Imagine the world absent of those historical and fatal gunshots that echoed across the world on Nov. 22, 1963. In Stephen King’s newest novel, “11/22/63,” he invites readers to do just that as they envision how America might currently stand had the event never occurred — the day Harvey Lee Oswald shot John F. Kennedy.
The story is focused on two men — Al Templeton, a middle-aged diner owner, and Jake Epping, a young English teacher. Outside their friendship, these men share a similar affection for history and, most of all, for saving the world.
As for the setting, avid readers of King’s can take a lucky guess as to where the story begins. No other than Lisbon Falls, Maine — Maine, which is a tender spot for many plots in King’s illustrious novels.
Al is a man who in circumventing the past through the path of time travel, attempts to change history by stopping JFK’s assassination. In doing so, Al believes he can change the fate of the world by not only saving JFK, but also erasing the loss affiliated with that time.
Sadly, however, Al’s health condition begins to deteriorate such that he enlists the help of Jake to complete his unfinished business. The only problem is that in attempting to change the past, the present inevitably changes as well — sometimes for the worst.
Pace varies in the novel, which is largely due to the extensive amount of research King conducted in writing the book. Even considering, King manages to intertwine history with a plot so dramatic and compelling that he continues to live up to the visionary status that readers have all come to know and love.
Speaking of affection, while the themes in the novel concentrate on history, violence and the causal relationship between the two, there is also space for a budding relationship somehow managing to overcome both space and time.
If you are expecting an easy read, you are severely mistaken. The plot pulsates through the reader, which is perhaps the main reason why King can so seamlessly captivate readers and keep their attention even after 500 pages. Mind you, the reader will still have nearly 500 more pages to read, but somehow King manages to keep the mechanics of the plot constantly moving forward.
Many continue to follow King due to his popularity and more than 40 years of experience with writing. However, regardless of his fame, his writing has remained in large part of its impact on readers throughout the world.
Rating: W W W W W
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