cover image 11/22/63

11/22/63

Stephen King, read by Craig Wasson. Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged, 30 CDs, 31 hrs., $75 ISBN 978-1-4423-4428-0

In this audio edition of King’s latest novel, which uses time travel to re-examine the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, both the author and narrator Craig Wasson deliver the goods. In what proves to be an adventurous, thrilling, thought-provoking, and romantic story, English teacher Jake Epping travels back in time and works to stop Lee Harvey Oswald from assassinating Kennedy. Wasson embodies the good-natured and honorable Epping, while creating accents and speech patterns for the supporting cast, capturing the twang of smalltown Texas high school students, Marina Oswald’s struggle with the English language, and Kennedy’s Boston accent, which the narrator doesn’t overdo. Wasson is even able to provide a credible voice for George de Mohrenschildt, a friend (and possible co-conspirator) of Oswald who speaks English and Russian with a German accent. The audiobook includes an afterword featuring King discussing the book and a little-known vignette his research turned up about Oswald’s assassin, Jack Ruby. A Scribner hardcover. (Nov.)