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

Wonderfully engaging

I have been an audiobook listener for over a dozen years and this was by far one of my all time favorites. I wish it was 60 hours long as I was truly disappointed when it ended. Mr. King has created an instant classic with this one. The cameo appearances of Bev and Richie from IT was a great little gem. Excellent listen and highly recommended.

Best Steven King Ever

Very exciting, tightly structured, well charactered tour de force. The reading by Craig Wasson made it especially enjoyable. I just love the way he says "buddy."

Fantastic!!!!!

Where does 11-22-63 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I was shocked at how gripping this book was. I couldn't stop listening. Stephen King does it again and Craig Wasson was a wonderful narrator.

Masterful!

Would you consider the audio edition of 11-22-63 to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Jake Epperly. He was a deep and complicated character.

Any additional comments?

I had forgotten how patiently and masterfully Stephen King builds characters. You don't just get rushed into a story-Slam! Bam! Thank You Sucker. It's a true character building. There is patience and detail in this book. It builds and builds and you have no idea how it's going to turn out and whether Jake will go through with his mission. Ultimately, you end up not caring whether or not Jake saves JFK. You just want him to be happy, have love, and you want it all to work. PLUS-I love the fact that Stephen King brought back Derry in the Summer of '58, just shortly after the Losers' showdown with IT. As soon as this book was over, I downloaded IT so I could see those landmarks and meet those characters again. The nostalgia just made the book all that much better.

Awesome

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

Another great mindbender!

What did you like best about this story?

It wasn't what I expected the story line to be about. It actually had a few going on at the same time, but wasn't confusing. I loved it!

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

He was great with the voices, he does a great Sadie voice~

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

No not an extreme reaction, but it definitely pulls on different emotions throughout the whole book.

Any additional comments?

I am going to go back and listen again or maybe pick up the book and read it. I think I missed some stuff the first time around. This is going to be like The Green Mile or Shawshank Redemption where you can watch and/or read it over and over again and still learn new things and enjoy it each time.

Worth a listen

The story is slow in parts, but still good. Some of the parts (violence, etc ...) can be hard to listen to, but there are few parts where this happens.

The narrator overall has one voice for everyone, but it is varied enough to not seem monotone for the entire book.

Don't let the narrator discurge you from getting this, it is worth a listen.

Well worth the time

At first I thought 30 hrs! Worth every minute. Complex yet easy to follow.

good but political.

Stephen King needs to keep his views on gun control to self. Good book but don't get political.

Absolutely Riveting

I’ve read dozens of Stephen King books and this is among my top 5. I’ve listened to this book three times and read it once. Craig Wasson’s narration was perfect! One of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.

One of my faves

Way better than the show on Hulu. Riveting and heart wrenching, not too gruesome. 5 Stars