Next King Book or Film

Hi Gary,

You posed a good question with the above post. I have already read 11/22/63 (just after it came out in 2011) and I can tell you that the novel is long, extremely detailed, and yet very worthwhile. For myself, I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. I have no problem in recommending it to you if you are thinking about reading it.

The last Stephen King book that I read (or rather listened to in this case) was the 2014 book 'Revival' which I would describe as slow-moving vintage horror from King, with an eventual and terrifying ending. Again I think it is worthwhile.

The next Stephen King novel that I will be reading is likely to be 'End of Watch' which is not out yet but is due for release on June 7 2016. I will probably get a version of the audio-book and listen to that.

It is the third in the so called 'Bill Hodges Trilogy' and I have enjoyed the first two, however the first one 'Mr. Mercedes' I think is better than the second book 'Finders Keepers.'

Obviously that point is up for debate, to each their own.

I am going 'Off Topic' for this next bit:

Anyone who has read and enjoyed the novel '11/22/63' might also be interested in the British writer Ben Elton with his 2014 novel 'Time and Time Again.'

His writing is not as dynamic - or as action-packed - as Stephen King's, and yet he tells a similarly themed story (and draws some of the same conclusions as well.) In this case a time-traveller (using a different method) has the opportunity to go back to before 1914, and make an attempt at preventing the outbreak of The Great War.

An interesting thought.

Anyway, I am looking forward to June and the release of 'End of Watch.'

Cheers for now.

I would like another anthology series. A sequel to salems lot, the short story of an astronaut possessed by an alien and the body.

A wrap around story would be nice.

Just finished 11/22/63 and here is my take on it. This is a C&P from my post on the board for The Stand.

The book was excellent, and it was a fun read. Also, it should be noted that I agree with King when it comes to JFK's assassination. I also believe that Oswald was the killer and he acted alone.

The book was a skillful blending of historical fact and pure fiction. JFK was a real person, of course, as was LHO, his mother and his wife. George de Mohrenschildt was real as was Carlo Marcello, in addition to FBI agent James Hosty, and others. Jake, Sadie, Al and Bill were, of course, characters created by King.

In his afterward, King said that some felt his treatment of Dallas was too harsh, and this is a criticism that I tend to agree with, although King does not. The people of Dallas were as much a victim of Oswald as the nation was. King, (who is an advocate of more restrictive gun-laws) also asserted that carrying a concealed gun in Texas was legal, which at the time, it most certainly was not.

Another inconsistency was the Mafiosi going after Jake/George for winning the bets on various things. This does not strike me as being entirely realistic, and for this reason: if it became known that bookies take after you and beat you to within an inch of your life for winning a payoff, how many would go to their favorite bookmaker? After all when you win a big jackpot in Vegas, the casino plays it up as much as they can. The publicity is very good for them and they get more players as a result. The same thing with bookies. They want the occasional big payout, because it encourages other people to play. Simple marketing.

King also makes (big surprise!) various gun goofs.

In short, while 11/22/63 was a good (and I'll go so far as to call it one of King's best efforts) read, The Stand remains my favorite SK book.