11/22/63: A Novel

I haven't read a Stephen King book in years, but when I saw this one I was very intrigued by the story line. I had forgotten what a masterful story teller Mr. King is. The book is long, but I really enjoyed the contrast between the 1960's and 2011. I thought the ending was well done and I was happily surprised there wasn't too much sci-fi in the time travel parts.

For a King fan, there's nothing more comfortable than slipping back into the role of Constant Reader. One isn't let down with this journey through the past, both of history, and of Derry, where we glimpse old friends and shiver as we pass cautiously by The Barrens. There's a barely disguised echo, a harmony, perhaps, of a jump roping trio in Dallas whom turn out quite benign instead of "the little bald doctors" we meet in another story of Derry, and one might say that there is a brush with "19" in this book, as well. While it's true that there are some aspects of the story that are daunting, sheer size being one, a die hard King fan will turn each page with absolute rapt pleasure and relish the unexpected punch in the gut that is ever present in King's stories.

"11/22/63" was magnificent (spoilers ahead!). Jake Epping is a recently divorced teacher in a small town in Maine. He's a nice guy, so when a local diner owner named Al asks him for a favor, Jake obliges. Turns out there is a hole, a bubble, in the pantry of Al's diner that allows him to travel back in time to September of 1958. Al has been doing this for years, going back to the same day in September, hanging around 1958 for a bit, buying ground beef at cut rate prices and returning to the present day only minutes after he left, no matter how long he stays in 1958. It seems as if the past resets every time he goes back through the hole. Al had the idea of going back and sticking around until 1963, and stopping Lee Harvey Oswald from killing President Kennedy. Unfortunately, Al gets very sick and is forced to return to 2011 before he gets the chance to take Oswald out, or even determine to his satisfaction that Oswald was working alone. He asks Jake to do it, and Jake agrees. Well, the past doesn't like to be messed with, and for very good reasons, and fights back against change, which Jake learns the hard way. Saving Kennedy really wasn't the focus of the book, although it was an interesting plot line. For some reason a lot of people in King's generation idolize Kennedy and seem to think if only he had lived, the world wouldn't be as messed up as it is. I highly doubt that. I'm far removed from the myth of Camelot, so it doesn't enchant me the same way it does the older folks. The very best part - Jake goes to Derry, Maine in September of 1958, right after the summer of "IT" and sees Richie and Bev!! That had to be the best part, I love those kids. "11/22/63" is right up there with "IT", "The Stand", and "Christine", in my book.

This book really grabbed me! Stephen King once again tells a fabulous story about a man who has found a route back in time--to a very specific time--which gives him the opportunity to change a watershed moment in history. This is the story of the path taken--and the unexpected consequences.While I've always loved time travels in all their guises, this story was a particularly fabulous take on time travel and its consequences. I would highly recommend this story to anyone--this is not the Stephen King of horror fame, but rather the Stephen King who tells a damn fine story.

Whew! While I slogged through the first 200 pages over several days, I thought to myself, "I'll never finish this book." Last night when I finally tore myself away from it, I had 200 pages remaining.I haven't read a lot of Stephen King. I'm not a fan of horror. I can't remember if I read the entire book (of short stories), Hearts in Atlantis, but I did particularly enjoy "Low Men in Yellow Coats" (the actual story content of the movie--never did understand that naming). But this is a great book.* (He notes in the afterword that he started the project in 1972, just six years after the Kennedy assassination.) I am really glad I made time to read it.Go! Go get it and start it now!*For those to whom it would matter, there are parts which are sexually and violently graphic.

Time travel and it's impact according to Steven King!

Not a typical Stephen King concept. I like the typical Stephen King, but I like this, as well. Very well written... some unusual twists, and combinations of twists, on an old idea.

Audiobook.........This novel is a great example of Stephen King at his best. The story's central notion is how each breath we take is part of the eternal wave of time. How many of us have played the ever dangerous game of "what if?". What if I hadn't gone to Coe College, hadn't met my husband there, then wouldn't have these four amazing children? Or even, what if I go to the dry cleaner's today versus tomorrow? In this case, what if JFK was not assassinated on 11/22/63? How many unanticipated changes would be wrought in the history of life on earth by changing one moment in time? Are you intrigued yet? The story had me completely engaged from the beginning. So many questions are raised and left unanswered, thoughts are provoked, and characters are memorable. A really great read!

