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The Green Mile #6
Coffey on the Mile
Cold Mountain Penitentiary has seen its share of death through the years. Now it's John Coffey's turn to take that final walk down the Green Mile. Yet prison guard Paul Edgecombe has uncovered a devastating truth, which means he could be too late to save both himself and Coffey. You see, death by execution may be the easy way out. It's living with the consequences that may last an eternity . . .
Nothing you have ever read can prepare you for Stephen King's boldest exercise in terror, a multi-part serial novel that begins on Death Row and burrows inward to the most horrific secrets of the heart. Brace yourself as the most exciting story imaginable concludes with a rush of wonder and amazement. (back cover)
Nothing you have ever read can prepare you for Stephen King's boldest exercise in terror, a multi-part serial novel that begins on Death Row and burrows inward to the most horrific secrets of the heart. Brace yourself as the most exciting story imaginable concludes with a rush of wonder and amazement. (back cover)
138 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 29, 1996
48 people are currently reading
8175 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,499 books886k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 490 reviews
February 9, 2017
Is it the best that a serial can be when both the MC and the reader just feels the horrible need to *rest* after reading it?
Perhaps that's what Stephen King intended, whether or not he's implying that the balance of the world is truly on a knife's edge or not, but it doesn't change the fact that this series, even when taken as the serial that it was intended, is emotionally draining.
Coffey is truly an odd Christ-figure.
Sure, I'm used to this kind of thing in literature, and SK's nice twist on it is uniquely his, so I can't complain at all, but something about this disturbs me, and it truly isn't the fact that the mythos is attached to a huge black man on death row.
Is it truly the most that the good can hope for, the hope for a little rest and peace? *sigh*
Otherwise, I think this was a good end to a good series of stories, and I'm very happy to have read it spread out as it was intended. :) A good experiment, anyway. :)
Perhaps that's what Stephen King intended, whether or not he's implying that the balance of the world is truly on a knife's edge or not, but it doesn't change the fact that this series, even when taken as the serial that it was intended, is emotionally draining.
Coffey is truly an odd Christ-figure.
Sure, I'm used to this kind of thing in literature, and SK's nice twist on it is uniquely his, so I can't complain at all, but something about this disturbs me, and it truly isn't the fact that the mythos is attached to a huge black man on death row.
Is it truly the most that the good can hope for, the hope for a little rest and peace? *sigh*
Otherwise, I think this was a good end to a good series of stories, and I'm very happy to have read it spread out as it was intended. :) A good experiment, anyway. :)
February 24, 2022
“Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.”
The end. I can’t say much, except it got the better part of my lacrimal glands. Which is as unusual as it is unexpected, for King never overwhelms your emotions in this way. Sure, I mean Pet Sematary or The Shining, all plays pretty close to your heart or brain (mostly brain) but this one, I think had raised the stakes in a very different way through the previous parts and, well, I knew the ending ending won’t disappoint but even better than that was the epilogue.
Mr Jingles is easily the best part of the entire novel, I know I shouldn’t say that for several obvious reasons, but what can I do?
I’ve finished this book for over two weeks now. But got so obsessed with ’Salem’s Lot (AGAIN!!) that having trouble finding the time to write a full-length review.
The end. I can’t say much, except it got the better part of my lacrimal glands. Which is as unusual as it is unexpected, for King never overwhelms your emotions in this way. Sure, I mean Pet Sematary or The Shining, all plays pretty close to your heart or brain (mostly brain) but this one, I think had raised the stakes in a very different way through the previous parts and, well, I knew the ending ending won’t disappoint but even better than that was the epilogue.
Mr Jingles is easily the best part of the entire novel, I know I shouldn’t say that for several obvious reasons, but what can I do?
I’ve finished this book for over two weeks now. But got so obsessed with ’Salem’s Lot (AGAIN!!) that having trouble finding the time to write a full-length review.
May 28, 2020
This was the grand final and absolute highlight in the whole series! You'll come to know how old Paul Edgecombe really is, learn what happened to the characters involved in Cold Mountain Penitentiary and see the similarities between Percy and Brad. The most important this however is the further fate of John Coffey. What a sad and moving story. You'll also meet Mr Jingles again! This is one of the best stories Stephen King ever wrote. Absolutely must read!
