Author: Stephen King
Genre: Sci-Fi, Standalone
Published: 2011
Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)
Format: Audiobook (30 CDs!!!)
Yearly Count: 42 (worth 3 books, though)
Al, owner of a local diner, has a time portal in his establishment. He explores it, then enlists the help of Jake Epping, local teacher, to change history as we know it. The plan is to stop Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination of John F. Kennedy.
For a king-sized book (pun intended), it went by quickly. I only felt a little bogged down once, but it didn't last long. And that was probably due to my inability to appreciate long books and no fault of Mr. King. I'm so impressed with his creativity and talent to take an idea like time-travel, and make me believe it! I bought into the storyline right from the start. So why didn't I give it a higher rating? I wonder that, too, even after a very satisfying ending. I suppose it hinges on the not-so-satsifying aspects in-between. I'm sick of the words "obdurate" and "harmonize," and there were missed opportunities to shorten the book. :) Also, I'm not sure why, but I got confused a few times. I think most were ironed out quickly, but a few remain. Maybe reading it myself would have helped with that. Overall, my first Stephen King novel was a huge success!
Glad you liked your first King, Joy!! Your review encourages me to read this one at some point.
ReplyDelete1morechapter ~ King kept me intrigued throughout 30 CDs . . . remarkable! :)
DeleteI really liked this one too, Joy. I'm not a fan of time travel, but this one sucked me right in and made a believer out of me. I'm with you on the word "obdurate" - used a few too many times!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Stephen King, but this one was good!
Lynne ~ Have you read any others? The Stand?
DeleteReady for another King beast? I'll be hosting a readalong of The Stand next month. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to listen to this one as well--just have to work up to the length. 30 hours would probably take me almost a month! But I've just been hearing great things and I'm glad you hear you enjoyed it as well.
Trish ~ Hmmm . . . maybe. I'll prepare for it, but I can't commit at this point. I did put the audiobook on hold at the library, so it coming in on time is the first step. However, it's 37 CDs!!! UGH! Not sure if I'm up for another seriously long listen, but we'll see.
DeleteNO PRESSURE! I'll be lucky to even finish it myself. Ha! ;)
DeleteYour first Stephen King book!! ??? I'm glad that you really enjoyed this one!! Wow, that must be a huge book if it was 30 CDs!!
ReplyDeleteStaci ~ Yep! This was my first. I read one of his short stories, but this was my first novel. His books just haven't enticed me and the lengths of many have scared me silly. I'm so glad to finally have first hand knowledge of his talent. :)
DeleteMy husband really liked it, and read me the afterward (?) where King praises my favorite time travel book, Time and Again by Jack Finney.
ReplyDeleteNan ~ I'm not a time travel fan, but did catch his shout out and will consider it at some point.
DeleteGood to know! I love Stephen King and have wanted to read this (I have it on my husband's Nook), but I may resort to the audio. It's such a chunkster!!
ReplyDeleteNow that you've listened to this, you'll have to give some of his others a try. I loved Bag of Bones, The Stand, Dreamcatcher and It. The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption are also very good. And his son (Joe Hill) has a fabulous book called The Heart-Shaped Box. Time to get crackin'! ;)
Les ~ Reading it would be overwhelming for me, but I think it would go by quickly either way; however, I loved the narrator of the audiobook. I think he did a terrific job.
DeleteI have The Stand on hold at the library, but I'm not so sure I'm going to listen to that any time soon - mainly because of its length. I will look into the others you mentioned. I did read Heart-Shaped Box and was NOT impressed. It was a bit too unrealistic. In other words, I wasn't lulled into believing like his father was able to do. You can read my brief thoughts on that one here.
I really enjoyed 11/22/63 and for my next King outing, I'm planning to read Full Dark, No Stars.
ReplyDeleteBybee ~ I'm not sure when my next outing will be, but I know that I'm not as afraid of him now. However, it will have to be a well thought out pick because I'm not into horror.
DeleteI've read several other King novels and have enjoyed them. Some of his earlier books are not as long (Carrie, Cujo) but it seems that since he got clean & sober he likes the tomes! I do want to read this one but don't have the time for it right now.
ReplyDeleteStacybuckeye ~ I have not followed Stephen King (at all), so I had no idea about his drug and alcohol use. Since your comment, I have read up on his life. Interesting how his books are based on his fears.
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