John Coffey arrives at Cold Mountain Penitentiary ready to walk "The Green Mile" for the murder of the twin girls under his protection. Prison Guard Paul Edgecombe has a duty to ensure even the most psychopathic of murderers such as Billy "The Kid" Wharton journey along the mile towards the ... Read review
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This novel (now complete in one volume) taps into what Stephen King does best: ... more
character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades l...
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This novel (now complete in one volume) taps into what Stephen King does best: ... more
character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades l...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
This novel (now complete in one volume) taps into what Stephen King does best: ... more
character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades l...
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This novel (now complete in one volume) taps into what Stephen King does best: ... more
character-driven storytelling. The setting is the small "death house" of a Southern prison in 1932. The charming narrator is an old man looking back on the events, decades l...
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1-5 of 32 reviews of The Green Mile - Stephen King
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Walk the mile, you would be daft not too.
Advantages: Emotional, tragic, epic. Disadvantages: Some may not like plodding style.
...walk "The Green Mile" for the murder of the twin girls under his protection. Prison Guard Paul Edgecombe has a duty to ensure even the most psychopathic of murderers such as Billy "The Kid" Wharton journey along the mile towards the electric chair is a peaceful one. Why then does Paul start to doubt Coffey's guilt and what does Coffey mean when he says, "I tried to take it back but it was too late"?
Stephen ... ...appeal crossing numerous genres along the way. Perhaps it is because it was originally written as a six-book serial that King is able to defy genre and write so expressively but either way the results are impressive. This is a novel that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Part supernatural-thriller, part historical epic this novel uses an autobiographical style to convey a sense of realism. Using Paul Edgecombe as the narrator of the story ... more
John Coffey arrives at Cold Mountain Penitentiary ready to walk "The Green Mile" for the murder of the twin girls under his protection. Prison Guard Paul Edgecombe has a duty to ensure even the most psychopathic of murderers such as Billy "The Kid" Wharton journey along the mile towards the electric chair is a peaceful one. Why then does Paul start to doubt Coffey's guilt and what does Coffey mean when he says, "I tried to take it back but it was too late"?
Stephen King's "The Green Mile" is that rarest of beasts, a novel that has a wide appeal crossing numerous genres along the way. Perhaps it is because it was originally written as a six-book serial that King is able to defy genre and write so expressively but either way the results are impressive. This is a novel that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Part supernatural-thriller, part historical epic this novel uses an autobiographical style to convey a sense of realism. Using Paul Edgecombe as the narrator of the story it is told as one long flashback from the point of view of Edgecombe in a Nursing Home which he perceives as his very own walk towards death.
Set in depression era America King provides a sobering backdrop in this, a most bizarre tale. King brings the prison itself in the form of E block vividly to life with descriptions that make you envisage the smell of lime on the floors. It is easy to picture the dank, dark cells brightened only by the flickering lights of "The Green Mile" itself.
Edgecombe as a central character at first seems a strange choice. He is such a steady, honest character that he fails to leave any significant impression. However, as he is the narrator of the tale I can only assume this is intentional as his averageness (if there is such a word!) lends itself to the novels believability and sense of realism. Fortunately, there are plenty of other characters to hold interest. Be it the mysterious, simple-minded Goliath John Coffey or the wicked, malicious prison guard Percy King is able to captivate with a vast array of complex personalities.
I can hear people already thinking "It sounds good but I do not like King". I ask you to suspend your preconceptions of King as a thriller/horror writer and give this novel a chance. King is actually at his best when he veers away from the genre for which he is widely known. Those of you who have read the short stories "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Body" or "Hearts in Atlantis" are well aware of this but those who have not were you aware that all of these are some of King's most successful film adaptations ("The Body" renamed "Stand By Me")?
Of course it is impossible not to compare "The Green Mile" book to the award winning film adaptation. Of course there are many similarities with the film surprisingly loyal to the book but I would still urge you to read the book. I love the film but the book is so much more. Backgrounds are more complex, characters deeper and reasoning much more clearly explained. Also were the book is different than the film is that it is less about the black and white of good and bad and more about the shades of grey. Prison Guards in the book are not the whiter than whiter characters you see portrayed in the film of the same name. Indeed the prisoners on Death Row are not given as much sympathy by King as in the film adaptation.
