After almost half a century, the assassination of John F. Kennedy still fascinates the public more than any other event in American history. But what if it could be undone? What would the world have been like if Kennedy had survived? With "11/22/63", Stephen King harnesses that fascination and answers those questions by weaving history with fantasy and does so in such a way that a reader's mind will be reeling from the possibilities and consequences of time travel and the attempt to change history.
It's hard to believe that the concept for this novel sat idle for almost forty years. When King began writing it in 1972 (a mere nine years after Kennedy's death), he shelved it after a time, claiming that "the wound was still too fresh" and that he was still too green as a writer for such a complicated story. All that creative fermentation and the opportunity to perfect his craft set him up for an even richer story once he went back to it.
But it also set him up for some painstaking research. King took great care to portray 1950's and 1960's life with unerring accuracy, including trends in simple forms (such as cars, household products, fashions, music, dance, etc.) as well as abstract (racism, moral convention, small town mentalities). He also got to know his landscape, traveling to Dallas, TX on several occasions and touring the infamous School Book Depository and one of Lee Harvey Oswald's former residences.
His execution of the central plot is spellbinding. He makes every word count, his narrative uncomplicated, efficient, and full of purpose and occasional humor. The story moves along expeditiously despite its length (842 pages) and its forays into a few subplots. Though some of his stories of this ilk can get a little self-indulgent (his first draft manuscript for "Under The Dome" weighed 19 lbs), "11/22/63" gets a pardon because every one of its characters, even the most minor players, are fascinating.
But it is the love story he includes that is absolutely exquisite. Readers of King's work know that he doesn't do lavish and lacy metaphor when it comes to passion. The love affair between his protagonist and a woman with whom he inadvertently crosses paths is understated, clear-cut, and powerful. Those who are skeptical about his ability to write a moving love story will more than likely be the ones who find themselves teary-eyed at the book's conclusion. Despite stirring love stories in previous novels (e.g. Bag of Bones), the coupling of Jake and Sadie Dunhill outshines them all.
"11/22/63" differs from most of King's catalog in that it is historical fiction with a sci-fi twist. Readers who don't care for the horror genre but still want to give King a try will greatly enjoy this. Highly recommended.
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