Sign in with Facebook
Emily May's Reviews > 11/22/63
11/22/63
by
by
“We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.”
I still fail to understand why Stephen King isn't considered a writer of "respected literature". Because he writes sci-fi and horror? Because his books are so compelling, entertaining and popular? For me, King does what very few authors manage - he turns fast-paced genre fiction into well-written, thought-provoking literature.
And 11/22/63 is no exception. I've been putting this book off for the last few years; partly because it's an 800+ page giant, and partly because I studied the hell out of Kennedy and 1950s/60s America back in high school. But I find myself once again in that situation where I read a book I always meant to read and mentally kick myself for not giving in sooner.
This book is fantastic. Some of its critics don't like the crossover of many genres, claiming it "wanders from genre to genre". However, I loved how this book was many things. It's an extremely well-researched piece of historical fiction; it's a fascinating look at time travel science fiction (is it possible to change the past? What is the cost of doing so?); it's a small town thriller; and it's a love story.
King has this strange way of turning the most fantastical plots into stories about people who feel very real. He writes detailed and honest character portraits, so that these characters become so vivid and realistic, likable and flawed, that we so easily believe in everything that happens to them.
If you don't already know, this book is about a man called Jake Epping who - through his friend, Al - discovers a portal that takes him to 1958, where he takes over Al's obsessive mission to prevent the Kennedy assassination. He establishes a new life in the past, in a world filled with big American cars, rock'n'roll, and shameless racism, sexism and homophobia.
The amount of research King did is evident. He paints an intricate portrait of this time - simultaneously portraying an exciting, dreamy era full of different fashions, music, and the best root beer ever for 10 cents... and showing the darker side: segregation and the two doors and three signs - "Men" on one door, "Women" on the other door, and "Colored" leading to a plank of wood over a small stream. He makes this era seem like a bright, amazing, creepy nightmare.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unlike some of King's other works, the 800 pages didn't feel like too much to me and they just seemed to fly by. So glad I finally read it.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
I still fail to understand why Stephen King isn't considered a writer of "respected literature". Because he writes sci-fi and horror? Because his books are so compelling, entertaining and popular? For me, King does what very few authors manage - he turns fast-paced genre fiction into well-written, thought-provoking literature.
And 11/22/63 is no exception. I've been putting this book off for the last few years; partly because it's an 800+ page giant, and partly because I studied the hell out of Kennedy and 1950s/60s America back in high school. But I find myself once again in that situation where I read a book I always meant to read and mentally kick myself for not giving in sooner.
This book is fantastic. Some of its critics don't like the crossover of many genres, claiming it "wanders from genre to genre". However, I loved how this book was many things. It's an extremely well-researched piece of historical fiction; it's a fascinating look at time travel science fiction (is it possible to change the past? What is the cost of doing so?); it's a small town thriller; and it's a love story.
King has this strange way of turning the most fantastical plots into stories about people who feel very real. He writes detailed and honest character portraits, so that these characters become so vivid and realistic, likable and flawed, that we so easily believe in everything that happens to them.
If you don't already know, this book is about a man called Jake Epping who - through his friend, Al - discovers a portal that takes him to 1958, where he takes over Al's obsessive mission to prevent the Kennedy assassination. He establishes a new life in the past, in a world filled with big American cars, rock'n'roll, and shameless racism, sexism and homophobia.
The amount of research King did is evident. He paints an intricate portrait of this time - simultaneously portraying an exciting, dreamy era full of different fashions, music, and the best root beer ever for 10 cents... and showing the darker side: segregation and the two doors and three signs - "Men" on one door, "Women" on the other door, and "Colored" leading to a plank of wood over a small stream. He makes this era seem like a bright, amazing, creepy nightmare.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unlike some of King's other works, the 800 pages didn't feel like too much to me and they just seemed to fly by. So glad I finally read it.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
1310 likes · Like
∙
flag
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
11/22/63.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
September 30, 2013
– Shelved
May 14, 2015
–
Started Reading
May 24, 2015
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 79 (79 new)
message 1:
by
Boris
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
May 15, 2015 01:10AM
It's one of my favorite novels. In top 5. Hope you like it as much as I did.
reply
|
flag
One of mine as well!