My first Stephen King novel. He is an accomplished storyteller and this book is really a page turner. There were very clever aspects to this time travel novel that go far beyond the butterfly effect.

Some of it was really good and some a struggle to get through. Mostly 849pgs of meh

I read this last weekend and couldn't put it down. Not the usual King horror plot. Definitely goes in the Sfi-Fi/Fantasy column. It has similarities to Bradbury's "Sound of Thunder", and King even makes the comparison as part of the story. In typical King fashion, we see a few characters we've met before. Jake/George has a feeling of comfort when meeting these characters and thinks of them fondly afterward. I might have to re-read IT to say hello to these characters again.Not sure how this will sit with the JFK generation. I am familiar with the major bullet points of JFK, but none of the finer details. Someone who experienced JFK first hand may poke a few holes in the story, but after all, it's just a story.If you are a King fan and born after 1963, you will enjoy this. Definitely in the top 10 King works.

A little long and it has the usual inconsistencies involved in any time-travel story (bringing things back and forth, for example) but a good read! A few Stephen King-style horror touches early on and there are suspenseful parts, but this is not a scary book. Heard him speak recently, and he said if anyone starts to think nostalgically about the fifties and early sixties while reading, just remember the passage about the sign for the "colored" bathroom in a Southern state that pointed to a poison ivy-infested path to a board with a hole in it balanced over a creek.

I loved this book, great story.

I Absolutely loved this audio /book with all my might

It's an amazing book you don't want to put it down you want to know what happens it will keep you hooked until the very end.

The book was so good and so captivating, but the swearing was way to much for my personal taste

This was a great listen and the narration was exceptional.

Amazing book, I absolutely loved it. Some commented it was slow but I think it was perfectly paced. The narration allowed the characters to develop just as much as the story, making it complex and rich. I found the ending surprisingly satisfactory, better than I expected.

Wish it was 70 hours long. That plot is too good to not hook a fella.

I’ve not read many Stephen King books but this one has been a major TBR for me. I never anticipated one of his books would have me reeling in bittersweet heartache at the end. What a ride. The audiobook was so immersive too.

Amazing book. I wish I could listen to it for the first time again.

This is my first Stephen King book, I loved it!!!!

Amazing! First off Stephen King is a writing god. This is my first book of his I have read, but I have seen many many movies based on his books. I first saw this miniseries of this book on Hulu (no longer there last I checked), and was so excited when I saw it was based on a Stephen King book and immediately bought it. When it arrived and I saw how big it was I was very intimidated, I didn't think I could get through it all. When I first started this audiobook site, this was one of the first books I looked to see if it was there, and knew this is how I was going to be able to get through this book. I am so happy that I did it this way because the reader did such an amazing job of reading this book. Adding in pauses and voices and little laughs and gasps and things like that in all the right places, that I actually thought it was Stephen King himself reading the book. I am just in love with this book. It took me quite a while to get through it, due to other things going on in my life of course, but I can't wait to read it again in the future.

I'm a big Stephen king fan. I'm also a truck driver otr. I've recently listened to this book. I've read it in high school and the stand. By far this is the best book of his made me cry, As there's been enormous amount in trauma in my life. Beyond thst very heart felt book just totally awesome.

An incredible book and a fantastic narrator, I was hooked!

I love the book, it was very entertaining, I couldn't put it down. The thought of time traveling and all the possibilities that come with it are always so intriguing. I have found myself thinking what if this didn't happen, would that have changed the outcome of this or that event?

King's best work! I've read this book several times and I love it as much now as the first time.

Very well written and fantastic narrator. Great character development. Story was woven together to create a very compelling narrative.

An outstanding story that is completely engrossing. I am awestruck.

Very interesting greed. It held a good balance of entertaining and informative.