See, it all starts like this: Jake goes to his Al's Diner to celebrate the end of a school year, and one thing leads to another, and just like that, poof!, Al has lung cancer and his dying wish is that Jake go back in time to 1958 to stop the assassination of JFK. Sounds impossible, but a handy little rabbit hole that links modern times to September of 1958 makes it all possible.And so, not to spoil anything, because it's pretty obvious, Jake goes. He tinkers, he tampers, he checks back on 2011 to see how his changes are holding up in the future. Or the present. Whatever it is. And he sets off to do just what Al asked him to: prevent the assassination of JFK on that fateful date, 11/22/63, in Dealey Plaza.
Jake lives in the Land of Ago for five years -- between the rabbit hole entrance of 1958 and that memorable date in 1963 -- and he has, to put it mildly, time to kill. This life he leads becomes as much the story of 11/22/63 as the mission to save Kennedy, as Jake finds himself pulled further and further into the obdurate past.
King explores the once-upon-a-time land of mid-century America in full detail, recounting a time in which the root beer is rootier, the milk is creamier, the people are more trusting, and the gender norms are vastly different. But 11/22/63 is about more than the past, encompassing territories that cannot be defined by any one time period: love, and loss, and fear, and knowledge, and community.
Given, too, that this is a novel of time travel, both King and Jake struggle with the implications of time travel, of how the past influences the future, how delicately the future is woven, and how important even the smallest of actions may be. These concepts, though not groundbreaking, are thought-provoking; if the butterfly effect is as real as we can imagine, 11/22/63 forces us to consider, what am I influencing right now by doing exactly what I am doing? Is there an alternate version of this reality in which I made different choices? Or took a fateful step one fateful second later, and changed the course of history?
I could go on and on about the subjects King explores here, but I won't, because unlike King, I lack the ability to ramble on in detailed sidepaths without losing my readers. And that's assuming you've even made it this far. So I'll sum up: King, in short, is a master of his craft. 11/22/63 is long, but never lengthy, detailed, but never tedious. Subplots and side stories abound, but each one is relevant in its own way.
King's clever use of foreshadowing throughout all the twists and turns of this complex story make him one sneaky bastard in my book, but this trick is successful in keeping the pages turning: each hint of what is to come, each delicate implication of how things might net out sent my heart a-palpitatin'. Maybe that's something King is known for; as this is my first King novel, I wouldn't know. But I do know that despite the 30+ hours (or 900+ pages, for those reading in print), I was sad to hear (or see, as the case may be) this one end, and I'll certainly be looking out for more King in the future.
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Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for providing a copy of this title for my review, which, by the way, includes King himself reading the afterword.
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Thoughts from other bookworms:
January Magazine
Jenn's Bookshelves
The Book Case
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11/22/63 | Stephen King, nar. Craig Wasson | Simon & Schuster Audio| 9781442344280 | $75.00 Audio CD | 30 CDs, 31 hrs | November 2011 | Buy from an independent bookstore near you
Honestly, I had vague ideas of what this novel was about, obviously telling in some way because of the infamous date. I've actually never read a Stephen King novel (gasp!) so perhaps I should attempt to do so because the premise sounds quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteBeth - It's as much about life in the 60s as it is about time travel as it is about the assassination of JFK. Despite the title, 11/22/63 is only a small piece of the book. This was my first King, too, so while I'm no expert, it was certainly a decent way to get into his writing!
ReplyDeleteYES! So excited that it came out on top for you, and that you were just as swept away as I was. I read the e-book version but would love tackle the audio version one day. I just couldn't put it down. What I loved about 11/22/63 was that it did something different than he is known to write about, namely horror. He did such a phenomenal job bringing to us the culture of this time period, and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a recent King fan (I've read 'Salem's Lot and the novella The Colorado Kid a couple of months ago), and I'm now hooked to read all of his major greats over the past 40 years he's been publishing. I'm not sure if I want to tackle Under the Dome next, The Dark Tower, Needful Things...ahh, there are so many to choose!
Natalie - I was the same. I could not stop listening. I kept thinking of places to drive so I could listen to it in the car, and when I got home from work, I'd just sit in the garage and keep listening. I think my husband and I are going to start Under the Dome for our next long road trip... it's just as daunting (lengthwise) as 11/22/63!
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it by saying the book is "long but not lengthy, detailed but not tedious". I know a lot of people are scared away by the size of the book but it's so interesting and such a quick read.
ReplyDeleteOne problem I had was Jake was a little too perfect as the teacher. Everyone loves him pretty much instantly. But honestly, that was only something that bothered me after I finished the book. I was so pulled into the story while reading I didn't even consider it at the time.
Red - That's a good point, actually, I hadn't thought of it. It's a stretch, but could that be intentional? The obdurate past trying to suck him in, perhaps, or the ongoing trust of the 60s that Epping hints at throughout? Also, King was a teacher early in his career, so I'm sure that has something to do with it, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be my very first foray into King...I'm looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI have read many King books - "It" and "The Stand" being my favorite. And some of his books were disappointments -"Cell". "The Long Walk" was down right creepy. Anyway, I have 11/22/63 on order and am looking forward to it. (I must admit - I didn't know it was a 900 page book! Too bad I don't have a vacation coming up!) Thanks for the good review, Kerry.
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