September 13, 2022
I thought The Green Mile started off a bit rough, but the quality of the story significantly improved with each new installment and I felt like each one was better than the last. By the time I reached the fourth entry I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I was finished with the entire saga. The final installment might just be the most emotional thing I've ever read by Stephen King, rivaled only by the ending of Pet Sematary. John Coffey is a beautiful, memorable and tragic character, his final words at the end of the story really touched me. Even Mr. Jingles the mouse left a lasting impression on me after all was said and done. This is now among my top 5 favorite books that I've read by King so far.
February 28, 2025
"We each owe a death, there are no exceptions, I know that, but sometimes, oh God, the Green Mile is so long."
I'm wiping away the tears as I write this review. That's the power of Stephen King's writing; no other book has made me ugly cry like The Green Mile does. I'm sad this absolute masterpiece by King is over, but I'm more sad for John Coffey, Paul Edgecombe and everyone who knew what Coffey was and what he was capable of. I will also miss each of these wonderful characters, each of whom feel like real people.
Where the book does differ from the film is we get a bleak look at the futures of the men who participated in Coffey's execution. Dean, the youngest of the guards on E Block, dies less than three months after Coffey, and Paul loses his beloved wife while he's cursed to live his very long life alone.
"Fragile as blown glass, we are, even under the best of conditions. To kill each other with gas and electricity, and in cold blood? The folly. The horror."
The saddest part for me is when Coffey is sitting in the electric chair and he sees they mean to cover his head with the black hood. He begs them not to put him in the dark. This part hurts my heart; that this huge, gentle man with the perpetually wet eyes is so afraid of the dark, it's actually more frightening than the death that awaits him. Despite his size, Coffey is childlike in his innocence.
Every time I read this book (or watch the film), I know I'll be crying long before the end. Yet, I almost relish the tears; sometimes a good cry can be very soothing.
The return of Mr. Jingles also pulls at the heartstrings; one can vividly picture the now very elderly mouse, still enthusiastically performing his tricks right to the end.
King's one and only venture into serial writing was, in my opinion, a resounding success. As much as I love The Shining, I feel like there's a strange magic in The Green Mile that cannot be matched or replicated.
"Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again."
I'm wiping away the tears as I write this review. That's the power of Stephen King's writing; no other book has made me ugly cry like The Green Mile does. I'm sad this absolute masterpiece by King is over, but I'm more sad for John Coffey, Paul Edgecombe and everyone who knew what Coffey was and what he was capable of. I will also miss each of these wonderful characters, each of whom feel like real people.
Where the book does differ from the film is we get a bleak look at the futures of the men who participated in Coffey's execution. Dean, the youngest of the guards on E Block, dies less than three months after Coffey, and Paul loses his beloved wife while he's cursed to live his very long life alone.
"Fragile as blown glass, we are, even under the best of conditions. To kill each other with gas and electricity, and in cold blood? The folly. The horror."
The saddest part for me is when Coffey is sitting in the electric chair and he sees they mean to cover his head with the black hood. He begs them not to put him in the dark. This part hurts my heart; that this huge, gentle man with the perpetually wet eyes is so afraid of the dark, it's actually more frightening than the death that awaits him. Despite his size, Coffey is childlike in his innocence.
Every time I read this book (or watch the film), I know I'll be crying long before the end. Yet, I almost relish the tears; sometimes a good cry can be very soothing.
The return of Mr. Jingles also pulls at the heartstrings; one can vividly picture the now very elderly mouse, still enthusiastically performing his tricks right to the end.
King's one and only venture into serial writing was, in my opinion, a resounding success. As much as I love The Shining, I feel like there's a strange magic in The Green Mile that cannot be matched or replicated.
"Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2020
Wow, what an emotional ending. Loved every sentence of it. Fabulous writing and great story. I enjoyed it all the way. Amazing way to get your imagination going.
October 20, 2021
The Green Mile was the first King story that I'd attempted to tackle as I wanted to start reading more 'grownup' books, the unique publication history of the serialized nature being a throwback to Dickens era was a tempting way for 13 year old me to try and read something more mature in short bursts.
