11-22-63

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: 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

Already one of my all-time favorite books!

What did you love best about 11-22-63?

The protagonist, Jake, is wonderfully real, good hearted, and relatable. The world of 1958 & forward is so brilliantly detailed! I can't wait to re-read so that I can be there all over again! (Oh, except for maybe the Derry part which is SCARY!!) ;-)

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the character of Jake because the reader gets to experience this amazing world along with him. He feels like an old friend by the time his (and the reader's) journey is over. I also loved the characters of Sadie, Al, and Deke.

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

He does great voices for the marginal characters, but his portrayal of Jake helps a lot to make that character even more human and relateable.

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

This story evoked both a lot of laughter and a lot of tears from me. I haven't loved a new book this much in a long long time!

Any additional comments?

This book is fascinating, beautiful, and heartbreaking. It's a masterpiece!

A Layer-Cake of Thought-Provoking Notions!

Wow - this is one hell of a story! It's filled with moment's that make you pause and wonder, "What would I do if given that chance?"

One again and as always, the characters are so alive, you would think you actually know them from somewhere; like an old friend. This story is about so much more than Kennedy. It's layer upon layer of the human condition, with rich turns and challenges most of us would never want to face. The end brought tears to my eyes, and left me with such mixed emotions and internal conversations, my brain will be busy for a long time trying to sort it all out.

The narrator is phenomenal! One of the BEST I've ever heard! If there's an award, better give it to HIM! No one would deserve it more!

Great beginning, then long stretches of boring

This book started out gangbusters — all of part 1 was fabulous. Then there are long stretches of boring, tedious story lines mixed in with stretches of very entertaining listening. I came so close to quitting listening several times, but in the end felt it was worth slogging through. Although it seems a story about time travel and what ifs, in the final analysis it's a love story. I could have done without all of the sex descriptions as all they really added to the story was additional boring listening time. If you aren't old enough to remember the 50's the book probably won't be very interesting for you. The narrator was excellent, one of the best I've heard.

Magnificent???Outstanding???Brilliant - A MUST READ

11-22-63: A Novel

It has been a long time since I have read a book that brought me to tears but this book did. You also have to know this is the first time I have ever read Stephen King; most of his genre is not something I would read. The book was recommended to me by my hairdresser and my new Goodreads friend Tracy .. I thank them both.

The premise of this book is a time travel back to 1963 to stop the Kennedy assassination. For me the book was more than that, is was about the story of Jake Epping, alias George Amberson???s journey from 1958 through that fatal day in November of 1963 .. from Lisbon Falls, Maine to his life in Jody,Texas , of life in a era of big America cars, JFK, high school dances and of finding the love of your life in the high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill and decisions Jake/George must make ??? how he cares for his friend and community but still keeping what will happen on 11-22-63 in his sight. And Sadie, her character is perfection ??? beautiful, clumsy and wounded.

I was in the 6th grade when Kennedy was assassinated and I can remember that day so clearly. But the research that went into the Lee Harvey Oswald and the Kennedy assassination amazed me. One of the major strength of this book for me was how King transforms you to the world of 1958-1963 ??? I could taste the root beer, see the blue smoked filled rooms, I could hear ???In The Mood??? with Glen Miller and see Sadie and George dancing the Lindy. I don???t want to spoil the ending but it was how it had to end ..

I did listen to this book and Craig Wasson was the narrator ??? his interpretation of this book brought the book to life ??? his narration was magnificent ??? outstanding ??? brilliant.

I miss George and Sadie!

Time Travel, History & Mystery OH MY!

I've been a Stephen King fan, since 1978, after reading The Stand! Would so love to have an Audiobook, of The Stand! (Hint, hint Audible)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. I'm only on chapter 9 and totally hooked. The eight plus hours I've been listening, only feels like "TWO minutes". Perhaps the listen takes you back in time, and history, then when you stop listening, your iPhone says "it's only been 2 minutes". Can't wait to see what happens next. If you love any, or all of these: Stephen King, Time Travel, History, Thrills, you'll LOVE this book!

New and recommendable

More than I thought it would be. The "sensational" topic seems be the point and beside it at the same time. A good read from the pseudo-historian point of view as well as from a sci-fi reader's usual cravings. I truly believe that, should you decide to download this lengthy story and give it a turn, you won't be disappointed.

I Love Stephen King but...

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

This was a very interesting story; however it may not be the best audiobook. It got a little confusing. Stephen King did not disappoint nor did Craig Wasson in his narration. I just think it was the genre in which it was read.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think I'll buy the actual book and read it before venturing into the series.

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

One thing this book did accomplish for me was to peak my interest in the death of JFK. I have been googling conspiracy theories since completing it.

Nostalgia at it's best, and it's worst.

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

I would listen to this again mainly because there was just so much detail to take in. The best (in my opinion) part about King's writing is the attention he gives to almost every character. There is always more than meets the eye (or ear).

King presents the past in the most relevant way imaginable. At first he describes things in such a positive light and presents the whole world in a truly nostalgic way, as if there was a longing to actually return to that time. As the story progressed though it becomes more clear that the past, like the present, is extremely flawed and even some of those great aspects that made it appear so wonderful in the beginning, hardly balance out the rest.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the many emotional moments in this story. I don't want to spoil anything but there are several truly gut-wrenching moments that are made even better by the performance of the narrator.

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

First time I've listened to this narrator.

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

No, simply because it was lengthy and there was so much to process

A GREAT BOOK!!!! But a bit long

I really loved this book. its just half way through it you think "why all of this?? why its taking toooo long". But still its really good... the ending is amazing and the butterfly effect is..... well i don't know how to explain it, but you really think if this happened in real life, what kind of changes will occur.

Highly Recommended

Great story, occasionally annoying read

If you're a fan of time travel stories and Stephen King, 11/22/63 will hit all the right buttons. It's a compelling "what if" about the implications of trying to alter history. There are elements of "The Adjustment Bureau" and a little "Inception" thrown in for good measure.

This is low on King horror influence - more of a wistful love letter to one of the most powerful arcs in modern history, told from the perspective of someone who wishes it were possible to alter the past with the hope of creating a more hopeful present.

The story focuses on a reluctant protagonist, Jake, who ends up far deeper in the threads of history than he counted on. The mystery and danger of his task builds to a satisfying climax and ultimately finishes with an inevitability that feels just right at the end.

Craig Wasson's narration is generally good, though his voice characterizations tend to lean toward stereotype and often feel forced, sometimes maddeningly so. Overall, however, his heart is in the right place and, for me, it was worth gritting my teeth to get past the silly parts.

My only wish were that King spent more time in the present toward the end of the story, postulating further on the possible outcomes of Jake's efforts. The world King paints in the final chapter was barely filled in and I would have liked to hear more. On the other hand, by the time the story reaches that point, it's been a long slog, so it's probably better that the end comes as swiftly as it does.

Overall a compelling story and well read, but be prepared for some cringe-inducing moments with Wasson's otherwise excellent narration.