[stylist] Review on 11/22/63

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Brad,

Nice, in-depth review. I like how you use specific examples from the
writing to better explain your point as well as the carpenter analogy.
I've only read a few King books, but tend to stay away from his novels
just because I can't always handle disturbing material. I usually let my
husband read this kind of stuff and let me know if I could handle it!
Grin. This book sounds intriguing nonetheless and not as violent or
disturbing as some of his books have been. The Stand or Bag of Bones
anyone?

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 26
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:22:31 -0600
From: Brad Duns? <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Book review of sorts: 11-22-63
Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20120106091812.055ac2e0 at braddunsemusic.com>
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Title: 11-22-63
Author: Stephen King
Genre (my classification): Sci Fi/Drama/Suspense/Mystery/Romance Rating
(1 out of 5) 4.5
Rating: I would give it an R due to occasional 
language and violence, though I'm a bit 
conservative compared to the current media rating 
system which might give it a PG. As if a parent 
sitting next to a kid would mysteriously and 
effectively eliminate the offensive elements.
Pages: Unknown as it was the commercial audio version.
Reading time: Approximately 30 hours 45 minutes

Though I am not totally opposed to a good horror 
flick now and again, I do tend to gravitate 
towards mystery, drama, suspense and occasional 
romance media; not to mention biographies and 
self-advancement type books. Nonetheless, and 
despite the genre he is known for, I was very 
curious to read a Stephen King novel simply due 
to the fact people seemed to rave of his writing style.

I was gifted the audio version of the novel 
11-22-63 by Stephen King from my son for 
Christmas. I think because he knows my wife--his 
mother, is absolutely not a fan of anything 
horror, decided to play it safe and pick a King 
novel that was more of a Sci Fi than anything 
close to horror. I will say that I am not a 
"Treky" type either and tend to shy away from 
cheesy Sci Fi type movies or books, but I thought 
to give this Sci Fi a go regardless. On the 
horror front, since I tend to blare books while 
on the early morning treadmill, I too was glad my 
wife wouldn't be awakened to graphical 
descriptions of dismemberment and character 
disfiguring, though it might be an effective 
stimulant without the consumption of caffeine.

I didn't get far into the book before I began to 
recognize why King's writing style kept one's 
interest. The fresh descriptions of everyday 
items was particularly appealing to me as a 
songwriter, Phrases like "fish-belly white" when 
describing a face gone pale; and "the flirt that 
was floating between us for the past two months" 
describing that ever slight and mysterious sense 
just before actually recognizing a flirt existed. 
The fresh phrases and perspective kept me 
interested in general, and just when you think he 
has exhausted describing a scene or character's 
thought, he successfully digresses into a small 
flashback or diversion of current events, and 
then returns to his diverted description, 
investing more of your visual and emotional 
capital like an effective stockbroker drawing out 
more of your willingness to buy more shares.

I would liken his writing, at least in this book, 
as a master carpenter who knows the value of kerf 
cuts. A kerf cut is a linear series of saw cuts 
not quite all the way through a strip of wood, 
enabling it to be bent without breaking. You can 
take a perfectly straight rigid piece of wood, 
and if given enough kerf cuts in it, can make it 
into a complete circle without crack or splinter. 
What King does in this book is start you off with 
a straight piece of wood, then puts some kerf 
cuts on one side of the board, then on the other, 
then a little more on that same side, then 
switches sides on you to direct your emotion in 
another direction. Since a strip of wood has four 
sides to it, he makes well use of kerfing all 
four sides, or wait ? does a strip of wood have 
just four sides? That is what he would like you 
to assume, but why couldn't it have six, eight or 
more sides to it? Kerf cutting each one of those 
facets would indeed create quite a twisted 
curling piece of wood. That is King's art. He 
plays on your assumption and curls the strip of 
wood, or plot, always staying ahead of the curve. He
gives the feel of random cuts kerfed in the 
board, and yet you know there is no randomness to it whatsoever.

I won't comment on the storyline or summarize the 
plot or characters because it would totally spoil 
the apprehension of the story. I will say it is 
based off the assassination of JFK which has a 
historical element to it. It is told from the 
protagonists narrative and I think the most 
impressive thing about this book is it appealed 
to all of the genre's I love. I'd gotten my fix 
of mystery as there were elements that ran the 
length of the book that kept you thinking of what 
it meant-and he was not shy to bring that to the 
front of your mind along the way; e.g. jimla and 
the yellow card man. There was suspense as you 
followed in real-time as the narrator recalled 
his experiences, not knowing what would happen 
next as he described it. There was a powerful 
underlying romance that drove the entire book 
along with friendships that drew you in. You 
didn't just listen to the character, he wrote it 
in such a way that you felt you "knew" those 
people. There is a fine balance in determining 
what to say about someone and what not to say; 
that is to say if we go too far in describing 
something it creates more questions that if left 
unanswered make a character unbelievable. Just 
prior to that, you can eliminate some aspects and 
we don't get to a point of guessing or wondering 
about a whole left. For instance one character in 
the book does a very bad thing, and it seems an 
extreme end of his character, and while King 
could have went off and described or tried 
explaining why, it would have taken us too far 
away from the plots trail, and in essence create 
more curiosity or question about the character's 
past. Omitting some detail and leaving the act 
stand for what it was and moving on was the right choice.
Each aspect or genre within this one book had its 
own story, yet they all were intertwined. I will 
say due to the Sci Fi aspect of it, it sure made 
you think of various possibilities or what could 
be possible based on the set up he gave. I like that aspect of that
genre.

I had one problem with this book, and that was 
its obstinate draw on my calendar. That is to 
say, I couldn't put the book down, I found myself 
thinking of it when I wasn't reading it, and 
created excuses to do other things around the 
house just so I could listen to it. I dare say, 
due to cooked meals, folded laundry and such, my 
wife would likely want me to read another one 
though. The audio actor who read it did a superb 
job, he totally became the character and not only 
did he do a good job impersonating JFK, Texans, 
and the east coasters, but I expect you'll 
recognize the voice impersonations of the FBI 
agent, Dallas police and old man in the wheelchair.

Stephen talks about the writing of the book at 
the end, which was interesting. Due to the 
historical nature of it, there was lot of 
information for him to draw on, and yet due to 
the mystery behind JFKs assassination, that gave 
him license to speculate or make his 
determination just like the rest of the world.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, it is an 
excellent sample of writing. I will give a 
warning that there are some rather powerful 
expletives in it. He spared us of descriptions of 
sex, and as for the horror aspect, if you are a 
bit weak in the knees in that area, you'll be 
glad to know that you'll make it through without 
faint. Only one area is descriptive but it is 
very brief, and I would say probably more of an 
emotional impact rather than graphical because of 
the situation and delivery of it. It is a very 
minute part of the whole so you'll be OK.

When said and done, I am interested in reading 
another of his novels, but my problem is, I have 
other things to get done in life and I could 
easily become consumed in reading more of these 
if they are as good as this one.

I'll leave you with the following phrases:

"Who are you! What are you doing here? You don't belong here!" "Jimla"
"How we danced" Glen Miller's "In The Mood" "The harmonics in life"
"Hello Ms Dunnhill" "My lindy days are long gone"





Brad Duns?