11/22/63 in Bookworm Buddies

Oct 28, 2019 Corey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, science-fiction, historical-fiction, the-kennedys

I don't think I've ever felt sadder to have a book end, that's how much I enjoyed 11.22.63, it was that good, OMG!!!

Stephen King took a different road while writing this book, as you'll see when you're reading if for the first time, it's geared more towards science fiction, but some of it will of course be enough to scare you, with King I had no doubt in my mind!

11.22.63 is an astonishing tale of fiction mixed in with actual events, one of them, the JFK Assassination!! In the Present day, 2011, ...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Tom rated it liked it

I listened to this one. It was read by Craig Wasson who did a fine job. I must say though his Sadie voice was creepy and weirded me out quite a bit. Especially the parts having to do with "pound cake", AKA the not subtle in any sense sexual innuendo. Anywho I thought the story was ok. It seemed like the entire time he was writing it, Stevie was picturing it as a movie.

The middle was really very draggy. I enjoy me some pacing and can easily be hooked with even the faintest whiff of a build up, bu ...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Sheri rated it it was amazing

Some one finally talked me into reading a Stephen King book. Horror is not a genre I read, but this book is NOT a horror novel. It is a great read and one that will stay with me for a long time. A fantastic story and this one is a page turner! It's hard to describe it. it's part love story, part historical fiction, with a touch of time travel. It is very well researched and well written. It does have some swearing which for me, which I don't care for, but in this book it was pretty easy to skip ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Squire rated it liked it

Shelves: stephen-king

Who hasn't thought about what event you would change if you could go back in time, knowing what you know now? That's the premise of 11/22/63: Jake Epping, a high school English teacher discovers a portal back to 1958 and goes back with the intent of preventing the JFK assaination.

I wish to say upfront that King is one of my favorite authors; I have read him since 1981 when I picked up The Shining (my first and still favorite King read). Also, that I was in Dallas for his book signing where I im Who hasn't thought about what event you would change if you could go back in time, knowing what you know now? That's the premise of 11/22/63: Jake Epping, a high school English teacher discovers a portal back to 1958 and goes back with the intent of preventing the JFK assaination.

I wish to say upfront that King is one of my favorite authors; I have read him since 1981 when I picked up The Shining (my first and still favorite King read). Also, that I was in Dallas for his book signing where I immersed myself for three days in the history of Dealy Plaza and the JFK assaination. So it is with great sadness that i must say 11/22/63 is a BIG missed opportunity for King.

The biggest problem with this massive tome (849 pages) is that the central story gets taken over by one of the book's subplots. Jake is going to have to spend 4+ years in the past just to get to 1963, so he is going to have to interact with people from then. He gets a job as a teacher and starts a romance with Sadie, the school's librarian. This romance, and the ensuing events, form the majority of the book--and quite frankly is the most intersting part of it. The supposed focus of the book, the JFK assassination, is relegated to simply doing research and eavesdropping on the Oswalds. Not particulary interesting and quite uninspired.

There is a point in the eavesdropping where that part of the story shows promise: Marina Oswald surpises Jake by knocking on the door of his apartment and asking for a cup of milk(? sugar? I really don't remember). Since the story's lifeblood depends on such personal interaction, this was quite exciting--for all of three lines. Jake is dumfounded and simply gives her what she asks for and lets her leave. Oh well.

Jake and Sadie are well-drawn characters and their romance is quite affecting (even though the ending is a little creepy--but this is a KING book, after all.); but it throws the focus and the book off it's track.

Then there's JIMLA--one of those mysterious nonsensical words that haunt our protagonist with it unfathomibility. It also turns out to be ineffective and disappointing. I grew up believing all words I didn't know were anagrams for something sinister, thanks to King's brilliant REDRUM from The Shining.

The imagined aftermath of JFK's survival is equally disappointing: cliched and derivative--it's been done before and done better.

The frantic race to get to Dealy Plaza in time tot prevent the assination is well-written and quite exciting and suspenseful. It's just that first 700 pages were a tough slog.

Half of this book is great, half, not so much; but still, half-a-book is still only half-a-book. My rating relects that, plus an extra half-star because, well, it's Stephen King! ...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Randy Johnson rated it it was amazing

I greatly enjoyed reading this book! I can't lie and say I didn't have any preconceived notions that this story would be typical King because I did. With exception to the time travel aspect, this was a great thriller/mystery/romance. The story really hit close to home as I'm from the area and time that this is written around. Kind of gives a "warm-fuzzy" that a writer such as King wrote it! ...more

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