11/22/63

Title: 11/22/63

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 2011

Date read: 9th October 2020

Score: 5/5

Genre: Thriller, Historical fiction, Horror

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"11/22/63" by Stephen King is a genre-bending novel that combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, and romance. It follows the extraordinary journey of Jake Epping, an English teacher from Maine, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a hidden time portal.

This portal, found in the storeroom of a local diner, consistently leads to the same moment on 9th September 1958. Jake's dying friend, Al, reveals that he has been using the portal for years with a singular, overwhelming obsession: to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on 22nd November 1963. However, Al's declining health means he can no longer complete his mission, and he entrusts it to a reluctant Jake.

Jake steps through the rabbit hole into the late 1950s, a world of classic cars, rock and roll, and a very different social landscape. He adopts a new identity and must immerse himself in this past era, navigating its customs and challenges, while meticulously planning his ultimate goal. His mission isn't just about stopping a single act; he believes that preventing Kennedy's death could prevent a cascade of negative events that shaped the latter half of the 20th century.

During his time in the past, Jake meticulously researches Lee Harvey Oswald, trying to determine if he was truly the lone assassin and how to best intervene. However, his long stay in the past leads him to build a new life, forming friendships and, most unexpectedly, falling deeply in love with a woman named Sadie. This burgeoning romance adds a powerful emotional layer to his dangerous mission.

The novel explores the fascinating concept of time as a resistant force, subtly and sometimes forcefully pushing back against attempts to change the past. Jake encounters a variety of obstacles and unexpected consequences, as if time itself is trying to correct his interference. The story builds suspense as Jake's deadline approaches, forcing him to make incredibly difficult choices about his loyalties, his love, and the potential impact of altering history. It’s a compelling exploration of destiny, sacrifice, and the profound effects of even the smallest changes to the past.

Comments:
Blown away by this book, I know that I have said before that I have been on the edge of my seat but this was a step further. I am astounded at the amount of research and time that must have been put into this book and it was worth every second. I started to read King's works because of my love of horror and this does not fit into that general niche (apart from a chilling nod in the direction of Mr Pennywise) but I am addicted to these books.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)