2026 Holiday Reading Challenge | The Running Bibliophile

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Who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it pushes you to read outside your comfort zone or discover a new author? I’ve always wanted to join a reading challenge or reading bingo, but so many of them feel repetitive. So, I decided to create something a little different. It doesn’t mean a challenge like this isn’t out there; I just haven’t come across one myself. Introducing The Running Bibliophile’s 2026 Holiday Reading Challenge, a fun and unique way to expand your reading list while celebrating the spirit of the year. This challenge features 14 books of your choice, with one key twist: each book’s plot must revolve around the specific holiday mentioned. The challenge runs for January 1 through January 31, 2026. To keep things exciting, you may not duplicate any books on the list. By the time you've completed the challenge, you will have read 14 new books to diversify your reading list. To kick things off, the first prompt is simple: choose any holiday-themed book as l...
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Book Review: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

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sci fi book review of 11/22/63 by stephen king
11/22/63 by Stephen King opens with high school teacher Jake Epping being recruited by his friend Al, a local diner owner, to travel back in time to 1963 and stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Though skeptical at first, Jake follows Al’s instructions and discovers a portal to the past. As he builds a new life in another era, he quickly learns that altering history comes with unexpected consequences and not everything goes according to plan.

Who hasn't thought about time travel ... of going back into the past or jumping ahead into the future? With so many books, and movies, on this subject matter, you'd think the subject of time travel would be overdone and predictable. But, Stephen King is anything but predictable and delivers a story that feels fresh, immersive, and completely unforgettable. I frequently find myself thinking about 11/22/63.

Does the date sound familiar to you? On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, leaving the nation in shock and forever changing the course of American history. It’s a moment that continues to spark curiosity, speculation, and, in this case, brilliant storytelling.

In 1971, Stephen King wanted to explore a concept for a novel where a character went back into time to stop the assassination of JFK and the aftermath. However, he felt like he didn't have the time to properly research the subject matter and that it was too close to the actual event to do it justice, so he put it on the back burner. All I can say is that I am extremely happy that he came back to his concept and actually wrote and published 11/22/63. 

When it first came out, my mom and I were super excited to read it. My mom read it first because I was in the middle of a book already. When she finished, she kept asking if I was ever going to read it, but I kept putting it off. Then, Hulu announced that the mini-series coming out, which got me to finally pick up the book up and read it.

jfk assassination Unlike most of King's novels, 11/22/63 is not a traditional horror book but more of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that has a bit of everything in it including romance, surprisingly. It’s honestly hard to put into words just how magical, gripping, and emotionally powerful this book is.

There aren't many books that make me want to call in sick to work, but this was one of them. I didn't, but it certainly was tempting. From the very first page, I was completely hooked and couldn't wait to find out if Jake Epping, stopped the assassination of JFK. The writing was so vivid that I actually felt like I was there with with him.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is its characters. Lately, I’ve read quite a few books filled with unlikable or forgettable characters, but that’s absolutely not the case here. I truly cared about what happened to them, and by the end, I found myself in tears ... happy tears, but still.

If you read no other book by Stephen King, then you must read 11/22/63. Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore or online retailer to purchase it. I give it five out five stars.

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