely riveting, and will appeal to anyone who loves a complex plot, rich characters, and satisfying conclusion. If you think Stephen King is simply the master of terror, you have to read this. I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but I do enjoy a well-written and suspenseful novel. This is a great example of that.

What other book might you compare 11-22-63 to and why?

I also loved 1Q84. The multiple plot twists and turns and strong central characters invite comparison.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What if you could change history?

Any additional comments?

Loved it, and looking forward to Mr. Mercedes.