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

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.

Longer than it needed to be

Excellent characters and the leads are people you root for. Enjoyed the book and will linger with me a while.

Love, love, love this book!

Long book but, oh, so worth your time. Fascinating concept and beautifully written. I also loved the narration!

Amazing

Absolutely loved this book. I was fully invested from start to finish. This is probably not a book I'd be able to read so audible made it possible for me to hear the story.