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psychnp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
But I kept going because hos books so often start slow building a base for the action, this was the first of his books I finished still thinking it was boring.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Classism
savage_book_review's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For me, it's not so much about the overarching plot of trying to save JFK that makes this stand out. Instead, it's the attention to detail which vividly brings this man's journey to life, both in terms of the factual elements - tracing Lee Harvey Oswald's life in the lead up to the fateful day is fascinating in and if itself - but also the seamless weaving in of the fictional characters and their goings-on to 'harmonise' the past. It's so very easy to fall down your own rabbit hole and come to believe in these characters; it really wouldn't take much to convince me that George Amberson/Jake Epping did actually write his story, and Stephen King is just 'the face'.
The concept of time travel might be sci-fi, but the writing makes it effortless to just 'go with it'. There's no real explanation as to where this hole in the world came from or why it exists, but there wasn't a single point where I didn't accept the position as plausible. The plot device just works. The exploration of the butterfly effect and the repercussions of George/Jake's actions do drag you into a type of dystopia, and I love how enough detail is given to allow you to understand exactly what has happened, while leaving enough to the imagination to have you thinking of the consequences for a long time after you put the book down. In turn, it inevitably leads to you questioning what you would do if you had the same or a similar opportunity.
There are some very dark moments throughout, with depictions of murder and domestic violence being important to the story. In some cases it's quite graphic, but it's not gratuitous and these moments are truly gripping to read. They're also important to our main character's development as he learns about the world he's now inhabiting and how the rabbit hole works.
Even in the quieter moments though, he writing remains engaging. I wouldn't say it's a fast paced book, and certainly there are plenty of more 'domestic' interludes that by all accounts should drag, but every moment is beautifully and thoughfully written and really digs into your psyche. I adore the romantic element - definitely not something I was expecting in a Stephen King book! - and to be honest I almost stopped caring about the world in jeopardy! And when the main character finds his 'people', the book develops a sweet small town cozy feel, albeit with shadows looming...
I'll admit to wanting a different ending, but the one we got is absolutely fitting, if heart-wrenching .
I'd thoroughly recommend this to anyone.
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
katierobertsonshaddix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
balamaqab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity and Panic attacks/disorders
newswoman's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishchaos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is LONG, over 800 pages. For the first 400, I was actually quite liking the story, but it became very repetitive. And the love interest was boring and needed more development.
if this is your first SK novel, I wouldn't recommend it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
bambicat234's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, War, and Classism
travisppe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
boundforinfinity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I will give King credit, the Kennedy Assassination is a complex and long-winded network of errors in the US police force and special forces, including the FBI. The concept was interesting, but the story just felt drawn out and intercepting moments did not need to happen. Unlike other King stories, I wasn't sold on the relationships between the protagonist and his beau. The leading man Jake Epping/George Amberson and the bonny young lass sidekick Sadie Dunhill spend most of the novel together and yet I did not feel the chemistry.
I will argue, I prefer King's horrors to his other genre-branches, and thus I'm biased against King on this 740 page book that spent 500 pages setting up the actual "book" itself.
I apologise, Mr. King, for such a harsh critique. I commend the interesting take on a time-travel story, quite a classic in the genre of sci-fi, and bringing it to its unique selling factor: Jake Epping himself. If it were not for the main character's 'I'm just a simple man here to kill the president's assassin' persona, I would not be sold. But Jake is the average American male, a respected teacher, a citizen concerned with maintaining friendships with the elderly. Just off to kill Lee Harvey Oswald.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry