An excellent novel by the master story teller, Stephen King. Jake Epping, aka George Amerson, is chosen, after much convincing, to enter into a time portal and return to the late 1950s where he is to embed himself into (eventually) Texas society and prevent, in some manner, the assassination of John F. Kennedy. By doing so he can prevent LBJ’s escalation of the war n Vietnam and other nasty developments. He can return to the present whenever he wants (2011) but if he does and then returns to the past it creates a complete reset of events and undoes everything he might have done. He experiments with a couple of smaller events he knows about from newspaper accounts to make sure it works. He also falls in love with a local school librarian which will complicate the plot (as always, it seems), and she becomes aware of his true identity and becomes involved in his successful efforts. After returning to his present he sees the so-called butterfly effect which sets up a truly dramatic closure.

Stephen King’s novels are long in part because he does such an excellent job of plot and character development and this is no exception. I repeatedly could not wait to see how this or that particular plot line played out. I was sad where I was supposed to be. Happy where I was supposed to be. Tense where I was supposed to be. It was all there. An excellent read indeed. ( )

Uncle Stevie didn't disappoint this Constant Reader. I really wasn't expecting much when I started the novel; I just wanted a good story. Something unique, which I got...in spades. People hear "Stephen King" and automatically think "horror". He's so much more, always has been. But for me, this book was more horrific than Salem's Lot, or Cujo, etc. Why? Because he didn't hold back when describing his idea what would happen when you mess with time. We've all seen the movies/TV shows where the characters travel back in time, and if they step on a butterfly, they cease to exist in the modern world.

This story was more of a focus on humanity, morality and the butterfly effect. What would you do if you could travel back in time? Who would you save? How would you make those choices? Could you live with them?

I won't go into details about the book itself, too many of the other several thousand reviews have done that. I will say, its worth the read. And if you've never read Stephen King before because you don't like horror, then this book would be, in my opinion, a great introduction to one of the most (if not the most) masterful story tellers of our time. Don't let who the author is or the size of the book scare you off, sit back, and enjoy the ride. ( )

Enjoyable yarn. In typical Stephen King fashion, he shows that you can never really undo your past mistakes, and you can't go home again. Not to spoil anything, but there is a nifty crossover with at least one of his earlier works.

I noticed that he violates some of the rules he set forth in "On Writing"--he describes some of his characters' physical traits in detail, for example. And, If he hadn't written an original draft back in the 1970s or so, I would wonder if he was capitalizing on the recent trend of alternative-U.S.-history literature--for example, Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" and Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America." But as one reviewer points out, we don't find out what happens in the alternative universe U.S.A. until the last 100 pages or so.

I cannot give it 4 stars, because I'm nitpicky about details. (1) He misspells Caroline Kennedy's name. (2) He misspells "Killeen." (3) He repeatedly refers to the Dallas area as "Central Texas." A Wikipedia search would have set him straight on that one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Texas (saved at http://tinyurl.com/6ulbf6y). Looking at a Texas map, I can understand why a reasonable person would so err, but one doesn't have to spend much time in Texas to learn that for some reason we all consider the Panhandle WEST Texas, not NORTH Texas. I am aware of no longtime Texans who consider Dallas to be "Central Texas." In fact, "real" central Texans would bristle at the notion! ( )

King's stories are usually too far off my scale. I don't even pick them up. But this one was about time travel and Kennedy's assassination so I decided to try it out. I was SO into this book. Too heavy to take to bed, I had to sit up into the wee small hours for a few nights. Even carrying it from one room to the other hurt my hands. Great read. ( )

this book was amazing. such a great read and probably one of the best endings that kind has ever written so far. i dont know what else to say that hasn't been said before but the whole time i was enjoying the book ( )

Clairement un de ses meilleurs livres! ( )

✨ ( )

Stephen King has been one of my favourite writers for some time now, ever since I started reading seriously i guess. So when I, a history student, saw he wrote a book about stopping the JFK assassination, I knew I had to read it. It would be an understatement to say I loved it.

