Wednesday, July 25, 2012

11/22/63, by Stephen King

If you're looking for a compelling read, 11/22/63 won't disappoint. I was hooked within the first five pages and, even though this was a long book, finished within a few days. Without giving away too much, our main character, Jake Epping, teaches high school English in a small Maine town, recently divorced, no kids, and satisfied with helping GED students on the side when the owner of his favorite hamburger joint asks him for a favor. It's the last wish of a dying man. His wish is simple: go through the rabbit hole in his pantry, which always takes you back to Semptember 9, 1958, hang out for five years, and save JFK's life.

It turns out to be not so simple.

Poor Jake. I can't begin to tell you all the shit he goes through trying to make this happen, not to mention the ethical dilemma of killing a man who has not yet committed a crime. To make matters worse, he falls in love, and--you guessed it--must choose between the love of his life and saving the president's life.

I won't tell you the ending, though I will say I was hoping for something different from the yellow card man. Read it yourself. You'll love it.