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nicole_cob_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Child death, Antisemitism, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
unboxedjack's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Murder, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Grief
sydfreeman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Gore
Moderate: Homophobia
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Title: 11/22/63
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: November 8, 2011
T H R E E • W O R D S
Imaginative • Reflective • Gripping
📖 S Y N O P S I S
On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world change. What if you could change it back?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked 11/22/63 up at a secondhand book sale awhile ago, and it had sat neglected on my shelf ever since. Why you might ask? Mostly because of it's immense size, but also because I was apprehensive of it being Stephen King (no horror books for me). When the opportunity to buddy read it arose, I knew now was the time, or it would continue to sit untouched on my shelf for years. All that to say, I am so glad I finally picked it up!
King has a gift for telling a story. His believable dialogue and signature quirky pop-culture references were a welcome addition to one of the most unique and fascinating stories I've ever read. It was certainly one of those books that made me stop mid-sentence to re-read what I'd just read and then to reflect on what was happening or what I would do in Jake/George's place.
As an avid Montreal Canadiens fan, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favourite scenes when King pokes a little fun at the expense of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "I also bet four hundred on the Canadiens to beat the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Series, and won... but that was even money. Chump change, cuz, my pal Chaz Frati would have said." I'll admit that definitely brought a smile to my face and earned King some definite bonus points in my books.
11/22/63 intertwines fact and fiction to create a fascinating look into time travel and the consequences of our choices or how life would be different if certain things didn't happen. It made me question whether if given the chance I'd alter the past knowing it could have devastating consequences on the future. It's really quite something to stop and contemplate, and I always applaud when an author is able to do so.
And then there are the characters. Jake/George is tasked with the impossible and I particularly enjoyed his thought process and journey. He also came across as being selfless in wanting to help change Harry Dunning's future rather than changing his own. Oh how my heart broke for Harry. Then there is Al who plays such a short, but important role. And of course, Sadie. She easily became my favourite character and I wanted everything to work out for her.
It is certainly evident that the time and research put into constructing this book must have been thorough and extensive. I never once expected to get a beautiful love story, and that is honestly what make this book an absolute gem!
The sole reason this isn't a five-star read is because of the length. It is extremely detailed, lagging around the midway point. I felt there were big chucks I could have skimmed and still came out the other side with the same experience and takeaway.
To anyone looking to test out Stephen King 11/22/63 is the perfect place to start. There are still some gruesome, violent, and stomach churning scenes, but they are not the focus here. Additionally, I highly recommend tandem reading a physical/digital copy along with the audio for an enhanced experience. I can definitely see myself picking this up for a re-read at some point in the future, which isn't something I can say too often.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• history buffs
• Stephen King fans
• readers wanting to test the Stephen King waters
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why."
"Life turns on a dime."
"Sometimes the things presented to us as choices aren't choices at all."
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: November 8, 2011
T H R E E • W O R D S
Imaginative • Reflective • Gripping
📖 S Y N O P S I S
On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world change. What if you could change it back?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked 11/22/63 up at a secondhand book sale awhile ago, and it had sat neglected on my shelf ever since. Why you might ask? Mostly because of it's immense size, but also because I was apprehensive of it being Stephen King (no horror books for me). When the opportunity to buddy read it arose, I knew now was the time, or it would continue to sit untouched on my shelf for years. All that to say, I am so glad I finally picked it up!
King has a gift for telling a story. His believable dialogue and signature quirky pop-culture references were a welcome addition to one of the most unique and fascinating stories I've ever read. It was certainly one of those books that made me stop mid-sentence to re-read what I'd just read and then to reflect on what was happening or what I would do in Jake/George's place.
As an avid Montreal Canadiens fan, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favourite scenes when King pokes a little fun at the expense of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "I also bet four hundred on the Canadiens to beat the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Series, and won... but that was even money. Chump change, cuz, my pal Chaz Frati would have said." I'll admit that definitely brought a smile to my face and earned King some definite bonus points in my books.
11/22/63 intertwines fact and fiction to create a fascinating look into time travel and the consequences of our choices or how life would be different if certain things didn't happen. It made me question whether if given the chance I'd alter the past knowing it could have devastating consequences on the future. It's really quite something to stop and contemplate, and I always applaud when an author is able to do so.
And then there are the characters. Jake/George is tasked with the impossible and I particularly enjoyed his thought process and journey. He also came across as being selfless in wanting to help change Harry Dunning's future rather than changing his own. Oh how my heart broke for Harry. Then there is Al who plays such a short, but important role. And of course, Sadie. She easily became my favourite character and I wanted everything to work out for her.
It is certainly evident that the time and research put into constructing this book must have been thorough and extensive. I never once expected to get a beautiful love story, and that is honestly what make this book an absolute gem!
The sole reason this isn't a five-star read is because of the length. It is extremely detailed, lagging around the midway point. I felt there were big chucks I could have skimmed and still came out the other side with the same experience and takeaway.