One of the things I always liked about Stephen King is how he reuses certain phrases, having the meaning of the phrase build up. I first noticed how often he does this in The Dark Tower, but this book is just full of it. He even justifies this by saying that "the past harmonises". Needless to say, one of these phrases almost had me in tears, it was just perfect.
There's also another phrase I'd like to talk about, namely this one: "The past is obdurate." It's how I've seen the past for the past (no pun intended) few years now. Not as in the book, that the past is hard to change, more that the past doesn't want to give away what happened. The hardest part about studying history is putting yourself in the mindset of the time you are studying. Sure, anyone can list up the events leading up to World War One, but understanding what goes through the minds of the people involved is a difficult task.
Nevertheless, I believe Stephen King succeeded in creating a pretty accurate image of life in the late fifties and early sixties. What really surprised me was how he depicted the Cuban missile crisis and its effect on the psyche of the average person in Dallas. Even the way Dallas was portrayed felt like Stephen King grew up there himself.
And then there is his depiction of Lee Harvey Oswald. Obviously Stephen King spent so long reading up on everything there is to find around this man and his role in the assassination of JFK, because the personality he constructs for Oswald is waterproof. There's no way to know for sure what went through Oswald's head the moment he shot Kennedy, or even in the years beforehand, but the narrative King constructed seems very logical, even like it is the only possible mentality Oswald could have had.
That brings me to the beautiful way King worked in the dozens, if not hundreds, of conspiracy theories. King used the conspiracies as a form of tension, having the main character try and figure out is Oswald was a lone shooter or not.
I could keep writing on about this book for hours upon hours probably; I haven't even said anything about the main character at all, or the beautiful romance contained inside the story. Suffice to say, this is a book I will definitely revisit in some time. I cannot recommend this book enough. ( )

"The Past is obdurate. It doesn't want to be changed."

What an amazing story. The ultimate question - what would have happened if JFK had not been assassinated. It's mind bending to even wonder all the differences. But even more fascinating is the time in which it was and how it was so different to now.

The book was all consuming, one that I enjoyed both via audio book (which I recommend, although 30 discs is a bit daunting) and also through the hard copy. It's a long story but one well worth every page as you stumble your way through Stephen King's always amazing details and world.

My favorite part, though, was the little peak into Derry - where we see the kids from [b:It|830502|It|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334416842s/830502.jpg|150259] and peak into their town. It was wonderful to see them again. ( )

9/10
I think some judicious editing would have helped, but King is a master storyteller and this is one heck of a story. Puzzling, scary, thought-provoking, funny, sad, lovely--it is all those things and more. ( )

My first Stephen King Novel and my last. This type of book is not for me. I was really looking forward to this story as I was really taken by the premise of this story because the Kennedy Assassination has always interested me but sadly after about 200 pages of this story found out this is just not for me and was not the story I had thought I was going to read.

I really felt this book would have benefited with being about 40% shorter as it is much too long and the story seemed to ramble on and on and I found myself watching the page count and when that happens its time to bail out as I have lost interest. This book did not keep me engaged and I felt the characters were flat and therefore I did not finish this novel as I have way too many books on my bookshelves that I would enjoy more. ( )

Highly prolific author Stephen King has long been known as a master of the horror genre, but lately he's been branching out a bit beyond his typical foundations. With 11/22/63, he takes a swing at science fiction (sort of) and alternate history, with a tale about time-travel, and the attempt to prevent John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas. So how does this story hold up against King's other works? Can his writing satisfy devoted science fiction fans, as well as the casual reader?

Synopsis for 11/22/63:

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

There's no doubting Stephen King's skill with the written word. He's written so many novels that it's nearly impossible to keep up with them all. He truly is a master author, and it shows in 11/22/63. Immediately gripping and intriguing, the story pulls the reader in and almost never lets go. King transports his readers back to 1958, to an America that was much more trusting--whether people were worthy of that trust or not. He brings the late 50's and early 60's back to life in a way that's both believable and realistic. King doesn't polish the people or settings to make them look like they were the greatest years of America; instead, he faithfully renders the characters, the scenes, and the dialogue to make it clear that Dallas in 1960 was just as grimy, cluttered, and broken as big cities are in modern times--only the cast was different. The differences in the sexes are portrayed as they were--skewed toward men, and the court of public opinion clearly on the side of propriety. Police were much more likely to take someone at their word, and King leaves no stone unturned when describing the setting. It's as if he personally lived across the street from Lee Harvey Oswald during those years, watching from a window, peeking into the life of a deeply disturbed man. The research that King must have done for this novel clearly shows, as the movements of Oswald, his wife, and his associates are described in incredible detail.

