Customer Reviews

11.22.63

5 star:		(368)
4 star:		(102)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Where does the time go? After finishing this book I checked the internet to find out when I first discovered, and fell in love with, the books of Stephen King. The first one I read was Salems Lot, a paperback I bought using a gift voucher I had been given for a present. I was shocked when I realised that this would have happened over thirty five years ago. I loved Salems Lot and I loved the books that followed it - The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone and a stunning short story collection called Night Shift. The publication of a new Stephen King book became a red letter day and I would always ensure that I would purchase my copy the same day that it hit the shelves. Over the years though, the standard of Stephen King's books dipped a little. Whilst they were nearly always good, and some were excellent, none ever seemed quite as good as his earlier masterpieces. I assumed that I would never read a Stephen King book that would better The Shining or The Stand. But then I read 11:22:63.

11:22:63 not only marks the return of Stephen King to his brilliant best, but it is also quite possibly his finest ever novel. Everything about it is spot on. The characters are excellent, but this is only as I expected, as I have always thought that characterisation was one of King's greatest strengths. In his latest book the main character is Jake Epping/George Amberson and he is the archetypal Stephen King "ordinary Joe", a man unwittingly carried along a path on which he has to take decisive actions for the ultimate good of the human race. The story, about travelling back in time to change the future, is superb. Only King at his best could make such an implausible plotline as this seem not only plausible, but utterly believable. Occasionally Stephen King has spoilt a very good book by providing us with a weak ending; this is certainly not the case with 11:22:63 because all the strands of the plot are tied up in an extremely satisfying manner. King even gives us an absolutely sublime final page, one which left me with a massive lump in my throat. 11:22:63 is a remarkable book.

Reading 11:22:63 gave me a buzz of excitement reminiscent of the buzz I used to feel when reading a Stephen King book a long time ago. It is almost like I had located a portal that had enabled me to travel thirty five years back in time...

In the last few years it almost seems to have become a tradition that we get a new Stephen King book just before Christmas and the much anticipated 11/22/63 is likely to keep many engaged during the festivities this year. It was certainly a book I found hard to put down and which took priority over such mundane activities as eating and sleeping!

Yet again the author has managed to come up with a completely different scenario to entertain his readers. A time portal is opened which comes out to a time slot in 1958. Once the other side of the portal there is an opportunity to change the course of events so that history is altered, either in a small way or on an international scale. The adventure becomes a mission to prevent the assassination of JFK in 1963 - hence the title of the book. This is somewhat complicated by Jake, the time traveler's, ambition to additionally change other aspects of the past. The question is can the past be changed in a major way like this, or it the tendency for it to fall back into its original shape.

This book works on many levels. Stephen King deals with the 53 year time regression extremely well and we are transported into a world where you could be in a different universe, such have been the social and technological changes subsequently. Then there is the consideration of the Oswald controversy - was he working alone or are the conspiracy theorists right? Most of all this works as a joined up story with believable people who the reader comes to care about and wants to keep reading about.

I am a self confessed Stephen King fan and have read all of his work, but I imagine this fascinating tale will appeal to and be enjoyed by most readers. Highly Recommended!

I have read probably all of SK's novels - some fantastic (like the Dark Tower series and The Talisman) and some more mediocre . I am not a fan of short stories and if you also like an 'epic' tale - this is one for you.

He is back to his old form to my mind - as another reviewer put it, it was like the author gave you a 'handshake and a hug' and you were off an a brilliant adventure. I couldn't put the book down - meant to take it away on holiday but made the mistake of reading the first few pages - now I will have to find something else.

Great story and characters and would make a great movie - if they spend some money on it and don't turn it into a low budget 'made for tv' mini series which never works on SK's books.

A wonderful book with a heart wrenching ending.

This is by far, the best Stephen King book I have read in a long time and I love all of his books! The basic premise: if you could, would you go back in time to prevent the assassination of JFK? This is surely something in different forms, we have all considered.(mine would be Hitler) Who wouldn't time travel given the opportunity? However, this thought provoking and frankly beautifully written book skilfully explore the pitfalls and complications of time travel. The main character, Jake, is likeable and keen to do the right thing. Does he succeed in his mission? I'm not telling you, but you will laugh and cry as you travel back to 1958 with Jake.

Just a little sideline- I loved the reference to another of King's masterpieces, "It" and fans of King will easily spot this.

Overall, simply wonderful, I am so miserable now I have finished this book as nothing else I have subsequently picked up is as good!