To anyone looking to test out Stephen King 11/22/63 is the perfect place to start. There are still some gruesome, violent, and stomach churning scenes, but they are not the focus here. Additionally, I highly recommend tandem reading a physical/digital copy along with the audio for an enhanced experience. I can definitely see myself picking this up for a re-read at some point in the future, which isn't something I can say too often.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• history buffs
• Stephen King fans
• readers wanting to test the Stephen King waters
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why."
"Life turns on a dime."
"Sometimes the things presented to us as choices aren't choices at all."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, Blood, Gore, Torture, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content, Cancer, Death of parent, and Cursing
sibling deathjustkaty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book could have been half as long and still extremely detailed. Several parts felt repetitive. I recommend watching the Hulu adaptation instead. I also didn’t care for this particular narrator. Listening to him read female character dialog was off-putting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, and Gun violence
jourdanicus's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Not my fave King so far... I struggled to successfully suspend my disbelief enough to buy in to the idea of a guy time traveling with very little preparation or good reason to do so besides that his diner-owning buddy said it had to be done. I think I would have liked this more as a love story if the parts that involved the love weren't so repetitive (I mean really? THREE fund-raising variety shows in three years in ONE small town? That seemed less realistic than time travel) and weren't left until the back half of the book.
I'm sure this is a good read for many out there, if you like a slower plot or you just wanna read anything and anything by Stephen King (there are definitely a LOT of King-isms, many I'm sure I didn't pick up on).
Oh yeah also I really could have done without the antiquated language regarding race. Too much of the context in which it was used was quite a stretch when it comes to justifying that kind of language in such a recent publication.
I'm sure this is a good read for many out there, if you like a slower plot or you just wanna read anything and anything by Stephen King (there are definitely a LOT of King-isms, many I'm sure I didn't pick up on).
Oh yeah also I really could have done without the antiquated language regarding race. Too much of the context in which it was used was quite a stretch when it comes to justifying that kind of language in such a recent publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Racism, and Car accident
michelles_book_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
⚠️ TW: Domestic violence, childhood trauma, murder, racism, racial/xenophobic slurs, alcoholism, suicide ⚠️ Firstly, WOW. This book is absolutely phenomenal and I cannot sing its praises highly enough. It is very much my favourite book so far this year and it has become one of my favourite King reads 👏🏼 11.22.63 follows Jake Epping, an ordinary English teacher in 2011, who sets out on an insane time travelling mission to prevent the JFK assassination. However, as he leaves his world and time behind for the past of 1958 he encounters challenges, people and a new life he never thought he would. This read is witty, addictive, compelling, emotional, impeccably written and just absolutely mindblowing. Stephen King's writing in this book genuinely makes you feel like you are transported back in time and are witnessing everything right alongside the characters and I loved it so much and could rave about it all day but also feel as if it's hard to review without giving spoilers. I put this book off ever since it was first published because of its size and the political and historical sides of it but honestly it was such a page turning, suspenseful and emotion packed read that I couldn't put it down. Overall, I cannot rate this book highly enough and highly recommend reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racial slurs
carolynlovesbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse
anntea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Idk if I'm rating this so high because it's actually that good or I'm just shocked I loved it so much (I'm not the biggest fan of Stephen King tbh), but either way I seriously enjoyed myself!!! It had a few problems but was ultimately a really fun read!!! Can't wait to reread this one day!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favourite things about Stephen King is that if you've loved one of his books, chances are you can open another and find not just a similar tone or atmosphere (though he does often evoke a particularly delicious tension), but a direct link as well. I haven't read IT but I took so much joy from knowing that Jake was in Derry, Maine in late summer of 1958, and even met some of the Losers' Club. Of course I immediately Googled them all and will have to read IT, despite my abject terror.
King's writing is so visceral and evocative, I could practically taste the '50s root beer and soda that was so fatty and flavourful. But it also means that no one can build horrible tension quite like him. The "obdurate past" is a character in itself and it's devastating (and often funny) to see how it trips Jake up as he tries to change the future. Much like in Pet Sematary it felt like there was a force governing these characters' lives and I was never able to quite relax.
But while I love this tension, and the sense of dread that permeates even the most peaceful moments, I also just got so invested in the life Jake creates as George Amberson. So when the pace slowed in the middle of the book, my attention never wavered. The end was like a series of punches to the gut and left me with this overwhelming sense of futility, but there was a sliver of goodness that I was able to cling to because of my love for the characters. It's another of his books I'll be pondering for ages.
King's writing is so visceral and evocative, I could practically taste the '50s root beer and soda that was so fatty and flavourful. But it also means that no one can build horrible tension quite like him. The "obdurate past" is a character in itself and it's devastating (and often funny) to see how it trips Jake up as he tries to change the future. Much like in Pet Sematary it felt like there was a force governing these characters' lives and I was never able to quite relax.
But while I love this tension, and the sense of dread that permeates even the most peaceful moments, I also just got so invested in the life Jake creates as George Amberson. So when the pace slowed in the middle of the book, my attention never wavered. The end was like a series of punches to the gut and left me with this overwhelming sense of futility, but there was a sliver of goodness that I was able to cling to because of my love for the characters. It's another of his books I'll be pondering for ages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Death, Alcoholism, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism and Sexism