11-22-63

A Novel

De: Stephen King

Narrado por: Craig Wasson

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

One of Stephen King's Finest

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

I've read a fair number of Stephen King's books. This one is my current favorite. Great story line. Lots of "what ifs?". Characters you really care about. Satisfynig ending.

One of Kings Best!!!

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

Yes! It's a very long listen, but there is so much detail and layers it would not at all feel repetitive.

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

I have not actually enjoyed another performance of Craig Wasson before, however he is perfect for the narroration of this story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The small time spent in Derry, Maine was the only scary part of the book.... And that stuck with me. Probably because as a child I was so afraid of Pennywise.

Any additional comments?

I have recommended this book to everyone. It's a perfect book for all types, it's not really scary, it has romance, history... Who wouldn't love it?

Love the use of history.

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

I love the use of historical events.
This one made it difficult to hit the pause button.

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

I took my wife and son to San antonio on vacation and on our last day in Texas drove up to Dallas and spent the day. the entire time bits of the novel kept playing over in my mind.

Once again, King brings it.

Mr. King is a true story teller. I have read or listened to nearly all, if not all of his books and feel a kind of personal gratitude to him for many hours of enjoyment. Craig Wasson does a great job. All in all, another seamless, fascinating, exciting gift from the King.

Loved it!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you love Stephen King, time travel, time paradoxes, history,

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

There were many, many memorable moments for me. Besides the ending of the book, the scenes involving the race to make it to the watershed moment with JFK on that fateful day was very suspenseful and had me on the edge of seat, always a danger when one is driving at 75 mph on the freeway but well worth it.

Which scene was your favorite?

I was very happy with the way the book ended so the final scene would be my favorite hands down. I even cried a bit.

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

I DID want to listen to this book all in one sitting but I limited myself to 2 hours a day so I could make it last.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Stephen! My fav book since The Dark Tower series.

Great story!!

Loved it! Even got a little lumpy throat at the end which is not my style... I usually tend to be more cynical.

Great Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I already bought it for a few friends. Because it was such a mind provoking book. So many what if's. With one small change the entire world would be not as we know it today, Or would it?????

Any additional comments?

I never gotten into Stephen Kings books before, but this is definitely one of my favorites.

Amazing story with an amazing reader

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

The reader was so adept at different voices and inflections that the story came alive with different characters.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a extremely interesting story. Time travel, but without much science fiction, just a plot device. Great characters. Kennedy assasination, love story, history alive in real places.

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

Don't think I have a favorite. They're all good. Maybe the bookie in Derry.

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

Actually did tear up at a few points in the story.

Any additional comments?

The was probably the best book I've ever read/listened to. Highly recommended! Even the ending was fantastic!

Lovers of the 50s and 60s will not be disappointed

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

I call myself a lover of the 50s and 60s. The Kennedys. The Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King, Jr. The simpler times. The music. And this book had them all -- all the nostalgia that I have for a time I never knew, without glossing over the 'ugly' parts - the racism and the Cold War elements, in particular.

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

I just loved the story of "George" and Sadie. It tied the whole book together beautifully.

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

He really performed this novel. This was my first time hearing one of his performances and with the breadth of characters, and a different voice for each one - even taking regional diction and accents into account. This was quite an undertaking. He made it a fun listen.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Oh, yes. Several. I was moved to tears several times -- particularly during the "Of Mice and Men" play and even the Jamboree specials. And no one could avoid being pulled in to the story as it reached its ultimate climax when the heroes were in the textbook depository with Oswald. A moment in history where they had the opportunity to affect the WORLD. King wrote this beautifully.

Any additional comments?

The story began to drag a little in the middle; but not to the point I ever considered not listening! I highly recommend! Enjoyed immensely.

Pretty darn good.

Interesting take on time travel. A little slow and thought it could have been much more suspenseful. But the story had good emotion and interesting ideas.

Narrator was so slow i had to speed him up to 1.5. he was fine, not great.