11/22/63 (2011) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 5 stars

“ November 22nd, 1963, the day JFK was shot in Dallas Texas. Stephen King writes the what if book. What if you could go back and change the past? How would it effect the present?

Thirty-five year old English teacher, Jake Epping is told of a portal that will take him back to 1958. Al, who owns the diner where the portal is, enlists Jake to return to 1958 and change the assassination of JFK. So Jake returns to 1958 and becomes George Amberson, the man who stops the assassination of JFK.

This is my very first Stephen King novel and was suggested to me by a librarian friend. Seven hundred pages later I am hooked and will be checking out other Stephen King novels.

Jake Epping, the lead character, is an incredible character. Real, down to earth, loving, and so strong in his beliefs are words I would use to describe Jake. You could not help but totally believe that he was going back in time and trying to make life so much better for his friends and co-workers. My favorite part of this story has to be Jake, AKA George, falling in love in the past and trying to make Sadie’s life better with promises of the present (2011).

When I started this novel I was very unsure about the author and the subject. I would say sci-fi, historical, maybe a lil chic-lit (due to the romance) would describe this story. Now that I finished 11/22/63 I cannot help but keeping thinking about it and wishing there was more to come. Every chapter pulled me in deeper and deeper. Whether you are a true Stephen King fan or this is your first book of his, you will love this story. It has something for everyone.”

• Rated 5 stars

“LOVED this book (listened to it on CD rather than in paperback form). I found it to be very well written. I enjoyed the side stories - though I do understand some readers will be turned off by the fact that some of them simply were not necessary to continue the plot line. The narrator was great, though some of his accents were confusing (some characters sounded very similar, so if you aren't paying super close attention, you can mix up who is actually speaking). Highly recommend this read, even if you're not a Stephen King fan.”

• Rated 5 stars

“If you grew up in the 50's and early 60's as I did, you will feel transported back to a much simpler way of life in this masterful time travel. King makes the reader feel the mood of those days and you can relive a nostalgic time.That alone was worth the read.
The well researched story imagines what would happen if the unlikely hero were persuaded to return to the late 50's to surveil Lee Harvey Oswald in an effort to derail the Kennedy murder.In doing so, a far greater purpose may be served because the butterfly effect of history may very well prevent the Vietnam War,as well as the Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy assassinations.
But changing the past is not only difficult, it may also lead to unintended consequences of even graver significance if it is achieved. That is ultimately the conflict faced by the time traveler who may have to sacrifice the love of his life to attain his goal.Ultimately he may find that the obdurate past has too many obstacles to hurdle to a story book ending”

• Rated 1 stars

“didn't finish :(”

• Rated 4 stars

“Very different from other steven king books, and I was not a fan of the ending, but the story itself was really suspenseful and interesting.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I must admit that from time to time the book was a bit slow. The more than amazing ending & the thoughts it woke however made up for it. This book is romantic, exciting, heart racing and at the end I couldn't put it down. (The last part caused me to learn that walking & reading at the same time is somewhat a challenge).”

• Rated 5 stars

“Bloody excellent. One of his best in years and years. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“Shelly recommended”

• Rated 3 stars

“Stephen King’s long read, 11/22/63, is the writer at his best--and worst. Part-alternative history, part-fantasy, this is the story of one man's attempt to travel back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination. The provocative idea of time travel and changing the past, utilizing the string theory, is intriguing. The research layered into the story rich in details is fascinating. The characters are each fully developed as is the story line. However, in my opinion, the 750-page book goes on far longer than necessary. Winner of the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 11/22/63 was definitely worth the read.”

• Rated 5 stars

“My favourite Stephen King book. Not the usual horror genre. It's a bit out there. It's about time travel and the ramifications that changing one event in history can cause. There is a love story worked in there aswell. Gripping, edgy, interesting. Loved every minute of this massive book.”