Such a great one! Hope you love it!
I am loving it so far :)
You know, I've always considered King as a writer of "respected literature", even before I started to read his books, but I think people (who don't read his books) don't consider him that way just because he's popular - my dad is an example. When I read The Stand (my first book by SK), he asked me why I never read "quality literature". I told him "why, that depends" and his response was "Please, Stephen King? Everyone reads that. That's not quality - that's literature for money". There's your answer.As for this one, great review! I've been meaning to read it, but I haven't for the same reason you didn't. I'll wait till the semester ends to read it, though - I have very few time to read.
I've been meaning to get to this book forever and I'm pleased to see you enjoyed it so much!
I agree. I loved it, and his depiction of the period. (Also, I just finished it, came to read some reviews, and yours was the first thing I saw!)
Stephen King is one of the authors who made me fall in love with reading when I was a kid. To this day, I love his prose and I think he is a wonderful writer.
I loved this book as well! :)
I was surprised when you wrote Stephen sir is overlooked as a great writer(in your review of revival)...Maybe because he writes too much of strong language that's why he is overlooked but then again that's a realistic way of writing a book because if we were in the place of those characters then we would have said the same thing... I have only read 2 or 3 books of Stephen King but they were enough for me to like him.
I absolutely agree with you there, Emily! I'm a King fan, and I know what you're talking about. This one's on my to-read list.
Agreed... this is actually my favourite King book of the last 10 years or so. Very compelling and very personal, but also incredibly disturbing.
One of my top ten favorite books. Loved everything about it and am constantly urging others to read it!
Vipin wrote: "I was surprised when you wrote Stephen sir is overlooked as a great writer(in your review of revival)...Maybe because he writes too much of strong language that's why he is overlooked but then aga..."
I wouldn't say "overlooked" because he is obviously very popular, but he isn't taken seriously as a great writer. He's often grouped with writers of books that are entertaining but lack any "literary value".
Here are some other links about it:
Is Stephen King a Great Writer?
Should Stephen King Get More Credit As A Writer From Literary Critics?
Should You Feel Bad About Reading Stephen King?
Is Stephen King a Bad Writer?
Vane wrote: "You know, I've always considered King as a writer of "respected literature", even before I started to read his books, but I think people (who don't read his books) don't consider him that way just ..."Thank you. And exactly! I just don't understand why an author being popular and accessible is a bad thing.
Being great and being literary aren't always mutually exclusive. Not necessarily anyway. Stephen King writes captivating tales. Anyone who has a talent for such story-telling is great, especially if they have been doing for years on end.
Once again a delightful review, Emily!
Nahiyan wrote: "Being great and being literary aren't always mutually exclusive. Not necessarily anyway. Stephen King writes captivating tales. Anyone who has a talent for such story-telling is great, especially ..."I completely agree. It's a shame many critics are too snobby to see it that way.
Iina-Sofia wrote: "Once again a delightful review, Emily!"Thank you :)
I agree with you. Love King. I have this on my to read pile for the summer.
Emily May wrote: "Nahiyan wrote: "Being great and being literary aren't always mutually exclusive. Not necessarily anyway. Stephen King writes captivating tales. Anyone who has a talent for such story-telling is gr..."Great review though, Em. I'll definitely stop putting off like you did, and will just start reading it one of these days :)
Okay, now I'm officially mad at myself for not picking this up when I last went to the bookstore.
Yeah I loved this book too and I also hate how King seems to be dismissed as just a horror/sci-fi writer. It's 800 pages and it flies by, and the best thing I can say about King's writing is that it's painstakingly detailed - so much so, that you actually feel transported back in time to 1960s America. It's a magical book - definitely one of King's best.
