11/22/63 - Stephen King

11/22/63

By Stephen King

  • Release Date: 2011-11-08
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 8,951 Ratings

Description

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND MODERN CLASSIC FROM MASTER STORYTELLER STEPHEN KING

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
NAMED ONE OF THE 50 BEST THRILLER BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY BY THE NEW YORK TIMES
WINNER OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? In this brilliantly conceived tour de force, Stephen King—who has absorbed the social, political, and popular culture of his generation more imaginatively and thoroughly than any other writer—takes readers on an incredible journey into the past and the possibility of altering it.

It begins with Jake Epping, a thirty-five-year-old English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, whose life is upended when his friend Al, who owns the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to the past, a particular day in 1958. And the dying Al enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination.

So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson, in the world of Ike and JFK and Elvis, of big American cars and sock hops and cigarette smoke everywhere and to the small town of Jodie, Texas, where Jake falls dangerously in love. Every turn leads eventually to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and to Dallas, where the past becomes heart-stoppingly suspenseful, and where history might not be history anymore. Time-travel has never been so believable. Or so terrifying.

Reviews

  • My Intro to Stephen King: Chose His Most Human Novel

    5
    By lorenzo.gary
    Jake Epping discovers a portal that transports him to 1958. His mission is to spend five years in the past to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But changing the past proves far more difficult than simply knowing the future. As someone returning to reading after more than a decade, an 825-page novel felt intimidating. Instead, *11/22/63* became one of the easiest books to get lost in. What begins as a mission to change history gradually becomes a deeply human story about love, sacrifice, regret, and the lives we build when we least expect them. What I loved most about the novel was Jake Epping. He isn't just trying to save a president… he's living an entirely new life. Along the way, he meets a cast of memorable characters whose lives intertwine in ways that feel worthy of an Oliver Stone film, each one adding another layer to an already rich world. Without spoiling anything, Sadie Dunhill's introduction transforms the novel into something much larger than a historical thriller. Her relationship with Jake became the emotional anchor of the story and one of the biggest reasons I immediately picked up another Stephen King novel after finishing this one. Stephen King balances history, suspense, romance, and science fiction with remarkable confidence. Themes of an obdurate past that fights back, fate versus free will, and time's resistance to love flow beautifully, violently, and poetically throughout. The idea that history actively resists being changed is one of the most fascinating concepts I've encountered in fiction, and King executes it in endlessly creative ways. It's difficult for me to point to any major flaws. Some readers may find the pacing deliberate, but I thought every side-step, detour, etc. enriched Jake's journey and made the emotional payoff that much stronger. Favorite Aspect: Watching the obdurate past fight back in increasingly unexpected ways. Sometimes its resistance was as subtle as a broken-down car or an inconvenient coincidence; other times it caught me off guard and left my jaw on the floor. Recommended For: readers interested in the 1950s and 1960s through a darker lens, time-travel enthusiasts, fans of slow-burn, character-driven stories, and anyone looking for a novel that blends history, suspense, romance, and emotional depth. I started this book hoping to rediscover my love of reading… I finished it with a new favorite author!
  • Fantastic!

    5
    By Nrolvr
    Different than other King novels, but with his amazing writing intact! I had tears, shivers, and gasps. ❤️
  • Much more than a time traveler story

    5
    By Howdyer
    I was very surprised that this was much more than a regular time traveler story. The characters were so real that I became hooked. I slowed down my reading with 1/3 left in the book to savor the story. Thanks Stephen King for a memorable book that I’ll be thinking about for a long while.
  • Amazing

    5
    By Haynicole95
    This has to be one of the best books I have ever read! It’s gonna be hard to live up to this as I continue reading
  • Too Many Notes

    4
    By DanCip
    Overwhelmed by the volume, underwhelmed by the ending.
  • The best

    5
    By Every bad nickname taken
    This is probably my favorite book written by Stephen King along with a few others lol. Stephen King is an amazing author and never disappoints, particularly in this book. Bravo!
  • R Wellington

    3
    By rwellington
    I’m upset, I stopped listening to this book now it’s not audible ugh
  • King’s best work

    5
    By Dawgfan442
    Outstanding piece of literature, now one of my favorite books. Must read
  • I had a Sunday planned…

    5
    By Inked Beastie
    75° on a Sunday, and the county fair is on its last day… less than a block away. I had an entire day planned, until the last paragraph of chapter 3. Now I’m stuck in grubby sweats, and reading a book on my phone. Stephen King really threw me on this one, and I’m so excited to finish this book. RIP to the corn dogs, and fair. Perhaps I’ll come up for air around 8, when the fair lights come on.
  • My favorite King novel

    5
    By Kevin Hoctor
    I’ve enjoyed many of Mr. King’s works, but some are a slog to get through. This one was hard to put down, but I also didn’t want to rush through it. The timing (no pun intended) and pace of this book are nearly flawless. I highly recommend this novel.