The characters in 11/22/63 are as equally well-developed as the settings. Jake Epping--the main character--is likable, empathetic, and most of all, genuine. Throughout the novel, he's forced to employ methods he'd rather not, but in his mission to save JFK's life, he must come to terms with the idea that the past doesn't want to be changed--despite his good intentions. He falls in love with a woman from the 60's, Sadie Dunhill, who's had her own troubled past, and is believably broken by her experiences. By the end of the novel, readers will care as much about these characters as they do about their own family. Even Lee Harvey Oswald is portrayed so believably, it's difficult to imagine that King didn't know him personally. The novel is filled with characters that leap right off the page and into the reader's mind, feeling more like real people rendered into words, rather than the creation of the author. It's quite an accomplishment, and one that's rarely done better than Stephen King has done here.

The dialogue is equally believable. Terms from the 60's, and terms from the 00's mix and weave together, and Epping is called out on his strange choice of words from time to time. Even local dialects are described perfectly as Jake makes his way around the country, meeting people from all over. Most impressive is a telephone conversation with JFK, in which the President's Boston accent and cadence is captured perfectly; it's likely to give readers' a chill.

11/22/63 is at heart a time-travel story, and the entire series of events revolves around that time-travel--yet the novel doesn't really feel like a science fiction book. Part of this is the fact that King doesn't try to unravel the mysteries behind the 'rabbit-hole' (except perhaps a tiny bit near the end), instead letting the readers' imagination run wild and speculate for themselves. The pure emotion behind Epping's desire to save JFK is what drives the story, and the surprises he finds when he gets where he's going--like Sadie Dunhill--are what make the journey worth taking. Jake finds himself with a lot of time to kill--years, essentially. Somehow, he not only successfully passes the time, but learns and grows from it. By the end, it's clear that the time-travel involved in 11/22/63 has its consequences, and that it's up to Jake to choose, but the choice becomes increasingly difficult for him to make--and for readers to agree or disagree with.

This novel by Stephen King is most certainly a departure for the author, and one that readers should invest their time in. Yes, it's a long novel--perhaps too long, by far--but it's a fantastic read. The second-half in particular is intense, and intensely enjoyable. Perhaps the only criticism is that the length of the book sometimes feels unnecessary. At over 800 pages, it's a staggering amount of material to wade through, even with as well as King has written it. There are sections that feel rather drawn-out, but perhaps that's the point; readers feel the time along with Jake Epping, and make that journey with him--in the form of pages, rather than the years Epping himself has to struggle through. Still, a casual read it is not--be prepared to devote significant time to reading 11/22/63. It's well worth the read, however, and will change your mind about a great many things. Even those who aren't fans of Stephen King should pick this one up--it's very likely to surprise them. ( )

i really liked the premise, but overall i found the writing pretty so-so, and the threads a bit sloppy. ( )

Only my 3rd SK, as I mistakenly thought he only did horror, which isn’t my thing at all. This was just excellent. I enjoyed the whole book, although all the way through at the back of my mind was “how on earth is he going to end this” ? Well, he did in a most satisfying way. Highly recommend. ( )

***NO SPOILERS***

I haven’t read enough Stephen King books to say whether 11/22/63 is one of his best, but I can say it’s one of the best fiction books I’ve read. The title and cover, with its photo of John and Jackie Kennedy, make the story’s premise obvious, but it’s much more than meets the eye. Within these pages is some fantasy or sci-fi (or both? It’s hard to decide); the expected history; lots of realism; and a heavy helping of romance. What’s not here, though, is horror. This isn’t classic Stephen King.