One thing that I have to say about 11.22.63 is that I absolutely did not want to put it down! I was absolutely engrossed and read it in about a week, and kept picking it up whenever I had a free moment. Of course, because it's Stephen King you always have the feeling that something bad is looming on the horizon, which is true, but it's one element that keeps you reading. I genuinely wanted to know whether Jake/George would succeed in his mission to change the world when facing a past that tries it's hardest not to be changed, but also if he'll live happily ever after when he falls in love.
Before reading this I'd only read one other Stephen King book before and that was Carrie which I thought was brilliantly written, but after reading this I'm keen to read more of his works. I would highly, highly recommend this book, it was a perfect mix for me of historical fiction, going back to Fifties America (one has to remember that it IS fiction!), science fiction with the main character going back in time "through the rabbit hole", and romance with the character Sadie.
If you're looking for a page turner, read this book! Lastly, I respectfully disagree with some people who thought the ending anti-climatic, I thought it was beautifully written, and I was crying on the last page. If I wasn't a fan of Stephen King before, I definitely am now.

King's expertise makes you wish that the story would never end. I'm familiar with his style and still he manages to keep me on the edge of my seat.

Although I predicted much of the narrative, those unaccustomed to King's "take-no-prisoners" approach to telling a tale might not. Even if you're the sort of person who can always predict the last scene of the movie, so to speak, there's a lot more to this book than a beginning, middle and end. King's characters were vivid and so realistically composed that it felt like they could up and walk right out of the pages. Some of them, like the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald, were drawn from life so perhaps that was to be expected. Others, however, such as the first-person protagonist, Jake, were equally real to me.

As a life-long inhabitant of Wales, my knowledge of the Kennedy assassination was pretty much limited to a video I was shown in History in year nine. Oh, and I think I saw a documentary on The Discovery Channel once. I'm now in danger of mistaking King's fictionalised history for reality, but still, I feel like I learned a lot from 11/22/63! Sure, I learned about some key dates and figures in American history, but more importantly I learned something about writing. King, in pretty much all of his works, teaches prospective writers that there's one key thing you have to do to your protagonists in order to make them someone readers want to read about. You have to torture them.

You have to throw hurdle after hurdle in their path and sometimes they have to stumble at them. But then, scraped knees and all, they've gotta keep an running. Sucks for them, eh?

My love for King is obdurate (book-related joke...), so he gets five stars from me!

Finished reading this book last night,and today I
am left feeling empty.For the past two to three
weeks I have been totally absorbed in this book.
To quote a saying used repeatedly on moronic reality
shows "the journey" has been amazing.I could almost
feel as if I was living in that era.I only started
reading King about ten years ago with The Dark Tower
series,and have been almost obsessed with his books
since then.The guy is a genius and this book must
rate as one of his best,although with over 50 novels
to choose from everyone will have their own favourite.
An excellent read!!!

I've heard that Stephen King is an amazing author and never doubted anybody's word. However, I've never liked reading anything too scary so this is the first Stephen King book I've had the pleasure of reading.

Ultimately, 11.22.63 is incredible! Without a doubt, it's the best book I've read all year. Even if you aren't usually a fan of Stephen King, or think he can only write Horrors and Thrillers, I urge you to try it. I wasn't disappointed!

There are moments of suspense and there are times where you can 'sense' a darker atmosphere, but only where it's intended and necessary. I got so absorbed in the book that I did feel a little frightened at certain points, but only because I was so in-tune with the character, thanks to some fantastic writing. This definitely isn't a scary/gory/Horror/Thriller story - so don't be afraid to try it if, like me, you're a little unsure. I assure you, the writing is amazing, the plot's ingenious and all the little twists and turns mean it's virtually impossible to put down right from the start.

If you do decide to read this based on my recommendation, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Have fun :)

I'm a massive Stephen King fan and would probably give him five stars if he wrote the blurb on loo roll wrappers but 11.22.63 is amazing. Beautifully written, the story weaves itself towards its climax and pulls the reader along for the ride. The characters are believable and sympathetic and Jake's dilemma is a heart-wrenching one. You cannot avoid asking yourself what you would do in his shoes.

King's best books, of which this is most assuredly one, do something to me that no other writer's work can do. When I get to the half way point, I have to fight between the urge to read as fast as I can to find out what happens and my desire to slow the whole process down because I just don't want it to end. King's books make me want to stay in them forever. Of course, I can always go back and read it again but unfortunately in the real world, everytime is NOT a reset!

Loved this, buy it, read it, savour it - I'm jealous! Keep it up my man!

Wow, I don't even know what to write. Despite it's length I did not want this book to ever end. Stephen King is one of the most talented authors I've ever read but with this offering he has outdone himself. I don't need to go through the story line. It's a historical masterpiece - I knew almost nothing of the JFK shooting prior to reading this having been born 16 years after it happened but now I feel like I was there. The book is so well written it's hard to remember that it is mostly fiction! A love story, a moral dilemma and a fantastic read. Buy it!