This article was submitted by Swampscott Librarian Izzi Abrams.

I am not a fan of Stephen King.  To be honest, I am not a fan of his genre.  I did, however, read a book he wrote entitled Different Seasons, a collection of four novellas which were unique, exciting , well written and very different from his usual books.  In fact two of these novellas were made into movies, The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me.  I have not picked up another Stephen King book since that time (mid 1980s), but when the publication of his new book was announced, 11/22/63, I was ready to give this author another chance.  I was hoping King had written something different and I was pleasantly surprised

I don’t want to discourage you from reading this novel but it is over 800 pages long.  I read it in five days and really had a hard time putting it down.  The hero of the book is Jay Epping, a teacher from present who travels back in time to try to prevent the assassination of JFK.  Time travel can be an overused technique but with this novel it really works.  Our hero is able to return to the 50s and 60s through a portal in the back of a diner in Maine. 

There are no monsters in this book and very little horror but it doesn’t mean that 11/22/63 is boring.  The world of 1958-1963 is wonderfully described in detail through the eyes of Jake as he tries to leave behind the world of 2011 and embrace this earlier time period.  He falls in love with a delightful character named Sadie who just happens to be a librarian.  There is a sense of nostalgia in this novel which gives you the feeling that Stephen King has definitely matured in his writing.

For this book King has done his homework.  Lee Harvey Oswald and the Kennedy assassination have been well researched.    You are with the characters on the streets of Dallas. The ending of the book is definitely unpredictable.   It is hard to believe that I am recommending a Stephen King novel.  I don’t want to say more- just set aside some time and start reading. You won’t be disappointed!