The Authors Speak has long maintained that we will not post negative reviews. If we don't like a book, or feel it's poorly written, then we'll simply not mention it. There's no need in little jabs here and there to negate an artist's vision. That said, if you're looking for a scathing negative review on King's latest tome, look elsewhere. That's not the bone I have to pick.
In fact, 11/22/63 is good. It's not the greatest work that King's put out, but it is solid storytelling (much the same way Under the Dome and Duma Key were). I liked all of these. I didn't love them. But none of them warranted a negative review by any means.
11/22/63 tells a simple story about a man travelling back in time (a local diner holds a time portal to 1958 in its storeroom) and possibly preventing the assassination of JFK. Okay, it's really not that simple; is anything ever that simple in a King novel? What's good is you have a sort of vintage King feel here, not so much macabre as it is sci-fi whimsy. It's not light reading, but it's worth a look see.
So where, then, are the bone(s) I have to pick? Well, as an admirer of King's work - good or god-awful - I'm finding my patience waning. Is there any author who has done more for literature than King? Probably, sure. But King's got a padded bank account and more money than he probably knows what to do with.
A few years back, when King announced that he's probably be "retiring", I was giddy and saddened. It was interesting to see an artist (yeah, I said it) calling his career on his own terms. I mean, Terry Pratchett's still working, but the Alzheimer's has certainly dictated a certain wear and tear on the craft. Other authors simply write until they pass (rest in peace Stephen Cannell). King was ready to call it off, retire, live the good ol' life.
That was, until he said he had stories that he'd previously written that he wanted to polish up.
The first of these launched Simpsons-gate. The much anticipated Under the Dome was released, and instantly drew allusions to the recently released Simpsons movie (specifically seeing Springfield comically ensconced in a giant, government-sanctioned Dome). While the two were inherently different, both did demonstrate the breakdown of society in a short amount of time.
I fought the ire of fans, standing by King's side and dismissed it as pure coincidence. I'm not so sure I can do that any longer.
When I saw the description of this book, I instantly had a nugget of a thought. This sounds like a movie that I've seen before. After sifting through the cerebral wasteland, I did recall a film - Running Against Time - that was made for television. It's an atrocity featuring Robert Hays and Catherine Hicks (and when those are your headliners, you can imagine). Still, in 1990 when I saw it, the film made an impact. I remember the flick rekindling my interest in time travel in a more realistic setting.
In the film, Hays' character has never gotten over the death of his brother in Vietnam. With the assistance of a scientist, he travels back in time to thwart the assassination of JFK and prevent the further engagement in Vietnam, thereby saving his brother's life.
Okay, okay, you can decry, who saw this horrid movie. I get it. But that's where the bone-picking starts. Since the movie is far from widely seen, it would be a perfect forum to "borrow" from.
I'll accept that this is, once again, pure coincidence. The last two novels, though, feel like they were borrowed and stamped with King's signature. It feels, it felt, it is just not right. I've got a little demon lurking in my brain that's telling me it's too familiar. And it's driving me nutsy!
It's also a little evidence that King could potentially toss anything out there and have the thing turn to virtual gold in a matter of minutes (only to see those books on the bargain tables in a year's time).
But the bone-picking doesn't stop there. I've got a serious bone to pick with Scribner. I realize that they're the business side of art, but I would like to believe that the artist has a little something to offer about it.
When Under the Dome was released, Scribner and Amazon really stuck it to the brick and mortar stores. They offered the 1100 page book at $8 on pre-order (later that price would drop to $6.99). It was the first book to showcase the power online retailers had. I firmly hold that this was the one, single event that sparked the inevitable downfall of retail stores.
Flash forward a few years and the country is still in the stranglehold of a treacherous (and worsening) economy. This would be the perfect time to help a few readers out and offer the thing for cheap. But Scribner's got other plans.
At about 300 pages shy of the Under the Dome mark, the hardcover retails for $35. The pre-order rate, at its lowest, was $16.99. Not too bad, and nearly 50% off. But it misses the mark set by King's previous novel.
If that's not enough, Scribner also drops the ball in the "e-World". E-readers are the trend (like it or loathe it, and most know we fall in the latter category) and the "now" of literature. It's inescapable. So this was yet another opportunity to aide readers, promote literacy, and keep people reading and imagining. However, Scribner has tightened the price and the options here. Instead of just procuring the book for your e-reader, you have to purchase the video "extras" as well. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. This increases the price quite a bit and offers no breaks for the buyer.
For a decent 5-star read, the experience and all the question marks drops it to an almost 2-star experience. In fact, unless you've purchased it already, I implore you to check this one out from the library. Especially since it will undoubtedly sit on a Barnes & Noble bargain bin in a year with the price sticker that reads: $6.99.
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