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11/22/63

Stephen King

Start date: February 1, 2012

Finish date: March 31, 2012

Discussion: Group Book Discussion

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What Members Thought

Oct 16, 2012 Vanessa rated it really liked it

Like many King readers my age, I broke up with him around the time of The Tommyknockers. We just needed to spend some time apart, ya know? I haven't really looked back, other than an aborted attempt to read Desperation (and holy shit, was that book bad....)

This book finally sucked me in though and I'm glad. Because this is, I think, some of King's finest writing. The protagonist is Jake Epping, a school teacher living a somewhat lonely and unmoored life since his wife left him for someone she me Like many King readers my age, I broke up with him around the time of The Tommyknockers. We just needed to spend some time apart, ya know? I haven't really looked back, other than an aborted attempt to read Desperation (and holy shit, was that book bad....)

This book finally sucked me in though and I'm glad. Because this is, I think, some of King's finest writing. The protagonist is Jake Epping, a school teacher living a somewhat lonely and unmoored life since his wife left him for someone she met in AA. Then comes the news that Jake's friend has discovered a portal in time in the back of his diner. The portal consistently spits you out in the same place (a small town in Maine, naturally) on a September day in 1958. No matter how long you stay in the past, only 2 minutes pass in the present. You will, however, age at the same rate. As his friend is dying of cancer, he makes a pitch for Jake to do what his illness stopped him from doing: go back in time and prevent JFK's assassination. Think about a world where Kennedy had lived. The Vietnam War might never have happened. Martin Luther King might not get shot in Memphis. As quixotic as the assignment might be, how could you turn it down? One caveat, though: his friend has already experimented with changing the past and while it's possible, it's not easy. The past, you see, is obdurate. It does not like to be changed. And it will fight back.

And then again, this is pure, rose-colored speculation. Who is to say whether things would still go down exactly the same? Or much worse? Maybe the moon landing would never have happened. Maybe WWIII would have started in Cuba or East Germany. Maybe the Beatles would never have made Sgt Pepper's.

I liked this book. I liked it quite a bit. But it's a looong book. And while the story deserves and needs to unspool in an unhurried fashion, King gets a little buried in the back nine describing Jake's love interest and their various travails. Unfortunately, I just didn't find the girlfriend as fascinating as King did. When Jake was tailing Lee Harvey Oswald though, that was absolutely riveting. As were the incredibly vivid descriptions of late 1950's-early 1960's America. King at his best can write some of the most experiential prose, and his observations of everything from motel rooms to hospital beds to diner food were almost as good as being there.

The last 100 pages pretty much have to be read in one sitting. And I'm not going to give anything away, but I loved the ending. There's also an entertaining appendix where King shares his opinion on the Lone Gunman Theory (although you'll know the answer if you read the book) and shares the books he read to research it. He also gives a sweet shout-out to his son, the author Joe Hill, who provided King with a newer, better ending.

And if you are a long-time King fan, you'll really enjoy a side trip Jake takes in Maine before he heads to Texas. Especially if you are afraid of clowns. ...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Lisa Roberts rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

It's funny when a book I've continually resisted ends up being a favorite. I did not want to read this book. I don't like the title (still don't). I don't like time travel (I guess I like it now) and thought I didn't like Stephen King (I do now). The book kept popping up on my radar and I kept mentally shoving it aside. I did the same thing with "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". In both cases I found five star books. King really is a great writer. I loved the story and all the people Jake ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2011 Sera rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, own, science-fiction

I hadn't read a King book in over 20 years, but 11/22/63 made it worth the long wait. For likely King, too, since he first started writing this book in 1972 but stopped because Kennedy's assasination had devastated the author. Plus, he wanted to do much research before writing this book. I'm glad that he waited to finish the story until last year, because the amount of information around the assasination that has developed since then made this book a richer experience for me as a reader.

The book ...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rec-ig-blogs-friends-other, fiction, _own-ebook, _own-home-library, read-in-2012

This is Stephen King at his best. Although I still think there could have been some editing done that would have picked up the pace in the middle of the book, after reading the book in its entirety, it was worth the pacing issues to get to the end. I am going to be very careful not to give ANYTHING away in this review because the ending is great, especially if you come to it unaware. Unfortunately, another reviewer did not mark their review as a spoiler, so I had some sense of the ending. It was This is Stephen King at his best. Although I still think there could have been some editing done that would have picked up the pace in the middle of the book, after reading the book in its entirety, it was worth the pacing issues to get to the end. I am going to be very careful not to give ANYTHING away in this review because the ending is great, especially if you come to it unaware. Unfortunately, another reviewer did not mark their review as a spoiler, so I had some sense of the ending. It was still impactful but I think coming at it blind would have made it amazing! So, the less you read about this one, the better. Just trust me - READ it.

Sometimes even I forget what a great writer King is ... he knows how to spin a story, develop a character and use his imagination to take you into amazing situations. This is unlike any other King novels that I've read - it's not horror, at all. It's so much more that what I think people have come to expect of King - there are supernatural aspects, historical pieces, plus some philosophy & science fiction all packaged alongside a really nice love story. It has it ALL.

King's ability to build excitement and suspense are legendary & this book is no exception. I found myself holding my breath, wondering what was coming, then shocked by something coming out of nowhere and then sighing with relief. It's an emotional roller coaster of the best kind!

I have no doubt that King did a ton of research for this book. I don't know all of the history in any level of detail but I do know that King made the time period and the experiences come alive on the page. It all felt true. It felt real. It felt like I was visiting another time and place.

Although The Stand is still my favorite Stephen King novel, this one is a close second, edging out It and the Shining as my number 2s ( I can't decide between those so I had two of them). I definitely recommend it even if you aren't a fan of his other novels ... this is a special book that I think most readers will enjoy! ...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Charisse rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

My first Kindle book!!! Getting some used to (the Kindle) but so far I like it! LOVE that King goes back to visit Derry and characters from IT! Enjoying the story...

Please read Jeanette's review of this marvelous book. I cannot do it justice :) There IS dancing and I DID cry at the end. King really moved me. It is very long and probably some of the background Oswald stuff could have been cut, however, I don't believe it detracted from the story. 5 stars. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2011 Beth Knight rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-it

This Stephen King book is so different from the Stephen King books I read as a teenager. I was amazed at how easily I suspended my disbelief in time travel and all of the characters were so real. I'm sure I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. ...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Lynn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

Earlier this year I gained new respect for Stephen King when I read Shawshank Redemption, and 11/22/63 did not disappoint. King applies his noir approach to storytelling as he recreates a time and place. I could only imagine how people who lived in the late fifties would enjoy this walk through the past and a whole lot of what-ifs. I enjoyed the way he imagined time travel and the urge to use information (such as what the future holds)once you have it. King gives a nod to Jack Finney in the afte ...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Carol rated it really liked it

The beginning didn't grab me. The character development and caring about Jake and Sadie really drew me in. Again, King gives plenty of background and detail throughout, until the end. Obdurate and harmonize are repeated over 60 times - to let you know the past does repeat itself. But then the yellow card man gets a two paragraph summary. ugh. Are they defenders of the Beam? It seems so. The ending scene was well done and appreciated. 3.75 stars overall. ...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Glenn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, alternate

Like my Goodreads friend Karen said about this book, 'Wow'

I enjoy time travel books and the logical puzzles that the authors have to sort out. King has nothing to with this though and instead gives us a fascinating character driven plot. I found it refreshing.

A great and fun read. ...more

1 like · Like · see review