Each month whilst still buying the latest Goosebumps (more out of loyalty at this point), I'd take a trip to the Cold Mountain Penitentiary and the events surrounding the condemned killers on death row.
King has always been strong on character and both Paul Edgecombe the stories narrator and death row supervisor alongside the massive figure of convinced John Coffey are the heartbeat of the novel.
King needed to work extra hard to establish a connection for his constant readers in hope they'd stick with them each month.
So much of the stories themes were clearly ill suited for this impressionable young reader first time around.
Whilst most of the novel focuses on the magical realism, there's plenty of horrific moments that you'd expect from King.
Firstly John's conviction of raping and murdering two young girls is brutal, it's the gruesome fate that awaits Eduarad Delacroix that's almost as shocking too.
The events of this novel certainly had more of an emotional impact this time around, especially during the sixth and final part.
It's a powerful gut punch of an ending for characters you've grown to love.
This is the highest rated King novel on Goodreads and it's completely justified and will now be my recommendation for anyone who wants to read King for the first time.
November 12, 2018
What a wonderful ending to this awesome series. I am so glad our book group read it paced out over the course of many months!
This last book closed things out & gave us so much information, it felt much longer ( informative) than its actual length.
Thank you again SK, Love, one of your many constant readers...
This last book closed things out & gave us so much information, it felt much longer ( informative) than its actual length.
Thank you again SK, Love, one of your many constant readers...
December 7, 2023
Coffey on the Mile was the final of six installments of The Green Mile, King's serial novel which appeared in consecutive months in 1996. It was, of course, published in a single volume in 1997 and was adapted into one of the very best films based on his work; it returned to the best-seller lists in 1999 as a result, and is now known almost exclusively in its collected form, but I think it loses some of its magic. I picked up The Two Dead Girls, the first volume, soon after it hit the stands, and then made a point of popping into B. Dalton's monthly on release day of the next five months. The serial format, as King points out in his introduction, forces the reader to wait and ponder what might happen next, and spreading the reading experience over a half-year with all of that pondering and speculation really makes it a much more memorable experience. It's a really fascinating story, with some of his best characterization, from Coffey to Delacroix to Elaine and on and on, and never forget Mr. Jingles, the coolest mouse in literature since the iconic Algernon and Brown's Mitkey. It's not a "typical" King story but is definitely one of his best. King brings the story to a satisfying and bittersweet, dark but proper conclusion.
June 25, 2020
Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, time bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.
I think this story is one of the best in the Stephen King world, the characters, the moment to say what it says, the beginning, the end, how the circle is closed... It's brutal, sad but amazing.
I think this story is one of the best in the Stephen King world, the characters, the moment to say what it says, the beginning, the end, how the circle is closed... It's brutal, sad but amazing.
April 12, 2013
This time I headed back towards the park and the shelter of a weeping willow, with the heron in the water, close by, watching, waiting; while I learned the fate of these men, and felt the helpless fury of Paul Edgecombe’s wife Janice as she realized what was to be.
She sat without answering. She sat that way for almost a full minute, and then she did something which shocked me as badly as my sudden flow of tears must have shocked her. She reached out and shoved everything off the table with one wide sweep of her arm – plates, glasses, cups, silverware, the bowl of collards, the bowl of squash, the platter with the carved ham on it, the milk, the pitcher of cold tea. All off the table and onto the floor, ker-smash.
As we all did.
I loved those six little books and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting them and remembering that which was then.
If you have not already done so, it is not too late to walk The Green Mile. Highly recommended!
She sat without answering. She sat that way for almost a full minute, and then she did something which shocked me as badly as my sudden flow of tears must have shocked her. She reached out and shoved everything off the table with one wide sweep of her arm – plates, glasses, cups, silverware, the bowl of collards, the bowl of squash, the platter with the carved ham on it, the milk, the pitcher of cold tea. All off the table and onto the floor, ker-smash.
As we all did.
I loved those six little books and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting them and remembering that which was then.
If you have not already done so, it is not too late to walk The Green Mile. Highly recommended!