This is a great book. Glad you read it Emily. While I can't do King's actual horror (like It or Shining) I do really enjoy his offshoots that are less horror and more intrigue/sci-fi.
At least in my top 3 King novels. It's always fighting for a higher place though
One of my absolute favorites!
Did you read "The Stand"? Awesome book, you should read it if you didn't already.
This is the only King novel I've read, and it wasn't what I was expecting. But I was pleasantly surprised.
Easily his best book, and one of my top five books of all time. Great review.
I have yet to read, but judging from the comments, I think I'll put it high on the list of books by King waiting on my shelf. It seems great!
Thanks for the wonderful, spot-on review, Emily! 11/22/63 officially made King a "must-read" classic American author. Anyone who hasn't read this book needs to -- even those who don't usually read his "scary" fiction.
Thank you, Jessica! I completely agree :)
King will receive his due in about 100 years. He has to die first. Think of Poe, who didn't get the honor in his lifetime but eventually received literary immortality. Part of it is snobbery on the part of the self-designated "literati" and part of it is King's ubiquity and accessibility (i.e., it can't be "literature" if hoi polloi like us read it).
Sounds like you really loved this book. And I liked your review. What about it made it only 4 stars?
Ray wrote: "Sounds like you really loved this book. And I liked your review. What about it made it only 4 stars?"I am VERY picky about the books I give 5 stars to. It's a rating I reserve for all time favourites and books that really surprise me.
The author has to come over and read the book to me personally for five stars.
Is there a reason you studied Kennedy and 1950s/60s America specifically? Seems a bit odd lol
Sabrina wrote: "Is there a reason you studied Kennedy and 1950s/60s America specifically? Seems a bit odd lol"Um, why? Lol.
Emily May wrote: "Sabrina wrote: "Is there a reason you studied Kennedy and 1950s/60s America specifically? Seems a bit odd lol"Um, why? Lol."
I'm American and I've never learned anything in school about that time period! Granted, thinking about it now, that's pretty weird. But it's just funny that someone from another country would when I didn't.
Sabrina wrote: "Emily May wrote: "Sabrina wrote: "Is there a reason you studied Kennedy and 1950s/60s America specifically? Seems a bit odd lol"Um, why? Lol."
I'm American and I've never learned anything in sch..."
Oh, I see. The course was on U.S. Civil Rights in the 19th Century and focused heavily on the changes made during the 1950s/60s :)
i want to start reading Stephen King's book. any recommendations on where to start? which book should I read first?
Maayan wrote: "i want to start reading Stephen King's book. any recommendations on where to start? which book should I read first?"Wow, that is tough. The classics are great - The Shining, The Stand, Misery, Carrie and It. I'd recommend any one of those. But I also love his more recent Revival and this book. Pick whichever story sounds most interesting to you. King's stories are very creative and different but his style remains mostly the same throughout his work.
Thank you for saying this about King! I am 100% with you! To me writes thoughtful and well-executed novels with multi-dimensional characters and plots.
It is actually hard for me to express how much I loved this book, and how much heartache I experienced at the end.
I thought this book was pretty amazing too. I loved the realism in it. It actually felt like you were back in the 60's (although I never knew what it was like in the 60's since I was born in the 80's). Great review and thanks for sharing!
BookMattic wrote: "I thought this book was pretty amazing too. I loved the realism in it. It actually felt like you were back in the 60's (although I never knew what it was like in the 60's since I was born in the 80..."Thank you! And yeah, King really captured the place and time with this one.
When I was in junior high, I went through a serious Stephen King phase. I was reading Pet Sematary when my English teacher assigned a book report. She said the only requirement was that the book be at least 150 pages long. I pointed to my book, sitting on my desk, and said that was what I'd read. It certainly met the page requirement. She said, "I don't know. Does that really count as a book?" It blew my mind. Why the heck wouldn't it? She, of course, didn't think Stephen King wrote real literature. I still think that woman was crazy. Considering the sort of nonsense that people did read, I'm shaking my head still.
You always have great reviews
