From the Bookshelf of 2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge…

11/22/63

Stephen King

Start date: June 1, 2024

Finish date: June 30, 2024

Discussion: October 2025 Group Read

Why we're reading this: June 2024 Group Read
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October 2025 Group Read

Weyward: Mid-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 10 posts · 60 views

last updated Oct 23, 2025 01:40PM

Weyward: Pre-Reading Discussion
By Winter , Group Reads · 10 posts · 55 views

last updated Oct 18, 2025 05:57AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 14, 2012 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rec-ig-blogs-friends-other, _own-ebook, _own-home-library, fiction, 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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Dec 09, 2012 Barbara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Got done listening to this on audio. I have to say that I really liked the person reading this. Also, this is a good book that's easy to listen to cause it keeps you interested.

I really like the yellow card man. I couldn't wait to see if there was any more of a meaning to him except at the entrance of the portal. He's always saying..."Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Now that I'm done with the book, I found out what the "yellow" card man was doing and his purpose in the book.

I loved that ...more

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Nov 25, 2013 Rhonda rated it liked it

I dunno. I love Stephen King's writing, but would've been happier with this book if it had been half as long. It also probably didn't help that I read "The Time Traveler's Wife" right before this. Two tedious time travel books in a row is two too many. ...more

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