Good-guy protagonist Jake Epping, lovable from the start, travels back in time to change the course of history in a big way. It’s hardly a straightforward task. He spends his days plotting, surviving, adjusting to life decades before he was born, and occasionally fretting over the butterfly effect.

Although this is a time-travel novel, that fantastical element is practically a footnote. This isn’t about the rabbit hole itself, where it came from, why it exists to begin with. Jake Epping steps through it to interact with people in another time and blend into life in that time—and what a marvelous job King did with that. This novel is a rabbit hole in itself, completely transportive to the years 1958-1963. What hooked me for all 849 pages, though, were King’s lovingly drawn characters. I put Jake, Sadie, and Deke up there with Boris, Theo, and Hobie from [b:The Goldfinch|17333223|The Goldfinch|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378710146l/17333223._SY75_.jpg|24065147]; Scout and Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird; Jane and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. What would 11/22/63 be without such real-seeming characters to make what happens happen? Just a shell of a story theorizing about an alternative history.

A lover of realistic fiction, I was happy to see so much realism. I never expected King to go deep, displaying an understanding of psychology in portraying such heartbreak; ethical struggles; and some frank, poignant scenes. Aside from that, as is typical of a Stephen King novel, 11/22/63 is exciting, dark, and dramatic. It has many moving parts, but King organized it all with great care. Each plot point is smart and makes sense. As long as this novel is, it’s tight.

I also got the sense that he didn’t want this one to be easily categorized. It dips its toe into so many genres it almost defies summing up. Yes, this really is much more than a simple time-travel novel. I was seeking a highly rated escapist read, and I couldn’t have chosen better. I read this early in 2017 but expect it’ll be my top fiction read of the year. ( )

I made it halfway through and then couldn't finish. Tooooooooooo long, dude!

Wow, what a wonderful book! I got hooked immediately and couldn't/wouldn't stop reading. King makes the seemingly impossible seem possible. Great story, great writing, great everything....!! ( )

I listened to the audiobook and was enthralled from the opening moment to the last. I couldn't stop listening. I haven't felt such enjoyment of a Stephen King book since I first read him back in the 70s. This book has made me a Stephen King fan all over again. ( )

Probably my least favorite King book. What I did like was how he ran into characters from other books. But the whole Kennedy/Oswald thing just didnt work for me. ( )

I had a few quibbles along the way, which I'd stand by, but I was also being deliberately hard on Stephen King because this was reviewed as his best book in a decade. I enjoyed this long book, and realized that I often rush more to read long books than I do short ones, which was certainly the case here. This was definitely a 4 , which I'll call a 5 without feeling too generous. ( )

Very good, but did it have to be this long? It felt like reading 5 books. Nice background and alternative what-if future glimpse. Worthwhile. ( )

King does a great job blending historical fiction and sci-fi. Jake Epping is a teacher living in 2011 who gets the chance to go back in time to try and stop Lee Harvey Oswald. He starts his journey in 1958, so he has some time to wait while he figures out the best way to deal with Oswald. His time is spent researching Oswald's movements, substitute teaching, and falling in love. Jake rapidly learns that the past does not what to change and it fights back, sometimes violently. ( )

Clever plot, although a bit boring around the middle. Great book. Well done, Stephen King. ( )

You know Mr King, I'm not American but I'm getting tired of hearing about your politics in your books. Republicans and white people are always bad and Democrats and black people are always good and can't do anything wrong. Just stop with it, please, and go marry Hillary Clinton because this is the second book I've read in the last couple of months in which you glorify her...are you sure she is a good person? How is integration of all cultures and all this DEI crap working out, what do you think Mr King? This book was also too long, in the end I skipped over paragraphs just to finish it. I really like the books in which you don't mention any politics. ( )

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Mr. King had a way of bringing the past to life, handling topics of history, science-fiction, and romance all with ease. I recommend this especially to those who have had difficulty with his books in the past. I was not a huge fan of the Dark Tower series, though I read it to completion. I loved Misery and the Shining, but I truly consider this Mr. King's masterwork. ( )