Stephen King's 11/22/63 is waiting for me at my local library. Anyone started the book already?

[raccoon]

I think for me it might be of interest just to see how the late '50's and early '60's are portrayed. I lived through
that time, as did King, of course.

[ET Awful]

1. I pre-ordered it from Amazon and plan on starting it this weekend.

I'll be flying out to California on Friday AM, so I'll start reading it on the plane.

[SheilaT]

2. I put it on hold last night.

13 of 14 holds, only two copies ordered for the library which don't seem to have arrived yet.

[MaineDem]

3. I just downloaded the audiobook

I'm not a fan of his books (although I truly admire him as a person) but this one sounds excellent.

[SheilaT]

9. His early books are much better

than the later ones. The change, in my opinion, occurred around the time Firestarter was published, and his revision of The Stand was an especially bad idea.

The Long Walk, one of his Bachman novels, is for my money, the very best thing he's ever written and I wish someone would make it into a movie. A good movie, rather like Stand By Me, which is based on another of the Bachman books (The Body).

[BlueIris]

4. I was just about to get it. But I'm a little scared to (JFK is a sensitive topic for me.)

And it's HUGE. 860+ pages. I haven't tackled one of the long novels since Bag of Bones, so I'm a little nervous.

[peace frog]

5. I'm in the middle of the book now

and it is pretty terrific. I've studiously avoided all interviews with King and the book reviews because I want to read the story untainted by foreknowledge. What I think of the novel at the midpoint: the premise of this speaks immediately to all Americans who felt indignation and despair at JFK's assassination, and wonder how might the USA be different today had it not happened. The story so far has been pretty much a mission of the protagonist to right wrongs that affected him in a personal way, as practice leading up to the main event of preventing the assassination. The time travel itself is not presented as terribly otherworldly and he has actually settled into his new life well enough. But what will it lead to? will he be successful? and what happens afterward? -- all these questions remain. I'm quite engaged but actually I cannot imagine it will end well, not as we might fantasize it would, in any event. Just a hunch but there it is.

If the premise interests you, read the book! I'm enjoying it so far.

[Paladin]

6. I'm About 150 Pages Into It---It's Excellent.

Between this latest novel and "The Dome," I believe Stepen King has regained his writing chops.

[RebelOne]

20. King never lost his writing chops. That is just my opinion. n/t

[NEOhiodemocrat]

7. I am jealous

I am still several people down on the researve list at my library. Hope you enjoy it, I think it sounds like could be an excellent read.

[Mad_Dem_X]

8. I've just started it

I find it very good so far.

[raccoon]

10. Well, I've finished the book. I really enjoyed it.

Once I started it, I didn't want to put it down.

I thought it was a good story, a likeable, progressive protagonist (and other likeable characters
along the way).

I thought King handled the past well, pointing out the good and the bad from the past. How people
were not as suspicious then, more trusting. How so many people smoked. How attitudes about
premarital sex have changed and how people didn't use 4-letter words as freely then as they do now--
at least not in certain environments.

Of all the SK books I've read, I'd have to rate this at about the best.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Good to hear.

Without even having read it yet, I'm putting it near the top of his best.

[AngryOldDem]

11. Just put a hold on it at the library.

I'm really looking forward to it. He should do a wonderful job -- I guess it's been percolating with him since about 1968, but he says he's never had the time nor the resources to do the research necessary to make it a readable, plausible story.

[LibraLiz1973]

13. I really enjoyed it

I thought the way the era was portrayed, and all of the detail provided, was excellent.

An awesome read! Probably my favorite King book since Gerald's Game.

[MaineDem]

14. I just started it

So far so good.

[MaineDem]

15. This is very good!

I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm not quite half way through and it's a real page-turner. Not in a creepy Stephen King way. Just very interesting.

The references to the 50s and 60s are amazing. Depiction of early TV in Maine is smack on accurate.

[drm604]

16. Reading it on my Kindle now.

I'm really enjoying it. I do think he's got his writing chops back. Full Dark, No Stars was also good. I have The Dome which I'll probably be reading next.

[MaineDem]

17. I liked it a lot

I thought it was going to be about the aftermath so it was a pleasant surprise.

I want to read "Dome" now, too.

[zappaman]

18. I liked it as well.

This one and UNDER THE DOME are a solid return to form for King.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

19. Just stuck my toe in last night, after finishing 1Q84.

I read 15 pages or so to see if I wanted to read the whole book now, or later (I'm weird like that when starting a new book--I have to get to a point of commitment). Based on the responses here of those reading it, I think I may just keep going. Thanks.

[RagAss]

21. I just finished reading it....King hit it out of the park !!

I could not put this book down...he weaves even the lesser known facts regarding Oswald and the lead-up to the fateful day. Also, King bends the mind a bit when it comes to the complexities of time travel.

Read this one.

[mwdem]

22. Reading it now.

I'm halfway through, and I was hooked from the beginning. I have all of his books, and it's nice to see he's back! I can't wait to see how this unfolds (and I usually read front, back, then middle...weird, I know). I'm happy with this book.

[jannyk]

23. It's next on my kindle.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

24. I just finished the book. Recommended.

I'd highly recommend it for anyone who doesn't mind suspending disbelief for a time--that shouldn't be a problem for Stephen King fans. In addition to the time travel aspect of the book, there are some characters who act in a way I don't find believable, but this was a very minor thing, and it featured relatively minor characters.

In 11/22/63, one of the devices he uses heavily is the comparison between the late 50's/early 60's, and today, both the good and the bad. The food was better back then. The pollution was worse. Everyone smoked. About half the townspeople of the various towns and cities that the book takes place in were what we would call very racist today, but they didn't at all stick out in 1961 or thereabouts. I ended up caring about the characters, but maybe not as much as I would have liked. The end of the book was well-written, but it left me feeling a little empty. Saying anymore would put me in spoiler territory, and I don't wish to go there.

Don't forget to read the Afterword. King lets us know that he personally believes Oswald acted alone. He may have spent some time in GD in recent years, as he invoked Occam's Razor as one of the reasons he thought Oswald acted alone. Interestingly, he says that his wife Tabitha believes there was a conspiracy. Also in the Afterword, King slams the living hell out of the city of Dallas.

This is a book you think about while you're at work or wherever--it's something you want to get back to and keep reading. It's not a book of earthshattering importance, but it's a lot of fun to read.

Last item: I think Stephen King wants to be seen more as a literary author than he may have wanted at earlier points in his life, and I don't blame him. I think he has some very decent writing chops.

[bikebloke]

25. It's waiting for me at my library, too.

I'll pick it up Saturday, but it'll have to wait until I finish a couple others first.