11/22/63 by Stephen King
11/22/63
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publish Date: July 2012
Read: August 2025
Favorite Quote: But never underestimate the American bourgeoisie’s capacity to embrace fascism under the name of populism. Or the power of television. Without TV, Kennedy would never have beaten Nixon.
Story Synopsis: Jake Epping, a high school teacher in Maine, can’t quite get life to work out the way he wants to. One day, Al - the owner of the local diner, informs Jake there’s a “rabbit hole” in his restaurant that takes you to September 1958. Same day, same spot every time. Seeing is believing, so Jake goes down the rabbit hole and emerges in 1958, as promised. When Jake returns, Al sets his mission: return to 1958 and change the course of the future by preventing Kennedy’s assassination.
Jake accepts the task and begins his new life in 1958, changing small things to see the ripple effect in the future. From there, he moves from Maine to rural Texas to build a life near Dallas to protect Kennedy. Will his efforts help? Hurt? Can he even achieve his goal or will the past fight to remain the same by blocking him at every turn?
Why does this book beguile? This is my second Stephen King book and I loved it. I’m a huge fan of time-travel and alternative history, and 11/22/63 delivers. The story and characters - in true Stephen King fashion - felt real and the wormhole process was ambiguous enough to be mysterious while also having enough rules to be believable. Absolutely loved this!
Bookshop.Org Link*: 11/22/63 by Stephen King
Amazon.com Link*: 11/22/63 by Stephen King
If you’re interested in this, read*: Fairy Tale by Stephen King
