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

Bloody Hell!!

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

yes cause i didn't have to read it.

What did you like best about this story?

time travel stuff

What does Craig Wasson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

his own interpretation on how to read it.

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

King Rocks!!

Any additional comments?

This story kicks ass!! King is a good writer and he does a smashing job with this story. I love the conspiracy bit about JFK's assassination and i love time travel stories: Star Trek, Back to the future, Star Trek, etc.the narration is spot on. thank you for an entertaining story!! :)
I loved the book so much, i purchased the print version too!!

Listen on a weekend when you don't have to stop!

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

Draws you in and won't let go.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jake - As the modern guy going back you could put yourself in his place... what would you change if you could go back?

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

Good reader

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I'm hit or miss on Stephen King's books, not liking the horror or creepy books, but this one drew me in and I didn't want to stop listening. I was tempted to listen to the ending about half way through just to end the suspense! As a kid born at the very end of the baby boom, it was interesting to hear about daily life in the 60's.

Paints an entrancing picture

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

Intriguing emotional narrative

Who was your favorite character and why?

George Amberson because he's the protagonist

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

Yellow card man

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

Going to the past to find yourself

Any additional comments?

nope

An Ode to America

Any additional comments?

In this love letter to the America of yesterday Stephen King captures the heart of the 60's and 70's. He shines a spotlight on the light and dark at a pivotal time in American history. You could see the seeds of today's tolerance being planted but you could see the all too real shadows of the darkness we were coming out of.

This is King at his best. Don't miss a chance to see the master weave a poignant hopeful tale with a heart as dark as night.

Stephen King at his best

Would you listen to 11-22-63 again? Why?

Absolutely. It is mesmerizing. You literally get lost in the script.

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

Hearing Oswald SPEAKING. it was chilling

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

The main character George/Jake

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to so badly but it is too long. Instead I saved it for when I got home from work and just wanted to be taken away

Any additional comments?

I liked this book so much that I bought a hard copy. That way if I got distracted rather than back up and play again, I would follow along in the book. Since I read much faster than the narration, I could just re-read that passage while i continued to listen. The only thing that was hard to follow is when Mr. Wasson is speaking with Russian accent. It was difficult to understand at times. Would have been better if he had not spoken with such a heavy accent

I could have listened to the book forever

Wonderful story and narration. I felt like I was smack dab next to Jake/George the whole time. The time period was one that I grew up in, and I had such a wonderful nostalgic ache throughout the book. I downloaded Under the Dome.

i loved it!

What a great book, couldn't stop listening to it! Great love story and great what if book

How does he do it?

Would you listen to 11-22-63 again? Why?

Being a big Stephen King fan, I was intrigued to see how he would handle this extreme moment in American History. What never seems to disappear from his story telling is his acute ability to 'take us there.' Weather it's current time in Maine or Dallas in 1958, the attention to detail and nuances of life is vivid. Perhaps what I loved most about this particular story was King's ability to tell a love story second to none. King loves to be nostalgic. No doubt about that. But, the ability to feel both like a man and a woman falling in love is the thing I will love most about this book. The time travel, and the many threads that must be considered by the 'threads' created is made simple...you could actually see something like this happening! Great reading by the narrator who had to handle Maine, GA, and Texas accents, both men and woman. Absolutly great buy and I highly recommend it. One bit of a downer. King is an unabashed liberal. That twist becomes very prevalent in the end, which I find a little disappointing.

Thought provoking

Craig Wassen brought this book to life and Stephen King once again pulled me in within the first 5 min of this book. I am on part 3 and look forward to listening to it again after I somewhat reluctantly look forward to hearing the end. This book could go on for ever and I would not complain. One of Kings BEST!

I want to go there.

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

"Everything tastes better"

What did you like best about this story?

The way he laid out the setting of the 60's. I loved the way he put u there in that time. I loved knowing those characters. It carries you somewhere you don't want to leave.

What does Craig Wasson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He's a good narrator. Nothing to complain about.

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

Feel for the step.

Any additional comments?

The only bad thing i found with this story was the futures were a let down. They were kind of weak. I understand where he was going and why it happened this way...i just wasn't feeling it. I loved living in that world of the past though. He really brought that to life! Beautiful. Something about it whispered of Lisey's story. Maybe the boys stories. The bad gunky.