Concluding thoughts.

[marleyboy4945]

I just finished this fantastic novel last night and thought I would share some of my personal insight about how I felt about the book. To start let me just say that I recently finished The Dark Tower series and the last 100-200 pages of 11/22/63 had me thinking it was going to have the same sort of ending so I was really pleased with how Stephen let this one end. Not saying I disliked the DT ending, I actually rather enjoyed it, just didn't want the same ending here.

The idea of the novel is phenomenal and I applaud all the legwork, research, and creativity that King and his colleagues invoked to complete this novel. People may say it's not his "typical" genre, but if you read the last 50 pages or so its pretty damn scary in context. From the first few pages and the story of The Dunning family I was completely hooked. The writing and character use was unmatched in my opinion. Very well done sir. This is one of his books that has me reeling for a movie adaptation (no pun intended).

To conclude, I would like to touch on the ending a little more. The endings in my opinion are what really set King apart in his mastery of story telling. He doesn't bring you back to that happy place or heroic thought on many occasions, which is what I love. However, in this novel I was really satisfied, for lack of a better word at how he portrayed the ending to this one. Of course a part of me wanted to see Mr and Mrs. Amberson in the 60's or even in 2011 but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel in its entirety.

[GNTLGNT]

...well said, well said...

[wayfaringman13]

I think anybody with a good heart would want to see GA and SD in 2011.....12 and 13. Love is a strange and beautiful thing...a mystery to some. It hurt like hell to read the ending but I agree with you marleyboy....I thoroughly enjoyed this story as well!!!

Btw, huts like hell, in my book, is a compliment. Shouldn't love hurt...at times? Makes us feel alive....

[Lindy Hop]

I also just finished 11/22/63, and I was completely blown away. Could not put it down, did not want to finish and the story be over. Jake Epping is now one of my new favorite literary characters. I love when SK makes a character so realistic it feels like they're sitting beside us narrating the story. And since I started this book, I can't stop riding through my home town wondering what it would be like to step outside into the year 1958. The love story was one to be treasured, and I really liked how it wasn't necessarily love at first sight, but rather we got to see how Jake's love for Sadie grew over time. I've recommended this book to dozens of people since I finished, because I feel like the world is missing out not reading this story. It is definitely my new favorite SK creation!

[marleyboy4945]

soo, Lincoln next Mr. King?


I kid.....sorta

[kingricefan]

Ms Mod, is the use of the name Amberson in 11/22/63 a literary nod by SK to Don Robertson's characters name in the beautiful novel 'Praise The Human Season'? I know SK has done this type of thing before. That book (PTHS) is one of the most moving, real and heartfelt (and in parts funny!) novels about the love two people have for each other that I've ever read. I highly recommend it!

[Moderator]

Ms Mod, is the use of the name Amberson in 11/22/63 a literary nod by SK to Don Robertson's characters name in the beautiful novel 'Praise The Human Season'? I know SK has done this type of thing before. That book (PTHS) is one of the most moving, real and heartfelt (and in parts funny!) novels about the love two people have for each other that I've ever read. I highly recommend it!

Not that I know of but would have to ask him to be sure.

[dsurrett]

I'm sure you have all you can handle without asking Mr. King about this. Shoot me his cell number and I'll do that for you. :smile2:


Not that I know of but would have to ask him to be sure.

[Moderator]

I'm sure you have all you can handle without asking Mr. King about this. Shoot me his cell number and I'll do that for you. :smile2:

That would certainly speed up the retirement date! :smile2:

[blunthead]

That would certainly speed up the retirement date! :smile2::rofl: :mad:

[CoachVail]

I've never been a huge fan of yours, Mr. King, although I certainly loved Shawshank when I read it and, of course, the movie was great. I just finished 11/22/63 and I want to thank you. It was one of the best books I've read, and I read more than ANYONE I know. You had me up late, unable to put it down, on the edge of my seat, with my heart pounding. I guess I've been guilty of assuming all your suspense was horror, bloody, etc., but this was freaking awesome. I CARED about Jake and Sadie (and Deke and Harry and ..........) because you made me care. I have always been fascinated by the idea of time travel, fate, destinies linked, etc. and you did a wonderful job of making it work, making it scary, making it real. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I don't have the eloquence to explain, but thank you.

[Eric Bender]

Or to the The Magnificent Ambersons, the 1918 novel by Booth Tarkington which won the 1919 Pulitzer Prize or its Orson Welles-directed 1942 film version?

[Chris1974100]

just finished reading this last month. like i was blown away by the conclusion of the novel. Jake Epping had to go back again in 1958 to fix the wrong he had done

[Jack Torrance Floats]

i just finished this one as well. Really, really good book, bittersweet but perfect ending. i loved the travel to see Mr Dunning (each time) and the description of America (and the world) if Kennedy had lived.

New to the forum, so i hope to bounce idea about this one and others off the regulars.

[Van]

It blew me away. It was the longest novel that I've ever read, but certainly the best ever. What's great about the story, all the characters, time periods, and the length of the novel,
is that (I'm in my sixties so . . .) two years from now I'll be able to read it again---for the first time. :-)