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k_elliott's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicide
ligiandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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⚠️
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⚠️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Suicide, Death, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, Stalking, Alcoholism, and Cancer
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Body shaming
nichole_of_numenor's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
5.0
I could NOT put this book down!! I am a sucker for a good time travel story and this one was just phenomenal. It went beyond the usual time-travel butterfly effect thing and had some really good twists, which was really fun. (No spoilers here!)
What I loved
- I listed to the audiobook and the narration by Craig Wasson was just spectacular.
- I was really transported to another time and place and fully immersed in a bygone era.
- While many people see the lat 50s and 60s as a "better time," it really only was if you belonged to a certain race, class, and sexuality. These topics are addressed thoughtfully.
- I learned a lot about near American history! Yes, this is a work of fiction, but a great deal of the events told did occur and an enormous amout of research went into this work.
What I didn't like
- Really, I can't think of much I didn't like! Highly, highly recommend!
What I loved
- I listed to the audiobook and the narration by Craig Wasson was just spectacular.
- I was really transported to another time and place and fully immersed in a bygone era.
- While many people see the lat 50s and 60s as a "better time," it really only was if you belonged to a certain race, class, and sexuality. These topics are addressed thoughtfully.
- I learned a lot about near American history! Yes, this is a work of fiction, but a great deal of the events told did occur and an enormous amout of research went into this work.
What I didn't like
- Really, I can't think of much I didn't like! Highly, highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Murder, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Cursing, Gore, and Racial slurs
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 deathjourdanicus'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
cassandraxd's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
bgmylc's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
ofpagesandparagraphs's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Racial slurs
ohkmurr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
You always know what you're going to get with a Stephen King: a male writer protagonist in the midst of an existential crisis who has to look back into the past—whether his or someone else's—to learn why he is the way he is and how to be a better man. Wasn't my favorite King, but would categorize as one of the more romantic books I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
cassieyorke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Gripping, heart-wrenching, grim - an emotional rollercoaster. Despite long stretches of describing Cold War-era surveillance that aren't the most interesting episodes in the book, Stephen King constructs a masterful framework for imagining *clearly* what a long-term jaunt to the past would be like. It's really exciting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Medical content, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse