11/22/63 by Stephen King – Easily one of the most fascinating books I have ever read!
As part of my resolution to “Connect in 2012“, I’ve decided I need to include myself in that connection. I want to connect with the me that used to be… the one who made time for things like reading. I read a fair number of books throughout the year but never am very consistent. I’ll read, read, read and then will have a huge dry spell where I’ll be too busy with other things (or more likely, too tired) and stop reading.
I’m making a commitment to myself to always be reading in 2012. I want to pick up a book each day and read at least a few pages. Even if I fall asleep a few minutes later, I want to be engaging my brain with books and setting a good example to my children about the importance of reading.
Reading is one way I hope to connect with myself in 2012, but it is also a great way to connect with others. If you read, it is likely you will find other readers and therefore can have great conversations with other readers about the books you’ve read. Often times, those conversations lead you down a path to connecting with others on a deeper basis about things related to the book.
I’ve started my 2012 off by reading one of the most fascinating, thought provoking books I’ve ever come across. Let me start by saying, 11/22/63 is the first book I’ve ever read by Stephen King. He’s not an author I am typically drawn to. I understand from other Stephen King fans that 11/22/63 is a departure from his normal writing. All I know is that I now understand what a talented writer King happens to be… he is a master of weaving a story together and engaging the reader in a way that makes you connect with the characters. I was sad to see this book end.
In a nutshell, 11/22/63 is a book about a man who has the ability to go back in time and change the events of history. His journey captivates the reader from the beginning and keeps you turning the pages, anxious to find out how how changing one thing in history can effect the future… in good ways and in bad. Love, romance, suspense and more… 11/23/63 is one book that has it all. (A special thanks to my blogging friend, Ron, for recommending it!)
What are you reading now? Follow me on Goodreads so we can share book recommendations with each other. Up next for me is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
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I LOVED Unbroken! There are some rough patches to get through, but it is phenom.
11/22/63 is on my shelf — my 17 year old has it … but there are SO many on my shelf right now 🙁 I need to dedicate more time to reading!
Oh Naomi – you’ve got to move 11/22/63 up to the top of your pile. You will LOVE it!
I’m on chapter 3 of Unbroken and already love it!
I too enjoyed 11/22/63. I also loved Unbroken. Both are two books I recommend to others. I am now reading Sarah’s Key. It is a page turner. Add it to your to- read list on Goodreads.
Sarah’s Key has been on my to be read list for quite some time. I’m going to have to move it up!
I started reading Stephen King when I arrived to the US and even though I used to scorn him for being too prolific (ergo probably not very good – admittedly, I was a book snob:), I fell in love with his writing. Any writer who can instill in you a fear of clowns knows a thing or two about human emotions:)
I am looking forward to reading his last book, especially because it is a departure from his previous work.
As for my reading, I am finishing Until I Find You by John Irving, one of my favorite contemporary authors.
Come back and let me know what you think about 11/22/63 after you finish it. I think you’ll really love it!
Because of your recommendation, I downloaded 11/22/63 to our Kindle today. I hope to start it in a few minutes. I, too, am behind on my reading, but I recommend to you the book, Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris, RN. It isn’t one you can just sit down and read through to the end because tears get in your way. She is a hospice nurse, and this book tells some of the experiences she has had with terminally ill patients.
I can’t wait to talk to you about it when you are done, Mom! I’ll definitley pick up the book you recommended as well!
Sean just finished 11/22/63 yesterday, and he loved it. Just last night he asked me if I wanted him to tell me about how it ended. I am glad that I would not let him. Because after hearing his enthusiasm about it and now reading your post, I am excited to read it, too.
I’m glad you wouldn’t let him too! You’ll really like it. It will make you think in ways you might not have before!
I’m jumping between books (series) right now, so I’m reading 4 different books.
You and your mom have inspired me to start reading again! I am going to start with 11-22-63, And since the tears get in the way with Glimpses of heaven maybe I can read that one at the same time. Thanks Kristen and Mrs. Wogan for a great idea for 2012!
Yay, Robin!! I’m dying to talk about it with someone so let me know when you are done 🙂
I don’t think I could get through winter without the public library to provide lots of good books & my gas fireplace! Make sit easy to steal a few minutes from my day and completely unwind………
I am one of those people who is always reading something! Right now I’m out of new books, so I’m rereading my bookshelf, and at the moment I’m reading Dream No Little Dreams, which is a biography of Tommy Douglas’ government of Saskatchewan in the postwar years – you’re probably already asleep, but they’re the people who started Canada’s socialized medicine system. Also, the book’s by my great-uncle, Al Johnson, who was a civil servant in that government, among other things.
Obviously, not for everyone. One I can recommend without reservations is Winter’s Bone – don’t know if you saw the movie, but when I did (recently), I had to read the book from whence it came, and man is it good. It’s by Daniel Woodrell – give it a look!
I haven’t read nearly as much in the last year that I did the year before, and I’m missing it a lot right now. I think a trip to the library is going to go on the list for this week!
I’ve been curious about that book… I’m also working on making time to read more this year! I got a kindle recently and love it… I just finished The Good Daughters – enjoyed it, and thought the end was going to be a bit different than it turned out to be. That was ok because the story worked well, I just made my own guesses at what was going to happen. I’ll look into this book now.
I think the easy access to the internet, social media, and our blogs has changed all our reading habits. I, too, get angry at myself for not being absorbed by books anymore (except occasionally) and, yet, here I am reading blogs instead of books.
But I’m intrigued by your review of SK’s book. Like you, I’m not a fan but I’m going to order this one.
Very nice post Kristen. So glad you liked it as much as I did.
It’ll be interesting to see how this post comment strings grows and what people think.
I actually have another recommendation: It’s Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
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