I finished King’s 11/22/63 earlier this evening.
Hardcover: 849 pages
Publisher: Scribner (November 8, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451627289
ISBN-13: 978-1451627282
It was very entertaining and thought-provoking. I’ve always liked speculative fiction, which is sort of what this is. It’s a “what if” story on the surface, but down deep where it matters, it’s really a love story.
King writing a love story? C’mon! You’re joking, right?
No. I’m not. It’s a love story… a wonderful one, actually.
I know the Kingster wrote this baby because it has a lot of his texture, flow, and Stephen-Kingness about it, yet is it also palpably different. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s historical fiction, speculative fiction, science fiction, and romance all rolled into one; not the usual Stephen King one might say. Still, an outstanding read.
The Kennedy assassination is one of the most written about events in history, I should think. There are piles of non-fiction books out there written from all points of view. There isn’t a whole lot of fiction writing about this event, though. King did a lot of homework to get this one right. I’ve read dozens of droll tomes describing every feasible and far out possibility of what really happened on that day in 1963. I’ve even slogged through the Warren Commission Report. Believe me, King put some work into this book.
If you get the chance, read or listen to it. I don’t know that it will ever be a movie. It couldn’t be condensed down into a 2-hour big screen thing, I don’t think. It would have to be a mini-series; and if it’s not done right, as It was, it will be ruined. If you read the hard cover, as I did, be sure to have your carpal tunnel brace handy to assist you to hold the book up while you peruse it. It’s a big ‘un… yup!
Later…
~Eric
Nocturnal Slacker v2.0 
Can’t wait to read that one. Don’t have it yet.
Especially with 11/22/2013 right around the corner. I have been listening to JFK speeches lately in anticipation.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Historic-Speeches.aspx
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/medialist.php?presid=35#axzz2jUj0NJvz
https://archive.org/details/JohnFKennedyProfilesinCourage
https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22John+F.+Kennedy%22
https://archive.org/details/TheDeclarationOfIndependence
Yup. Whenever I think about Kennedy and the questions surrounding his death, I always think to myself if everything about the investigation was transparent and above board, why were most of the files sealed from public view for decades?
http://www.npr.org/2013/11/10/243981006/inconsistencies-haunt-official-record-of-kennedys-death?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=DailyDigest&utm_campaign=20131110
Exactly Eric. Exactly.
Loved it in the movie, Armageddon when Harry Stamper was listing the things they wanted in exchange for going to the asteroid, and one of them was “…you couldn’t tell us who killed Kennedy?” and they just look at him blank-faced.
We aren’t the only ones who wonder.
Nothing new really in the NPR article, but nice that they are keeping that information alive since it’s really important, IMHO.
Remember The Time Traveler’s Wife? This book is sort of a weird mash up of that and Stone’s JFK. Oh, and a little 12 Monkeys thrown in just for good measure. HA!
Seriously, though… it’s unique. It’s King. What more needs to be said?
I look forward to reading this book! I have read all of those so I know what you mean. 😉
King is amazing.
Did you see the posting at MyPassionIsBooks Blog: Profiles in Courage by John F Kennedy
http://mypassionisbooks.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/profiles-in-courage-by-john-f-kennedy/
I though your passion was JL? 😉
Well, you can have more than one, I s’pose. 🙂
ROFL! Yep, my passion is JL, but I had a passion for books since I was a kid. That never goes away either. 😉
Should add that NPR article as a comment on my blog entry above. 🙂