December 18, 2020
If I could I would give this series a 10! Stephen King is such a skilled writer, and having seen the movie I was more prepared for the scary parts.
Besides his awesome writing, I think the thing I come back to King for is his character development. I always care deeply about his characters; sometimes I wish I hadn't, sometimes bad things happen to good people. But King is unafraid to look deeply within his characters and find what is inside, be it horrifying or ultimate good;(even the mouse.) There are wonderful, fully developed characters in this book.
He blends the previous stories of the series seamlessly, enlarging on or revisiting small moments in the other books. (There is no such thing as a small moment in Stephen King books, however.
Highly recommended. Now in a single volume I believe.
Besides his awesome writing, I think the thing I come back to King for is his character development. I always care deeply about his characters; sometimes I wish I hadn't, sometimes bad things happen to good people. But King is unafraid to look deeply within his characters and find what is inside, be it horrifying or ultimate good;(even the mouse.) There are wonderful, fully developed characters in this book.
He blends the previous stories of the series seamlessly, enlarging on or revisiting small moments in the other books. (There is no such thing as a small moment in Stephen King books, however.
Highly recommended. Now in a single volume I believe.
October 30, 2016
Christ, what an ending. I need to collect myself before writing a full review, but this is now in my top 5 King books. Maybe Top 3.
September 6, 2016
SPOILER-FREE RECENZIJA
Stephen King ovo djelo naziva eksperimentom zbog objavljivanja u nastavcima. Već u predgovoru govori kako mu je ideja za takav format bila dugo u planu, a ako se mene pita ovakav eksperiment mu je savršeno ispao. Doduše, u konačnici sam sve pročitao u integralnom obliku, ali s obzirom na završetke, vjerujem da je čitatelju u vrijeme izlaženja priredio iščekivanja u maniri čekanja nove epizode LOST.
Dojma sam da se Kinga ponajviše promatra iz perspektive autora stvaranja atmosfere, napetosti i nelagode smještajem radnje na odlično odabrana mjesta pomoću mističnih i horor elemenata, ali ne mogu se oteti dojmu da je u ovom djelu na površinu izbila (uz sve prije navedeno) i jaka kritika tadašnjeg društva. Društva u kojem je pravda bila pod rasnim utjecajem više nego pod utjecajem samih dokaza, a od same pravde je bilo važnije imati žrtveno janje. Društva u kojem su se svi deklarativno nazivani jednakima, a zapravo je vladala velika nejednakost.
Glavna okosnica radnje je kaznionica u kojoj su zločinci osuđeni na smrt pogubljenjem na električnoj stolici. Autor stvara jedan mali svemir u kojemu je smrt jedna sasvim normalna i svakodnevna pojava, a upoznaje nas s ljudima koji broje zadnje dane svojeg života čekajući da im zaposlenici kaznionice „podare“ upravo smrt. Spajanje krajnosti je ono što obilježava roman, odnosi koji se razvijaju među osuđenicima i zaposlenicima su sve samo ne jednostavni, a obilježeni su netrpeljivosti, nepovjerenjem, a opet razumijevanjem i propitivanjem istine.
King osuđenike opisuje na tamo human i ljudski način da čitatelj u konačnici ne može zauzeti stranu onako plošno kako bi to inicijalno trebao/želio. Da je majstor suprotnosti dokazuje ubacivanjem posebnog prijateljstva s mišem na mjestu na kojem vlada smrt. Miš simbolizira nadu da se uvijek, bez obzira na okolnosti, može izroditi nešto posebno i dobro. U ovom slučaju je to prijateljstvo ubojice s „običnim“ mišem, koji na površinu izvlači dobrotu i humanost unatoč svih grijesima pojedinca. Takve poruke o društvu su ono što je King ugradio na nevjerojatan način u ovo djelo i što ga, po mojem mišljenju, izdvaja od drugih njegovih djela.
