If anyone writes a review on travel/holidays in Africa then please drop me a note in my guestbook, I...
If anyone writes a review on travel/holidays in Africa then please drop me a note in my guestbook, I'm hoping to go there when I've taken my silly exam and get some time to myself again!xxx
Member since:04.12.2000
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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. This is the only film that, three days after seeing it, still cropped up 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 it very diificult to complete any book I attempt to read in French. Not so the Green Mile!
I do tend to get caught up in books if they are any good, but never anything like this. I think that having seen the film first made it even more compelling. Whatever the reason, once I had picked up the book, I just couldn't put it down. This is a sure sign of a must read classic. Let me tell you about the story. I'll try not to give too much away, but just to give you a rough idea:
The story is set in death row in a place called Cold Mountain in America. I think it takes place in the 1930s-40s. The way it comes about being told is because one of the guards in death row has grown old and is writing his memoirs in an old folks home about, well a long time later, but if I told you how long it would give away one of the twists in the story......
Back in Cold Mountain, a new inmate arrives. He is reffered to as a giant, due to his imense size, but he is very placid and doesn't seem to quite have his wits about him. His name is John Coffey. Like the drink, only not spelt the same....
He is brought to death row following conviction of a double murder of two young sisters. Before this, he had no history of crime. Well, no history atall...
There are a few other characters involved, including Edouard Delacroix, a little French man who committed multiple murders, and on death row, the only thing that seems to keep him amused is a tame mouse called Mister Jingles....
Percy is an evil guard, who seems to have a problem with every inmate, especially the mouse....
Wild Bill Wharton is another inmate who is only 19 years of age, but has a history of violent crime. Maybe more of a history than at first believed....
There are several unpredictable twists to the story, but I can't tell you anymore. Go on, pick up the book and I'll see you back here in a few days when you've finished it and you are writing your own opinion on it. I guarantee you'll love it, but don't expect to get much work done, or much sleep while you read it. Well go on then, what are you waiting for?
Great review, I shall have to give this one a try - did you know that they first published it as a serial novel, with about 8 "mini" books making up the novel? I still remember seeing all these skinny SK books in WH Smith... Cheers, Kath
veramck 16.12.2001 15:14
great op. I read the book first and couldn't believe my luck when the film came out shortly after
Elf_Child 04.03.2001 03:08
Great op, i'm more of a book person myself too, but i didn't even realise there was a book out, i loved the film though!
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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