Another Good Story That Just Kind of Ends

This is a really good story line, and I enjoyed the performance as well, but as with many of Mr. King's epic stories, the ending is an odd choice. It is not as odd an ending as Under the Dome (that one still sticks in my head as just strange), and I like the sentiment of the ending, but something about it just doesn't feel like it went with the story.

The reader did an excellent job with his dramatization of the story. I listened to this commuting to and from work and while the story is a bit daunting (in length and the scope) I enjoyed it overall.

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3 people found this helpful

My First Review on my First Stephen King Book

I am a long time reader (and occasional listener) of the fantasy genre in particular, but this summer I was recommended this audiobook when I said I was looking for something a little different. I am so glad I listened to that recommendation! I found 11.22.63 to be a very honest depiction of human nature, touching on love, perseverance, hatred, bravery, depression, and so much more.

At its most basic level, this book is a time-travel story. But it also has a bit of a thriller feel at times, a definite tug of romance, some science-fiction elements thrown onto a backdrop of historical fiction, and in the background lurks the shadow of horror. Despite all of these elements spanning multiple genres, Stephen King manages to blend them together effortlessly without the story feeling clashy or tacky. The horror is not the typical type I would associate with Stephen King (having never read any of his works before), stuff of nightmarish monsters devouring kids, or the silhouettes of bare tree branches in front of a huge, silver full moon. Instead, it's the harrowing horror of a more human sort, the characters pushing up against an unknown force trying to keep them from their goals, combined with the feelings of dread at imagining what might happen if they should fail, or worse, succeed. King also manages to make the reader uneasy about a city or a town, as though they were creatures unto themselves with distinct personalities and wants of their own.

The historical setting of the late fifties and early sixties is a testament to the heavy amount of research that went into this story. The places and people are diverse and never sway from the context of the times. It feels almost nostalgic in some places, with classic cars and music, and the rich tastes of honest food, though King is careful to take the time to point out the horrible realities of those time, such as the brutalities of racism and sexism that were starkly apparent, and the remorseless acts of people who just must be evil to the core. These two polar opposites are both very important to the nature of the story and how it affects the main character's determination and hope for, literally, the future.

The main character, Jake, is an average man with simple motivations who is thrust into this world by an acquaintance who got in too deep. Despite his own shortcomings, Jake means to do what is right through the whole story. If he must kill a man, he must first know with certainty that they're a man that needs killing. This multifaceted character is brought to life by the narration of Craig Wasson, who doesn't simply read the book, but tells the tale as though it were his own. He laughs at his own audacity and chokes up at the remembrance of pain. He accurately portrays the various accents of the times, and varies his voice passing well between characters. As one who is a stranger to genres outside of fantasy when it comes to reading, and who is very picky about narrators in audiobooks, I have only Craig Wasson to thank for making this journey so thoroughly enjoyable.

I wrote this review with prompting for the #audible1 contest, but it was one that I was meaning to write anyway. 11.22.63 is the first individual story that made me want to blog about it, so it's fitting that I should write my first real review on it. I highly recommend this story to anyone that isn't afraid of grittier stories of human struggle. It's a mature read with mature themes, but at the same time it's a beautiful story of love and nostalgia and doing the right thing. I have no problem with books that people would describe as "draggy" or "long", but about 1/3 of the way through this book I thought I was nearly at the end. Then I looked at how many hours of Wasson's narration I had left and only grinned. There are some definite draggy parts of that story, but the way they are told, with hope and dread mixed into the backdrop of what's actually happening made the book stay interesting despite them. I often think that this isn't a story about an event, but a story about a life.

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1 person found this helpful

amazing book, not what I expected.

plot twists, not at all what I expected from SK. highly recommend this audio book!

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good book!

it was a good story! very good narration. this book keep me hooked from the beginning all the way to the end.

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Awesome!

What a great book! I am a Stephen King fan & a time travel fan. This book blends the history of JFK and the people who were or might be there and kept me listening for the next moment!
The narration was so fun! The different voices & accents made the story even more interesting.
I highly recommend this book. Whether you decide to read it yourself or use an audible version, it's a great story.
Enjoy!

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I enjoyed it.

Good story. Not familiar with the history other than the Oliver Stone film as well, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Craig Wasson was a great reader too.

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I loved every second of this

Such a great story! I didn’t want to stop listening, and was sad that it was over.

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Whoa!!! Standing ovation!

Rich, heavily developed and researched with an incredible storyline! I felt I was a part of the story. The reader Craig Wasson does such an amazing job readying the story. His voice, emotion, accents for the different characters is absolutely wonderful. I didn’t know much about the Kennedy assassination but wow has it opened my eyes.

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Best book ever!

I’m just so amazed by this novel- I hadn’t read any of King’s work, but the book title intrigued me, and one of his novels was on my reading challenge for 2023. I would say it’s absolutely the best novel I’ve read in this 21st century, as well as the most unforgettable. Thank you, Stephen King!

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Did not disappoint!

What a story teller, it was great! Craig Wasson's voices brought it to life.

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