U svemu tome King maestralno ubacuje mistične elemente, koji pretežito ljudskoj priči daju jedan poseban pečat. Svaki kraj nastavka tjera čitatelja da pročitate barem još jedno poglavlje idućeg nastavka, što je vjerojatno i najbolja preporuka ovom vrlo pitkom eksperimentu, a struktura priče koja se odvija kroz prepričavanje prošlosti glavnog lika osigurava napetu završnicu s potpunim zaključkom svih priča uz neizostavne obrate i iznenađenja.
Stephen King ovo djelo naziva eksperimentom zbog objavljivanja u nastavcima. Već u predgovoru govori kako mu je ideja za takav format bila dugo u planu, a ako se mene pita ovakav eksperiment mu je savršeno ispao. Doduše, u konačnici sam sve pročitao u integralnom obliku, ali s obzirom na završetke, vjerujem da je čitatelju u vrijeme izlaženja priredio iščekivanja u maniri čekanja nove epizode LOST.
Dojma sam da se Kinga ponajviše promatra iz perspektive autora stvaranja atmosfere, napetosti i nelagode smještajem radnje na odlično odabrana mjesta pomoću mističnih i horor elemenata, ali ne mogu se oteti dojmu da je u ovom djelu na površinu izbila (uz sve prije navedeno) i jaka kritika tadašnjeg društva. Društva u kojem je pravda bila pod rasnim utjecajem više nego pod utjecajem samih dokaza, a od same pravde je bilo važnije imati žrtveno janje. Društva u kojem su se svi deklarativno nazivani jednakima, a zapravo je vladala velika nejednakost.
Glavna okosnica radnje je kaznionica u kojoj su zločinci osuđeni na smrt pogubljenjem na električnoj stolici. Autor stvara jedan mali svemir u kojemu je smrt jedna sasvim normalna i svakodnevna pojava, a upoznaje nas s ljudima koji broje zadnje dane svojeg života čekajući da im zaposlenici kaznionice „podare“ upravo smrt. Spajanje krajnosti je ono što obilježava roman, odnosi koji se razvijaju među osuđenicima i zaposlenicima su sve samo ne jednostavni, a obilježeni su netrpeljivosti, nepovjerenjem, a opet razumijevanjem i propitivanjem istine.
King osuđenike opisuje na tamo human i ljudski način da čitatelj u konačnici ne može zauzeti stranu onako plošno kako bi to inicijalno trebao/želio. Da je majstor suprotnosti dokazuje ubacivanjem posebnog prijateljstva s mišem na mjestu na kojem vlada smrt. Miš simbolizira nadu da se uvijek, bez obzira na okolnosti, može izroditi nešto posebno i dobro. U ovom slučaju je to prijateljstvo ubojice s „običnim“ mišem, koji na površinu izvlači dobrotu i humanost unatoč svih grijesima pojedinca. Takve poruke o društvu su ono što je King ugradio na nevjerojatan način u ovo djelo i što ga, po mojem mišljenju, izdvaja od drugih njegovih djela.
U svemu tome King maestralno ubacuje mistične elemente, koji pretežito ljudskoj priči daju jedan poseban pečat. Svaki kraj nastavka tjera čitatelja da pročitate barem još jedno poglavlje idućeg nastavka, što je vjerojatno i najbolja preporuka ovom vrlo pitkom eksperimentu, a struktura priče koja se odvija kroz prepričavanje prošlosti glavnog lika osigurava napetu završnicu s potpunim zaključkom svih priča uz neizostavne obrate i iznenađenja.
July 2, 2016
I will never tire of expressing my love for Stephen King. The final chapter to The Green Mile was the most emotional and really gave you closure. I would have preferred to live my life without knowing what happened to Jan, but I guess it's too late for that. 5/5
August 18, 2016
This was a very satisfying end to the serial.
November 8, 2016
Coffey's walk down the green mile and Paul tell his friend what he has lost and gain with Coffey's touch.
January 8, 2018
De film is al goed, maar het boek nog beter! Wauw. Een goede manier om het nieuwe jaar te starten. Wat heeft Stephen King toch een geweldige schrijfstijl. Je pakt het boek en leest het uit. Stoppen is geen optie. 5 dikke vette sterren!
October 2, 2018
SK did an amazing job on this serial novelization. I’d say this ranks up on his top five for me so far. While reading each part, you really go through the array of emotions. You feel like you know each character in the end.