This book is emotional, in parts it is a disturbing look into America's depression era manner of justice but largely it is an uplifting read. Of course it is a little lengthy due to it being an amalgamation of a six novel series but I still found myself hooked throughout. It has a plodding style that is all about setting the scene but for me this is a refreshing change from the non-stop action of a King horror.
What I am trying to say in my long-winded way is read this book! King lovers will be pleased and it may even convince the most ardent of King haters that he can weave a convincing story. Available for the paltry £5.59 in paperback on Amazon you really need to read it. Go on you know it makes sense.
Advantages: One of the best books around Disadvantages: Couldn't put it down!
I saw the film of the green mile as soon as it came out. It was made by the same people as the Shawshank Redemption, and I remembered how good that was and rushed out to see the Green Mile. My boyfriend came with me against his better judgement, as he was far more keen to see a lighthearted film, which this is NOT! However, at the end of the film, we both left the cinema saying that it was the best film we had ever seen, and that opinion still stands. ... ...in conversation, just to discus the story and how moving it was. Definately a must see film!
That said, I have always been more of a book person myself, so when I was looking for a book to read recently, I decided that the Green Mile was the obvious choice. Infact, I was so sure that the book would be brilliant, that I decided to read it in French. Although I would class myself as fluent in French, it is not my first language and I therefore find ...
NATI 01.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Green Mile - Stephen King
Advantages: Plenty of excellent reading Disadvantages: None, unless you went for the serialised version!
...me, went a little down the pan as it were....
Delores Clairbourne, Needful Things, they weren't bad but not up his usual standard for me. And so, I went off Stephen King for a while and though I still read anything he brought out, I didn't rush out to buy them, then the first small paperback of The Green Mile came out. Personally, I saw this as a cynical way of the publishers and King himself trying to wring more money out of the reading public; ... ...I didn't buy any of the serialised versions for the combined reasons listed above.
After the serialised version had been out for a little while, I was browsing our local bargain bookshop when I saw the full version of the book and I thought 'Oh what the hell...' and bought it. I will say that it was a very good decision, at that time the book wasn't anything like as famous as it is now because of the Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks.
On to the ...
Kes30 31.08.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Green Mile - Stephen King
Advantages: Wonderful Storyline, Serial Novel, a Classic!! Disadvantages: Well...can I come back to you?
The Green Mile, a Serial Novel by Stephen King. The book comes in six parts, and it was decided the book should be one volume.
I recommend you watch the Oscar Winning Film as well, Starring Tom Hanks, it is excellent, however lets talk about the book.
Part 1 - The Two Dead Girls!
This explosive start to the book addresses the main issue. What you look at is the murder of the two Detterick twins. One night they decide to sleep outside, their mother ... ...alarm bells to ring around the Detterick Farm.
A massive search party is set up and local land scoured to find them. Blood stained Cloth is re-covered from trees, an indication that they were in distress. Miles away from Detterick Farm, a man is heard to be screaming. Of course everyone approaches him, the large Negro has one twin in each hand. He is crying his eyes out, and shouts,
"I tried to take it back, but it was too late' and John Coffey ...
DJ_Rock 19.08.2001 (03.09.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Green Mile - Stephen King
Advantages: King at the peak of his "serious" fiction phase Disadvantages: None that I can think of...to be honest
== THE GREEN MILE ==
=== STEPHEN KING ===
I remember when I first saw this movie. I loved it! Tom Hanks was Paul Edgcombe. I was also glad that I had not read the book first. Most any time a book is adapted into a screenplay they butcher it (especially Steven Kings books). Since I love to read I wanted to read this book even though I already knew the story. I was also curious to see if I would like it as much as the movie. I will say I was pleasantly ... ...and again.
