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sarahrolinski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The first portion of this book is slow. It drags. Elements are not cohesive, and I found my eyes drooping at every mention of a Maine landscape. I trudged through to the early 200's pages, and only then did I find the excitment worth the vast commitment. Our main character, Jake Epping's, internal monologue rivals one of a juvenile, immature man. Phrases repeated throughout the book are spaced and written as though they are to be perceived as profound when they are lackluster. "Dancing is life," is a phrase mentioned time and time again. Tone is inconsistent, and King so earnestly wants to juxtapose diction so it may come across as witty when it just creates distrust with the reader. How can I trust the narrator who talks out the side of his mouth when he is speaking to the reader?
Additionally, the ending left me in a complete, total fit of rage. Though the implications of a changed world depended on a "the past is obdurate" notion, the society at the end of the book feels like a slap in the face to the hopeful American citizen.
Nevertheless, I read the entire book over the course of four days, sometimes not eating in order to read. I was overjoyed to share the narrative revelations to coworkers and family. I was enthralled, and it hurt to put the book down. I was obsessed. Never in my life have I read a book that forced me to fall in love with reading. Despite the Jake Epping flaws and the Mary Sue-ification of Miss Sadie Dunhill, I reckoned with the fact that the book gripped me and relentlessly satisfied a snobby reader such as myself.
If you wish to read this as a piece of high literature, move on to the next book on your shelf. But it was fun and inventive and possessed a tenacity to illustrate romance in way that literally transcends time. I would read it all over again (I will probably will) and hope others grip onto adventurous nature of 11.22.63.
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Cursing, Gun violence, Vomit, Excrement, and Gore
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide
Minor: Animal death
minkkmuse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
a really compelling premise, and king's dedication to the research and narrative intricacies is impressive. that being said, the protagonist is so endlessly irritating, to the point i was actively rooting against him. too much time spent on the romance plot. missed opportunities to play more with the time travel/harmonization of the past aspects that are the most interesting parts of the novel, and the result of the assassination
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Domestic abuse
pwnyboy's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, Gun violence, Murder, Death, and Cursing
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Grief, Torture, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident, Toxic relationship, and War
thegillbird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Stephen King does not know how to write female characters in the slightest and this book is a shining example of that. There is exactly 1 female character in this book and she's fairly important to the plot yet her appearance (ie: body, how she's dressed) seems to be the main thing King feels the need to share about her. When her body isn't being discussed, the reader gets bombarded with tales of her traumatic previous sexual experiences/relationships and how only the main character can show her proper love *eye roll*
This book was a long, arduous, often boring slog with some interesting time travel elements.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Gun violence
bambicat234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Gore, Grief, Car accident, Medical content, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Classism, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, and War
productioneer's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Racial slurs, Stalking, War, Death, Racism, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism
mailuss's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Blood and Domestic abuse
Minor: Violence, Gun violence, and Alcoholism
travisppe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death, Gore, Car accident, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Blood, and Self harm
okale4me's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Gun violence, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
bookforthought's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Racism, and Cancer
Minor: Car accident