October 17, 2017
King is such a great storyteller
February 21, 2019
This book is one of the best things I have ever read and absolutely crushed my heart just like I knew it was going too!!
August 25, 2020
This is definitely a new favorite by King! This story has so much depth and emotion in it, it was great! This one will go next to Salem's Lot for my favorites!
August 2, 2013
Well, it's a miracle! I called my father the afternoon I finished the first 5 installments of this series and told him he needed to find me the sixth, as he was the one to drudge them up and give them to me. I didn't expect him to find the sixth story, but lo and behold, my brother came home from Dad's house last night and tossed me Coffey on the Mile ("Dad told me to give you this").
Aw, shucks, pops. You do care.
And this is a really great, tearful, heartbreaking ending to the series. The serial format works perfectly for this story because we learn things in increments of time, giving us a breath between takes so we can agonize in our readership. Coffey has to agonize on the Mile, wondering when his pain will be over, and Paul has to worry about dodging Brad Dolan at the senior home, and all of the guards in the prison have to wait and figure out if they will have to kill an innocent man, so why the hell shouldn't we readers have to wait?
It wasn't a happy ending, which I was expecting in the first place but still hurt. I don't know much else to say...King is a storyteller, and this is a damn good story.
Aw, shucks, pops. You do care.
And this is a really great, tearful, heartbreaking ending to the series. The serial format works perfectly for this story because we learn things in increments of time, giving us a breath between takes so we can agonize in our readership. Coffey has to agonize on the Mile, wondering when his pain will be over, and Paul has to worry about dodging Brad Dolan at the senior home, and all of the guards in the prison have to wait and figure out if they will have to kill an innocent man, so why the hell shouldn't we readers have to wait?
It wasn't a happy ending, which I was expecting in the first place but still hurt. I don't know much else to say...King is a storyteller, and this is a damn good story.
February 9, 2014
I just finished the final installment in The Green Mile. As I sit here and wipe away the tears that have been rolling down my face chapter after chapter now, I think the same thing I thought after having watched the film adaptation for the first time in ten years a week or so ago: this story is beautiful. It's terribly, horribly sad, and it breaks my heart. But it is absolutely beautiful. There are really no words to describe how I'm feeling right now or how much this story has touched me. I highly recommend it to everyone. You may never want to read or watch it ever again, you may want to read or watch it once a week for the rest of your life, or you may fall somewhere in the middle there. But I think it's a story everyone should experience at least once, whether in book form or film form.
May 21, 2016
I'm guilty of having watched the movie before reading the book...but the book was great! AT the beginning it was hard to see why it being told as a "memoir" was important, but in the end it really brought things together and hammered home the story. The first novel I've read of Stephen King's, and though I'm not well versed into his genre and style, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
December 28, 2021
5⭐
Ik wou absoluut dit jaar deze serie nog volledig uit lezen. De bedoeling was om het te lezen met de oorspronkelijke tijd tussen de verschillende afleveringen. Helaas is dit niet gelukt. Het ene deel is beter dan het andere, maar King wist me geboeid te houden. Ondanks de film al tientallen keren gezien te hebben.
Ik wou absoluut dit jaar deze serie nog volledig uit lezen. De bedoeling was om het te lezen met de oorspronkelijke tijd tussen de verschillende afleveringen. Helaas is dit niet gelukt. Het ene deel is beter dan het andere, maar King wist me geboeid te houden. Ondanks de film al tientallen keren gezien te hebben.
June 6, 2017
A satisfying conclusion to a satisfying story. Someone once told me that there are only variants of two stories: The Odyssey, and The Gospel.
I don't know if that's true, but John Coffey's name/initials are certainly intentional. Paul too, no doubt.
I don't know if that's true, but John Coffey's name/initials are certainly intentional. Paul too, no doubt.
February 24, 2016
I saw the movie before reading the book so it spoiled it for me. But I believe the movie was the same as the book. Love how he added supernatural elements to a great story.
December 31, 2017
The Green Mile as a whole: 4.5 stars.
January 23, 2022
Read when it was first published - I read the whole series, book by book as soon as it was published.
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