=== About the Book ===
In the beginning of the book we are introduced to an elderly Paul Edgcombe. He is living in a nursing home called Georgia Pines. He is writing the story of what happened to him in the year 1932. He was a prison guard back then in the state penitentiary. He worked in what was called E block. E block was like what is called death row today. That was the year that the mouse showed up. A little mouse just walked right ...
baherbc 08.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Green Mile - Stephen King
Advantages: Thought-provoking book on an interesting subject Disadvantages: Not for the faint-hearted
...to fade as soon as the final page has been reached while others haunt the reader for weeks, months and even years thereafter? It’s over a year now since I read “The Green Mile” by Stephen King and yet the main characters have stayed with me, forcing me from time to time to give consideration to the issues that they faced, and the unresolved questions in my mind that they raised. Whenever I hear of a prisoner in the U.S. on death row awaiting their ... ...penitentiary in Cold Mountain in the year 1932 as it is portrayed in this novel. If I see a comment advocating the re-introduction of the death penalty in this country, I wonder if the proposer has thought through the details of how they would implement it.
Paul Edgecombe, the narrator of The Green Mile, knew all too well the details of his job, and he had come to terms with them in a remarkably mature way. Presiding as superintendent over E-block, ...
Discerna 24.01.2005 (05.02.2005)
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Advantages: True to King style. Disadvantages: Some parts lag.
See this movie! It is very good. BUT... more importantly, READ THE BOOK! It is even better! They have never conveyed in the movies exactly what King's writing puts into our own imaginations! Something is always slightly lacking in the movie versions. I have nearly every StephenKing book written, and I am a huge fan, so my opinion may be a little bias, but I also have the knowledge of his abilities and differences in style, and in my experience, his books are better. In my 20+ years of horror reading experience, King's style has changed with the times. I personally prefer the older novels and short stories like Carrie, Christine, and Salem's Lot, but this story is compelling and easy to read. Published as a series of short novellas, I experienced reading them at their publication, one at a time, and waiting eagerly ...
Advantages: It just has to be read! Disadvantages: None - and I'm not joking!
this is quite possibly one of StephenKings definative literary moments. The GreenMile has to be by far the best book he has ever written. I was priveleged to buy this book the first time around when it was issued in 6 monthly parts and I can assure it is one of the most riveting reads. From the very beginning it has a "must read one more page" feel to it. The story tells of John Coffey, a giant of a man who is wrongly convicted of the murder of twin sisters in the heart of deep South America. Sentenced to the death penalty, he awaits his fate in prison until his time to walk "The GreenMile" ..However, John Coffey is not all he seems to be, and his mysterious powers soon come into the fore, something that prison boss Paul Edgecombe will soon come to learn. A gripping tale from start to finish, if you enjoyed The Shawshank Redemption ...
Advantages: it tell the story well, makes you want to be there Disadvantages: the film is not as indepth as the book
I have read the most gripping story that StephenKing has ever written this was The GreenMile. When i first bought this book just form reading the back cover it was the book that was never going to be put down.
The story is focused in the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility in the 1930's, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the GreenMile, killers await death, whilst their guards watch over them. Good or evil, innocent or guilty, none of them have ever seen the likes of brutal new prisoner John Coffey.
Paul Edgecomb is the head Prison guard on Death Row at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility. When a new inmate, John Coffey, is sent to the prison for the brutal murder of two children, the guards notice something very odd about him.
The way 'the greenmile' was written made me feel as if I was there like a as ...
The Green Mile. Those who walk it do not return -- because at the end of that walk, at the Cold Mountain penitentiary, is the room in which sits the electric chair. It is 1932. The newest inhabitant of Death Row is a giant black man, John Coffey, convicted -- apparently on his own admission -- of the senseless and brutal murder of two little girls. Executing a man is never easy, but at first sight taking society's revenge on Coffey is one of the easier jobs chief guard Paul Edgecombe and his fellow warders have had to do. But nothing is as it seems with John Coffey, and around him unfolds a story both bizarre and horrifying. Whether he is an evil murderer or a holy innocent, Coffey has strange powers, which may yet offer salvation to others, even if they can do nothing to save him. THE GREEN MILE is perhaps the finest novel yet by one of the world's greatest storytellers, by turns warmly human and shatteringly horrific, and unputdownable from first page to last. See all Product Description
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