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

Great storytelling and wonderful narration

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

I've never read Stephen King and wasn't sure I would like this, but he certainly tells a story well and kept me fascinated. The detail in his description of "the land of long ago" (1958-1963) was superb. The narrator was totally convincing in his portrayal.

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

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis which also involves time travel to a dangerous moment and great period detail.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed Jake's early forays into the past, when everything seems like fun and he is discovering how things smell and taste different, and learning how to behave in that world.

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

"He changed history - or did he?"

Any additional comments?

I found some elements of the book creepy and unnecessarily violent. I suppose this is Stephen King's usual style, but I didn't think they needed to be there. The whole book could have been edited to be shorter without losing focus. Unfortunately the part I found least interesting was the section with Lee Harvey Oswald and other real people, which was central to the plot. But in spite of these issues, it was spellbinding and the narration was outstanding.

Time Travel always interesting

I will preface this review with the fact that I usually enjoy time-travel stories and the dilemmas/paradoxes that go with them. I initially wondered how such a long story would drag on, but the story was quite engaging. Despite a few awkward poundcake issues, the book kept me guessing throughout.

Excellent Narrator and story

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

In terms of overall quality and entertainment this is one of my favorite audiobooks I've listened to so far. Craig Wasson does an outstanding narration and Stephen King lives of to his usual hype plus some!

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

In terms of narration, Craig Wasson's quality of performance reminds of the excellent performance of George Guidall's narration in American Gods (by Neil Gaiman).

King's story was original and fresh, which is impressive considering the time travel concept is old as dirt and occasionally unimaginative.

So good.

So, so, SO good. So far. I'm on Chapter Three. The man knows how to tell a story.

Interesting concept of time travel

There were some head scratching theories associated with time travel. Overall it's a good listen.

Awesome Book!

A great book! Well written and well read. And the app worked great! I really like this app!

Good

I enjoyed it. It dragged a bit in the middle and the voice for Sadie was like nails on a chalk board. Other wise the narration was spot on.

Brilliant writing… A novel that really makes you think…

I have never read or listened to a Stephen King novel in the past. Honestly his writings are far too scary for me. I accidentally saw the movie The Pet Cemetery and was scarred me for life. Ha ha.

I saw a brief mention of this book however and realized it was nothing that was going to scare me. I honestly didn't know anything about i, I just knew that it had to do with JFK so I thought I would give it a go.

I was so pleasantly surprised this incredible story that really had me thinking over and over and over again about life and time travel in general.

The depth of the characters was delightful and I really found myself getting sucked into this whole story.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in history, love, life's challenges and dilemmas, and the interesting thought of time travel in general.

Great listen!

I was enveloped in this book and emerssed into its rich and complex caricatures and there development..best audible book for me so far. I thourly enjoyed it.

Incredible Story (except for the ending)

I personally loved almost the whole of this novel. But was dissapointed with certain aspects of the ending chapters. It ended up being a lot more sad than I'd thought it would be. ..