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 Idea, Executed Moderately Well

This novel attracted my attention immediately. I am a life-long fan of Stephen King's works, although I admit that I have not enjoyed his post-accident works as much as his earlier stuff. The premise of this book sold me on getting it without hesitation, and overall I am not disappointed. This was my first Audiobook of a Stepen King work, and I enjoyed listening to the story much better than watching any Stephen King movie. If I am honest I have to admit that had I been reading the book rather than listening to it, I most likely would have set it aside and not finished it.

Whom amongst us hasn't asked the question, "What if you could go back in time and...?" This book attempts to tackle that question, and its unforseen consequences in a reasonably sober manner. This is not a ghost story, and you won't find a world filled with monsters and/or boogeymen. However, like with all Stephen King books, you will brush up against the threads of other tales from other books. Surprisingly, it doesn't damage the fable being spun here.

Somewhere around 1/3rd of the way in, the central plot becomes an afterthought and completely irrelevant to the book. For any Stephen King fans, this won't be surprising. His larger works, 'It', 'The Stand', 'Under the Dome', and even 'Pet Semetery' can all be read by tearing out the middle 200 (or more) pages and just moving on. The central plot doesn't become a part of the story again until there is around five hours left in the book. What is odd is that in the case of '11-22-63: A Novel' this fact doesn't harm the story at all.

The Author's obsession with the freedom people had to smoke anywhere and everywhere is the reason that I would have set this book aside. With so many injustices available to choose for discussion, segragation gets maybe 10 minutes of coverage in a 30+ hour book, and police abuses, widespread FBI surveillance, and communist hysteria gripping the nation gets nary a mention. This is sad, because so many parallels could have been drawn to our own current times. And yet, had all the diatribes against people's smoking habits circa 1960 been edited out of this novel, it would probably have cut close to five hours off of the book's overall length.

In the end, I give this book a positive review. It is worth listening to, but I wouldn't suggest paying full price for it if you can avoid it. I used my monthly credit, and I don't feel robbed. Still, I didn't take anything away from this book that I would consider my life being less enriched by had I skipped it. If you are looking for a decent, not great, personal struggle/love story, and not a tense political thriller with supernatural overtones, then this is the book for you.

Overall 6.5 out of 10

Amazing - not a sci fi time travel fan

Any additional comments?

I didn't want to get this book as I don't like fantasy novels. All I can say is that it was well worth it. I really enjoyed the historical details and the character development aspects of this stoy. It was exceptionally researched and it shows. I have listened to many audio books and this is definitely in the top 10% If you like history but don't normally go for sci-fi, I would say try it.

Wonderful

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

Love This Story

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

The answer to What If is... this book. What would you do if you could go back in time and make things right for the world? Can a small change, make big changes?

Fabulous story, a lot of language

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

Storytelling in HD

Any additional comments?

This was such a great story! I really cared about the characters and was anxious to find out what happened next. It all seemed so real. Stephen King is a wonderful storyteller. The character development was phenomenal. The ending was perfect. I have avoided his books in the past because I don't like horror stories. This book had several parts that were a little too vivid for my taste. There was also a lot of language, it was a bit Tourette's; he would go for a long time with nothing, and then it seemed like everyone's vocabulary was reduced to a few select words, especially those starting with F. All in all, this was a very intriguing and intelligently written book. Stephen King is a talented writer. Craig Wasson is an enjoyable narrator, his range of accents is incredible.

One of my favorite books of the last decade!

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

I wanted more!

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

The Da Vinci Code because of the crazy amounts of research and historical facts mixed with edge of your seat fiction.

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

George Amberson /Jake Epping

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

Both laugh and cry.

Any additional comments?

I have never heard of Craig Wasson. Never listened to a book he's narrated before. After hearing his voice for 30 hours though, I can honestly say that I never want to hear another person narrate a book I listen to ever again. the passion and feeling he put into each and every character is unlike anything I've ever heard... I immediately looked him up and downloaded The Innocent Man by John Grisham ( even though I'd already read it myself) just to hear what he did with it... Thanks to Mr. King for writing a book that I will never forget. I have always loved his books but this one was a masterpiece...

Exquisite

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

I never thought an audiobook could be better than one read from the printed word, but after having listened to Stephen King's latest offering, I think this would be one of them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The obvious choice for favorite character would be Jake/George, but each significant character was so fully developed that I truly have to say that I do not have a real favorite.
Craig Wasson does an incredible job of creating those characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

not sure

Any additional comments?

With 4 parts to this book, I thought it would likely drag a bit in some parts. Much to my delight, it flew threw the air and I was finished before I really wanted it to end.

Another instant King classic

This book will stand with the best in my mind,"IT" and "The Stand" will have to make room for this book. A well thought out story that thankfully didn't get mired down down in the conspiracy theories and focused on the story. This was a book that could have gone wrong in so many ways but didn't, the narration was excellent the story was incredible (especially the ending). The best credit I've spent so far! I can't recommend this one enough.

Wow!

This book is incredible. I would highly recommend it. It actually changed the way I have been thinking about things lately. Just... wow! I did some research and learned that King did extensive research for this book and its historical accuracy. That's helpful. More than any other book I have ever read I recommend this.

another fabulous read

I enjoyed this book from start to finish! Glad a friend recommended it! Two thumbs way up!

Awesome Time traveling love story.

Couldn't wait to out my ear buds in every morning to start work! Worth every penny.