This is one of those books that I can read over and over again without getting bored of it. It still makes me cry every time I read it, it's a wonderful book that keeps you turning the pages all the way through. Before I start I will warn you that it is not Kings usual style of book at all, it isn't at all like Kings usual horror books. I have never been found of King because of his horror, but this is ... differnt... it has a slight hint of horror, but is mainly a captivating thriller. Yes it has gore, but for some reason that only makes it more exiting...anyway; on with the review.

Plot
This amazing book is set in 1935, which if I am correct is the Great depression. The whole book is written as one man remembering his time as a warden at a death row prison. You have a variety of different characters from all the wardens to the prisoners, it is a story which expresses peoples reactions to these prisoners very, very well. From Percy Wetmore who hates them all, and shows utter contempt for them in some of the most awful ways possible even ruining their deaths to the people like Paul Edgecombe who feels compassion for them and tries to do his best for them during their stay.
The main character in the story is John Coffey who is a prisoner who was jailed for raping two girls and killing them, this is what the first part of the story is about. Except you learn a little later that he never killed them, he was trying to take back the damge that had been done. Unfortunately for the 'big guy' his size and stature alone were enough for the courts to convict him of a terrible crime that he was innocent of.
The book has John as the main charcter, but it covers many characters sub-plots telling thir stories as well - I will go into more detail of the characters in a minute. Generally the book goes through the 'narrators' life until he is back as a very old man in a nursing home, even then as a nice twist to the book Paul recognises people in the nursing home as the nature of people in the prison. Like Brad Dolan is very similar to Percy Wetmore.
To tell the plot of this story without giving it all away is very difficult, and I think this is all I can do for now although more will come to light in my characters part.

Inmates
John Coffey - The main character of this story in a sense, well at least a lot of the story line is based on him. He was put on the death row because he was accused of raping and killing two white girls, he was mainly found guilty because he was a 'nigger'. He stood 6'8" tall with numerous scars on his body. You find out throughout the book that Coffey was not guilty of the crime he was supposesd to have commited, and is really a miricule worker throughout the book healing a urinery infection, a broken up mouse and a brain tumour. Even though we know that he was innocent there was no real proof and he still had to die by American law.
Eduard Delacroix - On death row for raping a girl and killing her, then trying d, 19 years old, killed 3 people in a hold-up, 1 pegnant, and a forth in the getaway. Thinks he's billy the kid. Tried to commit murder when coming onto the block, realising that they can only fry him once. Dean Stanton was the one that he attempted to kill. A complete pest throughout the book, getting repeatably put in the restraint room.Later in the book he makes a homosexual come on to Percy and comes to a nasty end.
Arlen Bitterbuck - Also known as The Chief or Chief Goat Cheese in Harry's case as that's what he claimed he smelt like. He had killed a man whilst drunk - while both of them were drunk actually - he had crushed the man's head with a cement block. At issue had been a pair of boots. In reality he was no chief but just first elder of his tribe.
Arthur Flanders - Otherwise known as The President. He walked out of the E block alive, into the C block where all the lifers were. He didn't last much longer anyway as he got drowned in a vat of cleaning fluid by another inmate - just a suspended death sentence I suppose. Not much is said about this guy really.