Chris is Reading: 11/22/63

Stephen King, who I consistently consider the Dickens of his time, returns with his masterful new novel, 11/22/63 (Scribner). As usual, King's premise is ingenious: Jake, a schoolteacher in a quiet Maine town is approached by a dying man with a secret--a time portal located in his diner.  Can Jake travel back to 1958 and finish the job the dying man cannot? Can he prevent the assassination of JFK? So begins a relentless journey through decades, and a thought-provoking study of history, regret, chance, destiny, and the cruelty of time.

"Time is obdurate," King keeps reminding us, and we need to consider how every choice we make reverberates, creating ripples that flutter like a butterfly's wings. Ultimately, 11/22/63 is a passionate love story, the tale of two people from different eras and places who are determined to fight the indifference of time, only to discover that love itself, is timeless.

— Chris Avena